The chances of the Freedom to Vote Act passing have become almost zero, but that doesn't mean congressional Democrats aren't done trying. But before you go to your respective corner, let's take a look at what's actually in the bill, and what piecemeal legislation may rise from it's ashes.
First, here are the pieces that seem to have bi-partisan support:
1. Require that states make voting more accessible for people with disabilities.
2. Make Election Day a national holiday, aimed at making easier for all voters to get to the polls that day.
Analysis: Just exactly who is disabled and is unable to vote remains a mystery, but it's fine in theory. The national holiday is fine with most Republicans, even though it's political to increase turn-out to benefit Democrats.
Second is a whole host of "maybes":
1. States requiring voter ID would have to accept more forms of ID.
2. States must offer same-day voting registration, online registration and make it easier to register at other locations.
3. Outlaw partisan gerrymandering.
4. Require states to have early voting for at least two weeks prior to election day, with nights and weekends available.
5. Give more power to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to force replacement of some voting machines.
Analysis: More forms of ID, same day voting registration, online registration, two weeks of early voting- all of these things seem fine if done correctly with heavy oversight to stop potential misuse. But implementation is key to all of the changes in this category. How are you going to stop gerrymandering? How are you going to force states to update their machines? Who's paying for it? Which machines? Lots of questions, and lots of (possibly deliberately) broad, unclear language.
Third, is a category of changes that nobody should be okay with:
1. Forced limits to the ways states can purge voting rolls.
2. Voting by mail all the time, no excuses, no qualifications.
3. Voter drop boxes added in all states.
Analysis: Everyone knows why Dems want to add drop boxes and expand vote-by-mail. These tend to expand voter turnout, but also have very little oversight. The potential for voter fraud is much higher without in-person verification. But the voter rolls may be the most egregious. Most states & municipalities have TERRIBLY unregulated voter rolls NOW. This would make them worse.
Generally speaking, there is some bi-partisan ground to till here, but those bottom three should not be a part of the conversation, unless it's to move them the other direction.
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Ryan Wiggins is the author of the extremely serious and not funny robot novel, The Life of Human, and is a writer and producer of television shows. He is the host of Wiggins America on 97.1 FM Talk in St. Louis.
