A superb report released Wednesday by the Presidential Commission on Election Administration can be summarized in one quick sentence: There are many ways to make voting easier in America. There shouldn’t be the slightest whiff of controversy or partisanship about that concept, or the important suggestions made in the report. But, of course, there is, and that makes the commission’s persuasive logic and research all the more valuable. President Obama appointed the commission last year to address the problem of long lines at the polls in 2012. At a time when states were deliberately keeping people from voting with draconian ID requirements, that seemed a narrow goal, but members of the commission did far better than expected in showing the many ways that the nation’s patchwork of state and local election laws has contributed to low turnouts.
Led by two election-law experts from opposing parties — Robert Bauer, a Democrat, and Benjamin Ginsberg, a Republican — the commission didn’t get into politicized voter ID issues, though it did note that fraud is rare. It agreed, however, on a set of a principles that ought to be considered fundamental: No one should have to wait more than 30 minutes to vote. Ballots should be simple; registration efficient. Polling places should be well-organized and workers properly trained.
That’s an ideal experienced by few voters, who often stand in long lines caused by broken machines, confusing ballots, and useless poll workers.
Full Article: A Plan to Make Voting Easier – NYTimes.com.