Voting has become one of the most partisan issues in contemporary politics. Republicans have sought to make it more secure by requiring photo identification. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last month to allow Ohio to purge inactive voters from the rolls is likely to open the door to similar efforts in other red states. Democrats, conversely, are doing everything they can to make voting easier. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill in March implementing automatic voter registration. The following month, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a similar bill in New Jersey, bringing to 12 the number of states that sign people up, unless they opt out, when they interact with the department of motor vehicles or other state agencies. Democrats control the political branches of government in most of these states.
In states where the party is partially or wholly blocked from power, progressives are turning to the ballot to promote changes to election law. Maryland voters, for instance, will have the chance to allow registration on Election Day itself. Nevada will decide whether to adopt automatic voter registration. And a Michigan measure would combine both same-day and automatic voter registration, plus other changes.
Meanwhile, several states will consider campaign finance or redistricting measures. Ohio voters in May already approved changes to that state’s redistricting process. New maps will have to earn support from three-fifths of legislators in both chambers, including support from more than half of the minority party members. Failing that, the job will be given to a bipartisan commission.
Full Article: Voting Rights Debate Moves From Statehouses to Ballot Boxes.