Since late February, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D) has led a group of legislators in reintroducing the Voter Empowerment Act.

The bill outlines goals to assure voters’ equal access to ballots by promoting an online voter registration system, providing ballots to those in the military or overseas, protecting voters from any sort of intimidation and creating a national voter hotline.

Both an online voter registration system and granting ballots to citizens deployed overseas would ensure that the process is more attainable and more votes are secured. Also, a nationwide voter hotline would ensure that citizens are able to readily discuss their questions or problems regarding the voting procedure with polling officials.

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Voting reform must occur before the next presidential election. With more accessibility and participation, the results of the 2020 presidential election and future elections will accurately represent views held by American citizens.

James Gardner, a University at Buffalo law professor, said, “There’s always an empirical question about whether a lack of confidence in the integrity of the voting system is deterring people from participating in it.”

If it were passed, the Voter Empowerment Act would attack voter suppression. This includes tactics aimed at discouraging eligible voters from participating, while increasing voter turnout — especially for individuals who’ve previously had their right to vote threatened.

Some common obstacles to voting include the spreading of false polling locations or times, inaccessibility to polling places due to distance or disability, states that don’t offer early voting and ID regulations.

The Voter Empowerment Act could challenge this by encouraging open communication and cooperation between voters and the government. The act could target misinformation, ensuring that people know to vote at the correct place and time.

Gardner said that combating forms of voter suppression is important in encouraging more civilian participation in government through voting.

A transparent and manageable voting system would restore America’s trust in the system and protect the right to vote for more citizens.

Lauren Spiezia is a freshman newspaper and online journalism major. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at
lespiezi@syr.edu.

LEARN MORE:

• Podcast: You Op To Know | Moderate columnist discusses NY senator’s reintroduction of the Voter Empowerment Act
  
• Video: You Op To Know | Moderate columnist discusses NY senator’s reintroduction of the Voter Empowerment Act

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Published on March 19, 2019 at 11:51 pm