Should Congress allow mail-in voting and automatic voter registration?
This bill would amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to allow vote by mail and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to automatically register voters for federal elections through state motor vehicle authorities. Mail-in voting allows those with work or family obligations, or disabilities the ability to vote in federal elections and increases voter turnout and participation. The bill prohibits states to include additional conditions to cast mail-in ballots except states may impose a deadline. States must mail ballots not later than 2 weeks before an election. The US Postal Service will expedite federal election ballots and not require postage. If an individual is deemed eligible to vote and has not registered, states must issue a notification informing them of their eligibility and a description of the process to register or decline expiring within a 21 day period.
Sponsor: Senator Ron Wyden (Democrat, Oregon)
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Opponents say
Proponents say
• "The individual right to vote, the cornerstone of our democracy, is under threat in communities across America. Last year we saw a widespread expansion of vote-at-home access as a safe and secure way to participate during the COVID-19 pandemic. We should continue to make voting easier, not harder. This important bill would strengthen and clarify the right to vote at home, the most secure and convenient way for voters to exercise the franchise." Source: Senator Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, Oregon)
- Wyden and Blumenauer Introduce Bill to Expand Voting Access and Allow Every American to Vote at Home (Press Release)
- Lawmakers introduce legislation to massively expand mail-in voting (The Hill)
- Examining the arguments against voting by mail: Does it really lead to fraud or benefit only Democrats? (Washington Post)
- Georgia Governor Signs Election Overhaul, Including Changes to Absentee Voting (NPR)
