Democracy in the Era of Corona

Update 435 – Democracy in the Era of Corona:
U.S. to Have a Legitimate Election in November?

Canceled primary elections, depressed turnout in elections held, the prospect of virtual conventions, massive small donor withdrawals, physical risks of in-person voting, and skewed outcomes make ballot access and democratic participation urgent matters this year. To enact even temporary reforms may require Congress to reform its own procedural rules.  

The election of 2020 may end up like the 1864 election, where, despite a full-scale Civil War, Americans made it to the polls and re-elected President Lincoln in an election of unchallenged legitimacy. What are the obstacles before us today? We examine below. 

Good weekends, all …

Dana

—————————————————————

For the last month, Congress has operated almost exclusively through leadership. Committee activity and substantive deliberation for the vast majority of Members is curtailed or eliminated. The circumstances call for two democratic reforms: measures to allow Americans to cast ballots safely this year and remote voting for Members of Congress. 

Congressional Voting and Procedural Reform

Right now, leadership is negotiating legislation behind closed doors, and introducing the products of those negotiations as “emergency bills.” Members are pressured to fall in line. Regular order and committee activity is non-existent. But we should not be passing unprecedented levels of spending by unanimous consent. 

Longstanding tradition (and explicit rules) require physical presence to vote in both the House and Senate. Voting is just one aspect of a representative’s job. If virtual voting is put in place and works as intended, opponents argue, it would truncate legislative work periods, lengthen campaign seasons, and physically separate Democrats from Republicans. Technical challenges and cyber security concerns should also not be dismissed out of hand — e.g. how will amendments be offered?

But the necessary constraints imposed by the current crisis require a temporary period of virtual legislating. Seven members of Congress have either tested positive for COVID-19, recovered from the virus, or are presumed to be infected. There is no need to risk the lives of representatives and their family members, especially when alternatives abound.

On March 19, Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Rob Portman (R-OH) recommended a change to Senate rules to allow remote voting. On April 7, Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Tom Reed (R-NY) proposed a similar rule change. A House vote on the matter was scheduled for April 23. But Speaker Pelosi jettisoned the vote amid opposition from Republican leadership. House Minority Leader McCarthy feigns concern about remote voting, while criticizing the Speaker for inaction. Now, Democrats may be poised to push through remote voting procedural reform without Republican support. 

The economy is in freefall, the public health crisis continues, and it’s a presidential election year. States, municipalities, public health facilities, and businesses large and small are going bankrupt and are in need of federal aid. Congress must quickly appropriate funds and/or enact policy changes to address these emergencies. Americans also need a system in place to vote in November. Allowing legislators to vote remotely is the necessary first step. 

Registration and Election Procedure

The recent Wisconsin primary debacle showed the potential for COVID-19 to cause chaos in elections. When Republicans in the state legislature refused to postpone the election, state officials closed polling places due to public health concerns, leaving mail-in voting as the only choice for many Wisconsinites. A flood of applications for mail-in ballots overwhelmed state election infrastructure. Thousands of eligible voters did not receive ballots in time for their votes to count (if they received a ballot at all). Still, more than one million Wisconsin voters cast absentee ballots last month — up from just 140,000 in the 2016 primary. 

Wisconsin is one of just 17 states that allows for no-excuse absentee voting, as well as both same-day and online registration. Even the best-equipped state election systems are unprepared for COVID-19. States administer elections but lack the resources needed to upgrade infrastructure and protect our democratic process. Congress must act swiftly. If states do not receive election funds soon, they will be unable to implement the changes necessary by November.

  • Same-Day, Online Voter Registration

Increasing access to the ballot box this November starts with making sure that all Americans are registered to vote. Both same-day registration (SDR) and online voter registration (OVR) systems — already in place in numerous states — must be bolstered.

Twenty-one states plus the District of Columbia allow residents to register to vote and cast a ballot on election day. But strict voter registration deadlines disenfranchise citizens who did not — or could not — register in time. States that enact SDR have seen about a five percent increase in election day turnout. There is no evidence that SDR influences partisan outcomes or benefits certain populations at the expense of others.

OVR systems are in place in 42 states plus the District of Columbia. While SDR only benefits people who show up in-person, OVR allows more citizens to register to vote without leaving their homes, which will be essential should a second wave of the pandemic occur during the colder months. These systems need to be adequately funded and scaled up.

To accommodate inevitable voter confusion, Congress should also consider relaxing voter registration deadlines. Currently, voters have until 30 days before the presidential election to register. The Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act, introduced by Sens. Ron Wyden and Amy Klobuchar, would allow registration up to 21 days before the election.

  • Vote by Mail (VBM)

Voting by mail allows citizens to vote while avoiding the increased health risk of showing up to a polling station in person. Five states — Hawaii, Colorado, Oregon, Utah, and Washington — already conduct their elections primarily by mail, and there is no evidence of an inherent partisan advantage or voter fraud. 

VBM is popular. An April Reuters poll found that 72 percent of Americans, including 65 percent of Republicans, want a mail-in ballot option for November’s election. While we should continue to focus on ensuring that all Americans are registered to vote, an option to vote by mail this November is an effective tool to allow more people to participate.

Congress’ Role in Democracy Reform

Congress will play a role in whether we have a legitimate election this fall. Many state election funds were already lacking, and state budget shortfalls are now projected to exceed $110 billion through FY2020. The CARES Act provided $400 million in grants to help states run their elections, but this is nowhere near enough. 

Per the Brennan Center, at least $4 billion is needed to ensure that this year’s elections are free, fair, and accessible. Senator Kamala Harris’s VoteSafe Act authorizes $5 billion in spending to expand voting options and improve the safety and accessibility of polling locations across the country.

States that do not currently have same-day voter registration, online voter registration, or vote-by-mail policies are unlikely to enact them before November and stand to disenfranchise millions of Americans. If Congress does not act, the fiasco that unfolded in Wisconsin could repeat itself on a national level. Legislation is on the table that would mitigate some of the worst concerns, but for progress to occur, Congress has to figure out how to get back to work. 

76 thoughts on “Democracy in the Era of Corona”

  1. You could certainly see your enthusiasm within the
    work you write. The arena hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not
    afraid to say how they believe. At all times go after your heart.
    0mniartist asmr

  2. I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your blog.

    It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit
    more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme?
    Superb work! asmr 0mniartist

  3. You made some decent points there. I checked on the internet for more
    info about the issue and found most people will go
    along with your views on this site. asmr 0mniartist

  4. Admiring the persistence you put into your website and detailed information you offer.
    It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a while
    that isn’t the same old rehashed information. Wonderful read!
    I’ve saved your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  5. Everyone loves what you guys are up too.
    This sort of clever work and reporting! Keep up the terrific
    works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my own blogroll.

  6. Every weekend i used to pay a visit this site, for the reason that i want enjoyment,
    since this this site conations in fact nice funny stuff too.

  7. Hey There. I discovered your weblog using msn. That is an extremely well written article.
    I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your helpful information. Thanks for the post.
    I will certainly comeback.

  8. Thank you a lot for sharing this with all of us you actually know
    what you are talking approximately! Bookmarked.

    Kindly additionally visit my website =). We could have a hyperlink alternate agreement between us

  9. When someone writes an post he/she retains the thought of a user in his/her brain that how a user can understand it.
    Thus that’s why this piece of writing is great.

    Thanks!

  10. My partner and I stumbled over here by a different web page and thought I
    might as well check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you.
    Look forward to looking over your web page again.

  11. scoliosis
    Hi there! I understand this is sort of off-topic however I had
    to ask. Does building a well-established website such as yours require a large amount of work?
    I’m brand new to writing a blog but I do write in my journal on a daily basis.

    I’d like to start a blog so I can share my experience and thoughts online.
    Please let me know if you have any suggestions or tips for brand new aspiring blog owners.
    Thankyou! scoliosis

  12. scoliosis
    A person necessarily help to make significantly articles I might state.
    That is the first time I frequented your website
    page and up to now? I surprised with the research you made to create
    this actual submit amazing. Wonderful activity!
    scoliosis

  13. Hmm is anyone else having problems with the pictures on this blog loading?

    I’m trying to figure out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog.

    Any feed-back would be greatly appreciated.

  14. A fascinating discussion is worth comment. I believe that
    you should publish more on this issue, it might not be a taboo matter but usually
    people do not talk about these topics. To the next! Many thanks!!

  15. It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d without
    a doubt donate to this superb blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for
    bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.

    I look forward to new updates and will share this
    blog with my Facebook group. Talk soon!

  16. You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something that I think I
    would never understand. It seems too complex and extremely broad for me.
    I am looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of
    it!

  17. Good day! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are
    you using for this site? I’m getting sick and tired of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform.
    I would be fantastic if you could point me in the direction of a
    good platform.

  18. Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
    Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! However, how could we communicate?

  19. Great post. I was checking continuously this blog and
    I’m inspired! Very useful information specially the ultimate part :
    ) I take care of such information a lot. I used to be seeking this certain info for
    a long time. Thank you and best of luck.

  20. I do not even understand how I finished up right here,
    but I believed this post was once great.

    I do not recognize who you’re however certainly you’re going to a famous blogger if you happen to aren’t already.

    Cheers!

  21. UC satın al sayfasına tıklayın, UC Satın al işlemini gerçekleştirin. Hızlıca UC satın al işlemini gerçekleştirmek için hemen UC satın al sayfasına tıkla UC satın al!

  22. Kayseri escort sitesine tıkla birbirinden kaliteli Kayseri Escort partnerler ile görüşme şansı yakala! Kayseri escort sitesi Kayseri escort ilanları sunar.

  23. Kayseri escort sitesine tıkla birbirinden kaliteli Kayseri Escort partnerler ile görüşme şansı yakala! Kayseri escort sitesi Kayseri escort ilanları sunar.

  24. Kayseri escort sitesine tıkla birbirinden kaliteli Kayseri Escort partnerler ile görüşme şansı yakala! Kayseri escort sitesi Kayseri escort ilanları sunar.

  25. Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Thank you so much, However I am experiencing difficulties with your
    RSS. I don’t know the reason why I cannot subscribe to it.
    Is there anybody else getting the same RSS issues?
    Anyone that knows the answer will you kindly respond?

    Thanx!!

  26. My brother suggested I may like this website. He used to be totally right.
    This put up truly made my day. You cann’t imagine just how much time I had spent
    for this info! Thanks!

  27. Unquestionably believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the net the simplest
    thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while people think about
    worries that they just do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also
    defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people
    can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *