Voting Rights Legislation Advancing in the States
Despite a slate of state legislation attacking the rights of voters, a number of states are advancing legislation that would enhance the ability of U.S. citizens to exercise their right to choose their representatives. Among the most likely advances in voting rights in the states:
Colorado : The House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee passed a bill that would implement Election Day registration, automatically send ballots to every voter via mail and create a statewide voter database that is updated in real time.
Connecticut : A bill that would create early voting in the state was reported on favorably by the Joint Committee on Government Administration and Elections.
Delaware : A constitutional amendment cleared its final hurdle, allowing felons to vote immediately after discharging their criminal sentences, instead of being forced to wait five years for the restoration of their voting rights.
Hawaii : A bill passed the Senate and now goes back to the House for a vote on Senate amendments that would allow voters to register at early voting locations.
Maryland : A bill that had previously passed the state House has now passed the state Senate. It will allow same-day registration, expand early voting and allow voters to obtain absentee ballots online.
Meanwhile, in Texas , a bill that would cut the number of early voting days nearly in half has been pulled in the face of heavy criticism. Two bills that are still active, however, would begin video monitoring of voters at polling places and create an interstate voter registration cross-check program that Project Vote and Empower the Vote Texas say is poorly designed and would result in the disenfranchisement of eligible voters.
In the Garden State, New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech joined a teletown hall urging Gov. Chris Christie to sign Early Voting legislation (A-3553) into law.
Wowkanech said:
New Jerseyans working two or more jobs to support a family understand the importance of early voting, and this bill would afford these families every opportunity to make their voices heard.
