The New York Times reminded us that “supporters of a more fair, efficient and inclusive system of voting should not let this moment slip away,” in their editorial “Still Broken”, which calls for a much-needed update for our antiquated voter registration system:
The most important change Congress can make is to require universal voter registration. That would put the burden on states to register eligible voters — identifying them from other government lists such as tax and motor vehicle databases — rather than forcing prospective voters to navigate the obstacle-ridden path to the voting rolls. States should also be required to make registration permanent so voters are not purged from the rolls because of a move to a new address or a name change.
The Times also acknowledged the regressive nature of overly strict voter ID laws:
Congress should enact lenient federal rules for voter identification, allowing voters to present a wide array of IDs. Far too many states have onerous requirements that make it particularly hard for poor people and racial minorities to vote. And it should outlaw vote suppression and other campaign dirty tricks.
Click here to read the editorial.
