The clock is ticking for lawmakers considering major changes to the US voting system ahead of November's elections. A recent proposal from President Donald Trump and some Republicans would overhaul the electoral landscape, but it's too little, too late.
As election administrators across the country continue to prepare for November, their plates are already full with tasks such as verifying thousands of signatures and training poll workers. They're doing everything they can to ensure a smooth voting process, but new rules proposed by Trump and his allies would create chaos at polling places nationwide.
Under the SAVE Act, Americans would be required to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote, while the Make Elections Great Again Act would effectively ban universal vote-by-mail systems used in several states. These changes are unnecessary and would disenfranchise millions of voters who don't have the necessary documents.
The problem is that these proposals come too close to election day. In most cases, laws should be finalized well before an election to allow for a smooth implementation process. The fact remains that any change to voting laws in a year ending with an even number – like November's elections – would be better off being made months or years earlier.
Judges have historically followed the principle of acting on changes to election rules at least 12 months before an election, rather than introducing drastic changes just before the vote. This approach ensures that both sides are prepared and aware of any changes, which helps maintain public confidence in elections.
In this case, Trump's proposal would undermine confidence in elections by creating unnecessary confusion and disenfranchising millions of voters. The US already has imperfect voting laws, but these proposals take it too far. It's time to stick with the rules that have been established for our democratic process – the coin toss is here, and it's time to play by the rules we agreed on.
As election administrators across the country continue to prepare for November, their plates are already full with tasks such as verifying thousands of signatures and training poll workers. They're doing everything they can to ensure a smooth voting process, but new rules proposed by Trump and his allies would create chaos at polling places nationwide.
Under the SAVE Act, Americans would be required to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote, while the Make Elections Great Again Act would effectively ban universal vote-by-mail systems used in several states. These changes are unnecessary and would disenfranchise millions of voters who don't have the necessary documents.
The problem is that these proposals come too close to election day. In most cases, laws should be finalized well before an election to allow for a smooth implementation process. The fact remains that any change to voting laws in a year ending with an even number – like November's elections – would be better off being made months or years earlier.
Judges have historically followed the principle of acting on changes to election rules at least 12 months before an election, rather than introducing drastic changes just before the vote. This approach ensures that both sides are prepared and aware of any changes, which helps maintain public confidence in elections.
In this case, Trump's proposal would undermine confidence in elections by creating unnecessary confusion and disenfranchising millions of voters. The US already has imperfect voting laws, but these proposals take it too far. It's time to stick with the rules that have been established for our democratic process – the coin toss is here, and it's time to play by the rules we agreed on.