Archive APN Blog; Voting Rights Journal #2: Georgia left behind? Agenda for Reform

I’m feeling a bit schizophrenic these last days. So thrilled that Obama won, and that he did so decisively. Yet, deeply disturbed by the state of affairs here in Georgia when it comes to voting rights and election systems in our great state. We can do so much better. We have the knowledge, we have the technology, we just need the political will. I believe we have the desire of all citizens to be able to exercise their right to vote and to have their vote counted accurately. All eligible voters deserve the right to vote without being dissuaded by ridiculously long lines or added burdens to prove our eligibility. We swear under penalty of perjury when we register to vote and again when we vote. That should be enough. Last minute efforts by the Secretary of State to disenfranchise voters should not be tolerated.

Last week, I was asked by two OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) observers what I thought needs to be improved in Georgia. Having been an election supervisor in Bosnia three times, and done other election work in Kosovo and Namibia, it was somewhat ironic to be expressing my concerns about the need for election reform right here at home. But, there is much work to done and we desperately need change in Georgia. Here are some highlights from my wish list:

• Make the Secretary of State a non-partisan office.
• Make the State Election Board a non-partisan body, with diverse representation to reflect the whole state of Georgia (sex, race, geography, political affiliation, etc.).
• Establish a category of poll watcher for non-partisan individuals/organizations with the right to observe the election process throughout.
• Streamline the voter registration process and STOP “no match, no vote” disenfranchisement based on inaccurate database information. Keep the burden of proof on the state/county to prove (with accurate information) that a registered voter is ineligible to vote.
• Establish same day voter registration and voting.
• Expand advanced and early voting hours and locations to include evening and weekend hours.
• Ensure equal access to voting throughout the state - considering all variables such as hours, number of voting machines, number of express poll books, materials, etc.
• Require a paper ballot - either printed in advance and marked by voters OR printed by the voting machines - that can be manually counted as needed.
• Automatically reenfranchise those citizens who have lost their voting rights due to certain felony convictions immediately after they have served their time.
• Make absentee ballot envelopes pre-paid and/or establish other free methods to absentee vote (e.g., via secure internet).

How’s that for an election reform to do list?! Now, let’s get started.

This post was written by Susan S on November 9, 2008