Madmallard
.223 Rem
WASHINGTON
In Washington state, a local Democratic leader wants people registered to vote at birth.
In Nevada and New Mexico, a liberal group is pressuring the legislatures to let people register when they get driver’s licenses.
In Ohio, progressive activists have thrown their support behind a mayoral candidate because she fights with Republicans about voting access.
Across the country, Democrats and their allies are plotting a quiet and disjointed but considerable push to make voting easier by dismantling registration barriers and promoting candidates who want to expand voting rights. It’s all an effort to reshape the electorate by creating new Democratic voters.
If successful, the effect could be profound. The more people who vote, the better Democrats usually do in everything from a marquee presidential election to little-noticed municipal race.
“Democrats have been on the defensive,” said Tina Podlodowski, chairwoman of the Washington State Democratic Party. “We’ve tried to get on the offensive, and I think people are starting to listen more and more to that.
Her plans to improve voter access in Washington state – which mails ballots to its residents – including paying for the return postage. The stamps are too expensive and hard to purchase for some elderly and low-income voters, said Podlodowski, herself a former candidate for secretary of state.
The idea might sound far-reaching, but the Democratic leader says other countries take even bolder steps to make sure everyone can vote – including registering people at birth.
“If you look at different countries, European countries or Scandinavian countries, basically folks walk in when they’re 18 and they just start voting and don’t have to register,” she said. “Because they were registered at birth.”
Democrats need more voters. How about registration at birth?
In Washington state, a local Democratic leader wants people registered to vote at birth.
In Nevada and New Mexico, a liberal group is pressuring the legislatures to let people register when they get driver’s licenses.
In Ohio, progressive activists have thrown their support behind a mayoral candidate because she fights with Republicans about voting access.
Across the country, Democrats and their allies are plotting a quiet and disjointed but considerable push to make voting easier by dismantling registration barriers and promoting candidates who want to expand voting rights. It’s all an effort to reshape the electorate by creating new Democratic voters.
If successful, the effect could be profound. The more people who vote, the better Democrats usually do in everything from a marquee presidential election to little-noticed municipal race.
“Democrats have been on the defensive,” said Tina Podlodowski, chairwoman of the Washington State Democratic Party. “We’ve tried to get on the offensive, and I think people are starting to listen more and more to that.
Her plans to improve voter access in Washington state – which mails ballots to its residents – including paying for the return postage. The stamps are too expensive and hard to purchase for some elderly and low-income voters, said Podlodowski, herself a former candidate for secretary of state.
The idea might sound far-reaching, but the Democratic leader says other countries take even bolder steps to make sure everyone can vote – including registering people at birth.
“If you look at different countries, European countries or Scandinavian countries, basically folks walk in when they’re 18 and they just start voting and don’t have to register,” she said. “Because they were registered at birth.”
Democrats need more voters. How about registration at birth?
