Voting rights: More than 100 bills that would restrict votes are passed by state legislators

Voting rights: More than 100 bills that would restrict votes are passed by state legislators

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A total of 28 countries have introduced, tabled or submitted 106 restrictive bills for the 2021 Legislative Assembly, a significant increase in the case of just 35 bills in 15 states by 2020., according to the Brennan Center analysis. According to the report, most of the bills want to limit and restrict how and who can vote by mail, while other laws want to impose on photo IDs and choose a more aggressive policy.

Their sponsors argue that the measures are necessary to restore confidence in and integrity of the voting process after it was unfounded with unfounded allegations of voter fraud pushed by former President Donald Trump and other GOP officials, leading to the deadly uprising on Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol. .

Enrollment in ballots was dramatically expanded in 2020 due to the pandemic because election officials and lawmakers wanted to balance public health precautions with voting rights – and led to a dramatic shift in voter turnout, with Democrats excessively enjoying enrollment or early voting. voice options.

Although there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud, Republicans at the national level this year made it a priority to change electoral law.

Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel said the party would play a “heavy role” in changing the election.

“This is going to be done at the state level. I think a lot of these states are already looking at their state laws,” McDaniel said in an interview with Fox News on Monday.

Opponents of the measures say it makes the voting process less secure and also limits voter turnout.

“There are some politicians who are very concerned about the historic turnout we saw in the 2020 election and who are determined to put obstacles in front of the ballot box to try to give themselves a play on job security,” Myrna Pérez said. , director of suffrage, said. and elections at Brennan, said in an interview with CNN on Tuesday.

“There are some politicians who are trying to manipulate the rules of the game so that some people can participate and others not,” Pérez added.

Roll back ‘no excuse to vote’

Among the states where Republicans file a complaint against the vote at the submission is Pennsylvania, where the ballots clinched President Joe Biden’s victory over Trump. Legislators have put forward three different proposals aimed at eliminating so-called “no-apology” legislation for postal voting adopted in 2019 with a legislature led by the IDP.
Rep. Jim Gregory, a Republican co-sponsor of one of the bills in Pennsylvania, earlier told CNN that the goal is to restore “integrity and trust” in the voting process.

“The confusion that followed, and just the lack of confidence in how things are run, really affects people’s faith and desire to want to vote again. This is especially true in my district,” he said.

In Arizona – another war-torn state – which only switched to Democrats for the second time in more than seven decades, Republicans enacted legislation that would repeal the state’s permanent early menu – allowing voters to automatically mail their ballots received for each election.
Missouri lawmakers are also seeking to dispel concerns Covid-19 as an excuse to request the absentee ballots, while a North Dakota bill would restrict who could be absent.

Application of applications and involvement of third parties

Other states such as New Jersey, Texas and Washington are considering bills that could restrict who can apply for absentee ballots., or how far they can go.

In the run-up to the November election, Texas in particular became the center of a battle over ballot applications when Harris County, which includes the state’s largest city in Houston, was blocked from sending applications to all voters amid legal action. fight with Republicans. The IDP argued that the applications should only go to voters who vote by mail.

A number of other bills being considered include measures that will limit aid to voters, increase evidence requirements, and limit the options a voter has to return their absentee ballot.

Requires a photo ID

Lawmakers in nearly a dozen states have introduced bills that would require a photo ID requirement for early personal votes or by mail vote.

Proponents of photo ID requirements argue that it prevents voter fraud, although studies of recent elections show that the person’s voter fraud is rare.
New Hampshire Republicans have introduced a bill that requires voters to include a copy of their photo ID with their absent ballot paper and when they return their completed ballots.
Similar legislation was introduced in Georgia on Monday, where Republicans parted ways with Trump to defend the November results, but have since signed on to proposed reforms.

The Granite State is also considering a bill that would prevent the use of student IDs as identification for the vote. Mississippi is considering legislation that would ban the use of off-road licenses.

Polling voters

IDP legislators also focus on maintaining voter lists, and specifically want to remove voters from roles due to inactivity.

A Republican lawmaker in Arizona has filed a bill that would remove voters who do not vote in a four-year election cycle and do not respond to a notice. Mississippi is considering a similar measure.

A bill in New Hampshire will allow election officials to remove voters from roles based on data provided by other parties, which has been blocked by federal courts for violating the Voter Registration Act.

CNN’s Dianne Gallagher contributed to this report.

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