Opinion/Amore: Let RI Vote Act ensure a more vibrant democracy
Rep. Gregg Amore, D-East Providence, is a sponsor of the Let RI Vote Act and a candidate for Rhode Island secretary of state.
A democratic republic cannot remain as such if voting rights and voter accessibility remain a political football.
Despite confirmation from both the FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security assuring Americans that there was no widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election; and despite rulings from more than 60 courts which found either no standing or no evidence to support voter fraud claims; and despite multiple lawful audits that produced confirmation of results; and despite down-ballot Republicans winning races in states where President Trump underperformed and lost, many states have proposed and passed laws that have made voting less accessible.
These laws, at best, are looking for a solution to a nonexistent problem, and, at worst, are a sad continuation of voter suppression efforts that have plagued the nation since its inception. Which is why, as voting rights efforts stall at the federal level, it is important that our state leads by example and passes the Let Rhode Island Vote Act in this legislative session.
The bill increases election security while expanding voting accessibility. It requires the Rhode Island Department of State to continually audit voting rolls using a myriad of resources that have proven to be effective in producing cleaner and more reliable voter registration data. At the same time, Let Rhode Island Vote makes voting easier by expanding access to mail ballots.
Voting by mail is popular across the political spectrum. It has been an effective and secure method of voting for decades, and provides a paper trail if audits become necessary. Over half of the states — red and blue alike — offer a “no excuse” mail ballot. The single mother of two working two jobs and taking online courses while trying to spend as much time with her children as possible should have the same access to a mail ballot as the snowbird in Florida or the college student away at school. A rainy Tuesday in September or a frigid Tuesday in November should not impact voter turnout. Early voting and voting by mail can alleviate such concerns.
The pandemic took something from every Rhode Islander. Some lost jobs, some lost businesses, and some devastatingly lost loved ones. The one thing the pandemic did not take, because Rhode Islanders would not let it, was our right to vote. In fact, Rhode Islanders set a record for voter turnout in 2020. In large part this was made possible by temporary changes to voting access that the Let Rhode Island Vote Act would make permanent.
History tells us that voter suppression — not fraud — is the major issue of concern when it comes to voting in the United States, and we know that breaking down barriers to help make voting easier helps ensure a more engaged citizenry, and in turn a more vibrant democracy. Polling indicates that nearly 95% of Americans thought that voting was “easy” in 2020. Let’s keep it that way.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Opinion/Amore: Let RI Vote Act ensure a more vibrant democracy
