Vote-by-mail is the best path forward. Here's why | Opinion
Todd Olson lives in Warwick.
With all of the interest in ranked-choice voting, top-two runoff elections , and same-day voter registration, it is surprising that there is not more enthusiasm for expanding vote-by-mail in Rhode Island. If the goal of election reform advocates and policymakers is to increase voter participation and make elections more representative of the will of the people, then the expansion of vote-by-mail should be part of the ongoing debate on how we can improve the way we do democracy in Rhode Island.
The 2020 general election was a record-breaking year for both turnout and voting by mail in Rhode Island. About 29% of us voted early and 31% voted by mail. This unprecedented increase was due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our elections infrastructure handled this dramatic increase in mail-ballots admirably, and Rhode Islanders clearly demonstrated that they are willing and able to vote by mail. Our experience in the 2020 general election warrants a serious discussion of the feasibility and potential benefits of expanding vote-by-mail.
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Rhode Island election law requires voters to request a mail-ballot for every election, even for primaries and general elections held in the same year. While we no longer require an “excuse” to vote by mail, thanks to the Let RI Vote Act, it is unnecessary, inefficient and confusing to require voters to apply twice for a mail-ballot for both primary and general elections when such elections are only eight weeks apart.
This issue could have been addressed by a bill introduced in the 2023 General Assembly (H 5958) that would have made only one mail-ballot application necessary for each election cycle. Unfortunately, this bill did not make it out of committee. The General Assembly should reconsider this bill during the 2024 session. Even better, it could eliminate this confusing redundancy and pass legislation allowing voters to permanently “opt-in” to vote by mail. Perhaps the General Assembly should even create a legislative commission to study a gradual transition to universal vote-by-mail.
Vote-by-mail is a time-tested, inclusive and secure way to conduct elections. According to the National Vote at Home Institute, 10 states allow a single sign-up for voters to permanently register to vote by mail and automatically receive a mailed ballot in every election. An additional eight states and the District of Columbia have universal vote-by-mail with every election being conducted entirely by mail. These states have experienced significant increases in voter participation, cost savings, more inclusive elections, and improved safety and security.
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Rhode Island would not have to reinvent the wheel to expand vote-by-mail. The collective experience of the 19 states and jurisdictions with universal or permanent opt-in vote-by-mail, combined with our own recent experience, can show us the best path forward. The General Assembly should seriously consider the expansion of vote-by-mail this session.
Making it easier and safer for people to vote should be a top priority as we approach what will likely be a tumultuous election year.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Vote-by-mail is a time-tested, inclusive and secure way to conduct elections.
