[EL] Anyone have a link to the Klobuchar/Wyden bill? [National Voting-by-Mail, etc.]

[larrylevine at earthlink.net]

Based on experience in states that conduct large scale vote-by-mail operations, it probably would be a good idea to mail ballots more like four or five weeks before the election and not wait to the middle of October. 

Larry Levine

 

From: Law-election <law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu> On Behalf Of Marty Lederman
Sent: Wednesday, 18 March 2020 4:47 AM
To: Rick Hasen <rhasen at law.uci.edu>; Election Law Listserv <law-election at uci.edu>
Subject: [EL] Anyone have a link to the Klobuchar/Wyden bill? [National Voting-by-Mail, etc.]

 

They announced the Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act last Friday <https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/3/with-unprecedented-disruptions-expected-from-coronavirus-klobuchar-and-wyden-introduce-bill-to-ensure-americans-are-still-able-to-vote> , but I haven't been able to find any bill language anywhere, and Congress.com doesn't show it as having yet been introduced.

 

Does the summary description sound promising?  Sufficient?

 

If anyone finds the language, please send along, thanks.

 

FWIW, I'm inclined to think that Congress should simply require states to adopt the Oregon method before November, to wit:

 

County clerks mail official ballots to all registered voters between Oct. 14-20.  Voters can mail the ballots back or deposit them at a central location (a "polling" place) at any time between when they receive them and election day (but they must be received by election day).  And if a ballot mailed to a voter is destroyed, spoiled, lost, or never received, the voter may request and easily obtain a replacement ballot.

 

Several of you who support widespread VbM and who know much more about such things than I do have cautioned me offline that it'd be difficult/hazardous to impose such a requirement nationwide for this year's general election (even if it's an ideal solution for future elections).  I remain puzzled about why all states couldn't implement it if they began doing so now--why it's not an easier lift than a bunch of other emergency initiatives that are occurring as we speak--but I'm duly chastened by the skepticism of those of you who are more in-the-know.

 

 

-- 

Marty Lederman

Georgetown University Law Center

600 New Jersey Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20001

202-662-9937

 

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