Issue Position: Voting Rights

Issue Position

Voting is a right and a privilege, and we should do all we can to remove barriers to the exercise of this basic act of citizenship. Dropping the excuses needed to vote by mail is a good first step. An even better option would be to move to 100% vote by mail with no need to apply, as already occurs in several states. Expanding voting hours, vote centers and early voting, and same day registration are other ways to make voting easier.

In addition, Indiana district maps are among the most partisan, or gerrymandered, in the country. According to Indiana law, the state legislature draws these maps. In statewide races like Governor where there are no district maps, Republicans win about 55% of the votes. If Indiana State House district maps reflected statewide votes, Republicans would hold 51-57 seats and Democrats would hold 48-53 seats. Instead, Republicans now hold 67 seats and Democrats hold 33. If Congressional district maps reflected statewide votes, there would likely be 5 Republican and 4 Democratic Indiana Representatives in the US Congress. Currently there are 7 and 2, respectively. Highly partisan districts discourage voter participation. In the 2016 election, Indiana had the 14th worst voter turnout in the country. Our democracy is at risk when voters don't bother to vote or believe their votes do not count. I support redistricting reform, and I believe district maps should be drawn by a nonpartisan citizen board.

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