Issue Position: Election Reform

Issue Position

In 2000, our nation was faced with an election contest that threatened our sense of democracy. American citizens were deprived of their most basic right, the right to vote, and as a result we suffered through two months of uncertainty and confusion. To make certain this would never happen again, Congressman John Conyers and Senator Chris Dodd introduced, "The Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act," which established uniform and nondiscriminatory mandatory requirements for Federal elections. This legislation received more cosponsors than any other election reform bill.

To some, in the wake of September 11, the urgency to pass election reform has lapsed and questions about the legitimacy of President Bush's election have passed. But to the elderly, language minorities and African-Americans who were disenfranchised and intimidated, the cause lived on. As a result, "Help American Vote Act (HAVA)," was introduced in the House of Representatives. This legislation included the mandatory requirements of the "Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act" and provided for immediate funds to replace outdated punch card machines. HAVA passed the House, 362-63 and the conference report passed the House and Senate. On October 29, 2002, President Bush signed the legislation into law.

Thus far, the General Services Administration has disbursed money for election administration improvements and for replacement of punch card and lever machine systems to states in June 2003. All states received payment for election administration improvements and those state that applied received replacement of punch card and lever voting systems. In total, $649.5 million was disbursed.

HAVA also established a new federal agency, the Election Assistance Commission, to carry out the grant programs, providing for testing and certification of voting systems, studying election issues, and issuing voluntary guidelines for voting systems and the requirements in the Act. The Democrats and Republican were given equal slots for commissioners. Presently, the Democratic leaders are waiting for confirmation of their nominees. On June 6, President Bush announced his nominees to the Republican Slots. The White House is reviewing the recommendations at this time.

HAVA is by no means a perfect piece of legislation. Specifically, the slow establishment of the Election Assistance Commission has delayed the disbursement of grant money to the states. In addition, there are still problems in the law concerning registration and enforcement that have not yet been addressed. Mr. Conyers is resolved to continue working on these and other essential voting rights issues in order to fulfill the promise of the most fundamental right of citizenship, the right to vote, to all citizens.

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