Issue Position: Voting Rights and Campaign Finance Reform

Issue Position

Free and fair elections are the bedrock of our democracy. The American system can only work when everyone has the unrestricted right to vote and big money does not control candidates. Voting rights are under attack in this country. Voter suppression has become a key component of the Republican agenda. Conservatives hope to win elections by disenfranchising those who work long hours, don't have access to reliable transportation or are unsure about the extent of their rights. That's wrong and I won't stand for it. I grew up in the South during Jim Crow, so I have seen the dark past of suppression. And I worked on Congressman John Conyers' Motor Voter legislation, which made it easier to register to vote. We need to stand up against those who would undermine our democracy by restricting the right to vote.

Congress must restore the Voting Rights Act, especially in the wake of the Citizens United decision, which has upended our democracy with an unprecedented flood of special interest dollars. Politicians now spend more time catering to wealthy donors than standing up for middle class families. We must act now to curb the influence of those who seek to buy our democracy out from under us. Voters should choose their representatives in government, NOT donors.

*Restore the Voting Rights Act (VRA) The VRA has long served as a powerful tool in protecting the gains of the Civil Rights Movement. In 2012, the Supreme Court made it more difficult for the federal government to identify and prosecute violations of the VRA.[1] As a result, we have begun to see new voter ID laws, restricting voter registration and the elimination of election-day registration.[2] In response, Congress should reinstate the VRA with modified provisions that identify discriminatory states based on recent behavior. Policymakers must sustain our nation's ideals and take steps to advance our country's most revered right.

*Implement Automatic Universal Voter Registration Every citizen should be automatically registered to vote when they turn 18. I support proposals to enable each state to register eligible citizens to vote in federal elections while providing an opt-out for those who wish to stay unregistered. Registration could be handled through the DMV, state social service agencies, or both. By taking the burden off the voter to register, we can achieve a more open and convenient system while avoiding common traps and misinformation that lead to disenfranchisement.

*Ensure New Voting Machines are Accurate, Secure and Reliable. Technological advances in voting machines have great promise but need to be implemented carefully so not to unfairly affect low-income, first-time or elderly voters. Congress should fully fund state efforts to establish uniform ballots and procedures. Newer digital machines may also pose reliability problems as they are implemented in new states.[3] I support the creation of a national database for machine manufacturers to report malfunctions. For most machines today, there is no oversight framework.[4] By investing in our election infrastructure, we can ensure fairness at the ballot screen.

*Expand Early Voting, Same Day Registration and Vote by Mail Programs Our democracy works better when more voices contribute to it. Removing obstacles to vote by increasing the number of days people can vote, allowing people to register the day of the election and encouraging vote by mail programs are important tools for increasing participation in elections.

*Fight for a Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United In 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that corporations are people and have virtually unlimited ability to pump money into elections.[5] The Citizens United decision reshaped the American political process for the worse. Today, we are paying the price as corporate-run Super PACs can buy influence like never before. Like President Obama, I support an amendment to counter Citizens United.[6] Our system should give voice to the voters, not to wealthy special interests.

*Ensure Fair Drawing of Congressional Districts Voters should choose their representatives NOT the other way around. When redistricting is put in the hands of politicians, our democracy suffers. Thanks to hyper-partisan state governments, Congressional districts have been "gerrymandered" to ensure a particular party's victory.[7] People of color, voters in metropolitan areas, and rural voters, increasingly, find themselves represented by officials who do not have their best interests in mind. We must take the politics out of the border drawing process and create a system that fairly represents the people. Mandating States use independent commissions for redistricting will ensure districts are drawn in accordance with law and free of partisanship.

*Establish Public Financing of Federal Elections[8]To help fight back against the big money in politics we need to encourage campaigns to run grassroots operations to fund their campaigns. A combination of contribution matching and limits in exchange for public funds will encourage campaigns to build people-oriented grassroots campaigns that are more accountable to voters than wealthy donors and shady special interest groups.[9]

*Require Outside Groups To Disclose Their Donors Shady corporate special interests have been influencing our elections for years in secret through various outside groups that are not required to report their donors.[10] That needs to change. Voters need to know who is paying for the ads so that they can make an informed decision on election day. These outside groups pose an existential threat to our democracy by acting in secret on behalf of wealthy special interests looking to benefit at the public's expense. Legislation like the Disclose Act must be passed now.[11]

*End Candidate Specific Super PACs These entities were created specifically to circumvent contribution limits and empower the influence of wealthy donors and interest groups over candidates and elections. These entities present a true crisis moment for our democracy. Congress must act now to limit the influence of big money in our politics and hand our elections back to the voters.[12]

*Require Corporations to Report Political Spending with the SEC Shareholders have a right to know how Corporations are spending their money. To preserve the rights of shareholders and the public interest, the SEC must prioritize bringing transparency to corporate political spending.

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