Proposition 39 is the only answer to vote-by-mail chaos |
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Proposition 39 is the only answer to vote-by-mail chaos
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Vote-by-mail is a mess. And the only answer is voter ID, as in Proposition 39.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court declined to block an executive order by President Donald Trump that restricts vote-by-mail.
Among other things, the order requires the US Postal Service to obtain lists of registered voters from the states, and to make sure that any ballots sent by mail are only delivered to people on the rolls.
Democrats, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, are vowing to continue fighting in the courts.
These battles are terrible for democracy.
Once, absentee voting was rare, and reserved only for special cases — such as military duty, or a health emergency.
Then several western states — including California — decided to offer vote-by-mail more widely, as a convenience.
It may have been coincidence, but in vote-by-mail states, Democrats won victory after victory. Republicans found themselves virtually shut out of state politics.
To Democrats, that was just evidence that low-propensity voters preferred their party, and would vote Democratic once voting was made easy and convenient enough.
To Republicans, vote-by-mail began to look suspicious.........