House Republicans unveil plan to help states safeguard their elections
House Republicans Introduce Model Legislation to Safeguard Elections
House Republicans unveiled a groundbreaking legislative tool kit on Thursday, designed to empower state legislatures in bolstering the integrity of their elections. Titled “The Uniform State American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act,” this comprehensive package offers 13 recommended state laws aimed at increasing voters’ confidence and promoting election integrity. Drawing inspiration from the federal ACE Act, which House Republicans introduced last year, this model legislation has already gained traction and awaits a full House floor vote after being passed by the Committee on House Administration in July.
Key Provisions to Ensure Election Integrity
- Voter ID and Proof of Residency: The legislation advocates for voter ID and proof of residency requirements for both in-person and mail-in voting. Despite claims that these requirements disproportionately affect non-white voters, recent polls indicate that the majority of Americans, including black and Hispanic voters, support such safeguards. Additionally, several courts have dismissed Democrat-backed lawsuits challenging voter ID laws.
- Regular Removal of Ineligible Voters: The model legislation proposes a mandate to regularly purge ineligible voters from state voter rolls, including non-citizens. This addresses the issue of non-citizens being registered to vote, as exemplified by Pennsylvania’s discovery of an error in their computer system that allowed non-U.S. citizens to register.
- Prohibition of Private Funding: The ACE Act recommends that states prohibit private funding of elections. This measure aims to prevent the influence of wealthy individuals, such as Mark Zuckerberg, who poured hundreds of millions of dollars into local election offices during the 2020 election. These funds were primarily directed towards Democrat-majority counties, effectively creating a privately funded get-out-the-vote operation.
- Additional Safeguards: The legislation also advocates for increased poll watcher access, safeguards for mail-in voting, limits on early voting and ballot drop boxes, and bans on non-citizen voting, certain forms of third-party ballot harvesting, and ranked-choice voting.
By providing this toolkit of election integrity bills to states, House Republicans are taking a proactive approach to secure our elections and restore Americans’ confidence in the process. Representatives Bryan Steil and Laurel Lee, co-sponsors of the bill, emphasize the importance of ensuring that Americans feel confident in the integrity of their elections.
Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood
How does the ACE Act address concerns of voter suppression and protect the rights and access to voting for all eligible citizens
Allowed non-citizens to register to vote. Regular removal of ineligible voters ensures that only eligible citizens have the right to vote and prevents any potential fraud or manipulation of the election process.
Strong Bipartisan Support
The ACE Act has garnered strong bipartisan support, with several Democratic legislators expressing their approval of the proposed measures. Recognizing the importance of election integrity and voters’ confidence in the democratic process, legislators from both sides of the aisle have come together to support this comprehensive package. This bipartisan approach ensures that concerns from all perspectives are addressed, and the resulting legislation will have broad-based acceptance and effectiveness.
Misconceptions and Opposition
Despite the clear benefits and bipartisan support, detractors of the ACE Act argue that the proposed measures could disenfranchise certain groups of voters, particularly minority and marginalized communities. However, these claims are unfounded as recent polls have shown support for the proposed safeguards among minority and non-white voters. Furthermore, the legislation includes provisions to protect the rights and access to voting for all eligible citizens, ensuring that no individual is unjustly denied their voting rights.
Opposition to the ACE Act also comes in the form of concerns over potential voter suppression. Critics claim that the voter ID and proof of residency requirements disproportionately affect certain demographics, making it difficult for them to vote. However, these claims have been debunked by court decisions and widespread public support for voter ID laws. The ACE Act focuses on election integrity and instilling confidence in the democratic process, while still safeguarding the rights of all eligible voters.
A Step Towards Strengthening Election Integrity
The introduction of the Uniform State ACE Act is a significant step towards strengthening election integrity and ensuring voters’ confidence in the democratic process. By providing recommended state laws that address key issues such as voter ID, regular removal of ineligible voters, enhanced ballot security measures, and uniformity in election procedures, this legislation empowers state legislatures to enact necessary safeguards and promote fair and transparent elections. With bipartisan support, this comprehensive package sets a precedent for future collaboration and efforts to safeguard elections across the country.
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