First, the 26th Amendment and changed the voting age from 21 to 18. The reasoning was that if a person was old enough to die for his country, then he (or "she" as it is today) should be able to vote in elections. Registration to vote after death, now a call for voter registration at birth. What's next, registration before birth?."
In Washington state, a local Democratic leader wants people registered to vote at birth.
In Nevada and New Mexico, a liberal group is pressuring the legislatures to let people register when they get driver’s licenses.
In Ohio, progressive activists have thrown their support behind a mayoral candidate because she fights with Republicans about voting access.
Across the country, Democrats and their allies are plotting a quiet and disjointed but considerable push to make voting easier by dismantling registration barriers and promoting candidates who want to expand voting rights. It’s all an effort to reshape the electorate by creating new Democratic voters.
If successful, the effect could be profound. The more people who vote, the better Democrats usually do in everything from a marquee presidential election to little-noticed municipal race.
"Democrats have been on the defensive," said Tina Podlodowski, chairwoman of the Washington State Democratic Party. "We’ve tried to get on the offensive, and I think people are starting to listen more and more to that. |