[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 26, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H2533]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H2533]]
              UNIVERSAL RIGHT TO VOTE BY MAIL ACT OF 2005

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the 
Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act of 2005, a bill to allow any 
eligible voter to vote by mail in a Federal election if he or she 
chooses to do so.
  In my home State of California, voters already have this right. 
California is one of 25 States that already provides this convenient 
alternative to voting.
  While I personally love the ritual of going to the polls to vote, I 
know that getting to the polls on Election Day is often difficult. And 
for some, it is impossible.
  That is why I have introduced a bill that builds upon the growing 
trend of States to bring the polls to the voters. I believe we should 
try to meet our constituents halfway by increasing access to the 
electoral process.
  What I am proposing is not new or even untested. States ranging from 
my home State of California to Wisconsin to North Carolina to Maine 
have already adopted this voter-friendly policy.
  Citizens can vote from the convenience of their own homes. They will 
have more time to mull over their choices and make informed decisions. 
And they will be able to do so on their own terms, potentially avoiding 
long lines at the polls.
  Not surprisingly, studies have shown that some of the bigger 
supporters of voting by mail are parents who must schedule time to go 
to the polls around so many other obligations.
  Studies have also indicated that adding the option to vote by mail 
does not create a partisan advantage for one political party over the 
other. Republicans and Democrats both benefit from similar increases in 
voter turnout when voters are given the choice to mail in their 
ballots.
  In fact, overwhelming support for voting by mail is consistent across 
nearly every demographic, be that age, income level, race, education, 
employment status, and ideology. It is a win-win for all Americans.
  After adopting a universal right to vote by mail system in 1978, 
California saw a 30 percent increase in the use of mail-in ballots.
  In my district of San Diego, 40 percent of voters opted to mail in 
their votes during the 2004 election. And other States that have 
implemented this policy have seen the same degree of support from 
voters, which is why it is hardly surprising that States offering the 
option of mail-in ballots often experience greater voter participation.
  States providing universal access to mail-in ballots during the 2004 
election saw a 6.7 percent increase in voter turnout. And again, this 
increase was uniform across all demographics, including political 
affiliation.
  There is also extremely low incidence of fraud with voting by mail 
when compared to other methods of voting. The State of Oregon, which 
runs its elections entirely by mail, has prosecuted only four cases of 
fraud over the last six elections.
  Mr. Speaker, as the former president of the League of Women Voters of 
San Diego, I care deeply about the integrity of our electoral system. 
Twenty-five States have already proven this option works and it is 
safe. It is time to give voters in the remaining States this 
convenient, secure, and affordable alternative.
  While I am proud to be from a State where citizens already have this 
right, I believe democracy works best when all citizens have an equal 
opportunity to have their voices heard. Right now, an uneven playing 
field exists between States that already offer the option of mail-in 
ballots and States that do not.

                              {time}  2030

  When the same election is more accessible to voters in California 
than it is to voters in Maryland, the system is unfair.
  States that fail to offer this choice stand to compromise their 
leverage in Federal elections by curbing the greatest level of voter 
participation. We should follow the lead of half of our Nation's States 
and ensure a uniformity of rights for all voters.
  I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in 
supporting this effort to strengthen the Democratic process and give 
American voters the choices they deserve.

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