New rules open doors for new voters

New rules open doors for new voters
Column: As I See It

Cook County News-Herald

Josh Winters,Guest columnist

Our democracy just got a little bit wider. New rules adopted this week by the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office will expand access to our electoral process. The rules provide new opportunities to engage underrepresented communities in the political process by expanding access for students, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness and more.

The Voting Rights Coalition (VRC), a nonpartisan, independent coalition of 25 groups advocating for democracy and civic participation, expressed their support for recently adopted election rules that open the process to new voters. These changes were approved last week by administrative law judge Richard C. Luis.

The Secretary of State’s office should be applauded for their leadership in making the voting process more accessible in this critically important election year — particularly for those communities which have historically had the toughest time getting their voices heard.

Nonprofits that work regularly to engage underrepresented communities in the political process were very pleased with the result.

“Many students in Minnesota benefit from these changes,” said Kara Brockett, State Chair of the Minnesota State University Student Association which is a member of the VRC. “By providing new options for them to register and vote on Election Day, the door is opened for full participation on November 4, 2008. It is important that the voting process is easy and accessible for new voters to encourage a lifelong commitment to civic engagement.”

The rules also provide a new way for people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, and others to get registered and vote. Many of these individuals live in group homes, homeless shelters, or other nonprofit residential facilities. The adopted rules offer a new process for employees of those facilities to vouch for their residents so that they can register and vote on Election Day.

“This is a welcome change that continues Minnesota’s great tradition of high voter participation through open and accessible elections,” said Mai Thor of the Minnesota Disability Law Center which is a member of the VRC. “It is critical that those communities that have had problems participating in the past be provided new opportunities to engage in the political process.”

Minnesota prides itself on having one of the most fair and accessible voting systems in the country. Minnesota led the nation with 77 percent voter turnout in the last presidential election. The members of the VRC expect these new rules to help achieve 80 percent turnout in 2008; our state would reach that number if 26 new voters turn out in each precinct in Minnesota.

To download the new election rules adopted by the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office, visit www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/

Josh Winters is a public policy associate for the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.