Secure Elections Amendment

New Proposals and Ideas
1

:light_bulb: 1. TLDR – Summary of Proposed Solutions

:white_check_mark: Enshrine a fundamental constitutional right to vote for all citizens aged 18+
:white_check_mark: Require automatic voter registration (AVR) through state agencies
:white_check_mark: Guarantee a minimum 30-day early voting period with equitable statewide access
:white_check_mark: Require timely and secure cleaning of voter rolls using official records

:bullseye: 2. Purpose

This amendment secures the right to vote in the state constitution and modernizes how that right is protected and implemented. By replacing a fragmented legal framework with unified, proactive systems, the amendment improves access, reduces administrative error, and builds public confidence. Every eligible citizen should have a clear, secure path to the ballot—and every vote should be counted without delay or unnecessary barriers.

:mantelpiece_clock: 3. Background

Across the country, voters face inconsistent rules, outdated registration systems, and barriers that disproportionately impact younger, rural, and working-class citizens. Excessive documentation requirements, fragmented voter rolls, and uneven access to early voting have led to mistrust, court battles, and preventable disenfranchisement. States with clear constitutional rights and modern systems like AVR experience fewer legal disputes, greater turnout, and more accurate rolls. This amendment draws from those best practices to establish a permanent, unified structure for secure and equitable elections.

:white_check_mark: 4. Proposed Solutions

:white_check_mark: Fundamental Right to Vote

  • Guarantee that every U.S. citizen residing in the state who is at least 18 years old has a constitutional right to vote in all state and local elections.

  • Prohibit any law, policy, or administrative action that unduly burdens this right.

:white_check_mark: Automatic Voter Registration (AVR)

  • Automatically register eligible citizens when they interact with designated state agencies (e.g., DMV), unless they affirmatively opt out.

  • The state shall verify all forms of identification required for voter registration using existing government records and inter-agency data.

  • No eligible individual shall be required to provide additional documentation if such records are already accessible to the state.

:white_check_mark: Guaranteed Early Voting

  • Establish a minimum 30-day early voting period prior to all state and local elections.

  • Ensure equitable geographic access to early voting sites and ballot drop-off infrastructure.

  • Counties must offer sufficient access based on population, transportation, and historical turnout data.

:white_check_mark: Clean Voter Rolls

  • Require that voter rolls be regularly updated using:

    • Official state and federal death records

    • Interstate voter registration data-sharing programs

  • Guarantee due process: voters must be notified and given the opportunity to contest any removal.

  • Data integrity protocols must be publicly reported and independently auditable.

:bar_chart: 5. Evidence (Updated: Secure Elections Amendment)

:brain: 1. Constitutional Right to Vote Strengthens Long-Term Protection

  • Douglas, J. A. The Right to Vote Under State Constitutions. Vanderbilt Law Review (2014). PDF

  • Sellers, J., & Weinstein-Tull, J. Constructing the Right to Vote. NYU Law Review (2021). PDF

  • Miller, N. M., Hamm, K. E., & Aroca, M. Voting Reform Through State Constitutions. Publius (2019). PDF

:counterclockwise_arrows_button: 2. Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) Boosts Turnout and Cuts Costs

  • McGhee, E., Hill, C., & Romero, M. Turnout Effects of AVR. SSRN (2021). Open Access

  • Morris, K., & Dunphy, P. AVR and Administrative Savings. Brennan Center (2019). PDF

  • Rome, S. H. Expanding Opportunities to Vote. Springer (2021). DOI

  • Merivaki, T., & Smith, D. A. Challenges in Voter Registration. (2019). PDF

:ballot_box_with_ballot: 3. Early Voting Must Be Equitable to Work

  • Gronke, P. Early Voting Reforms and American Elections. William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal (2008). PDF

  • Rome, S. H. (see above)

:soap: 4. Voter Roll Maintenance Works Best with Due Process

  • Pettigrew, S., & Stewart III, C. Voter Roll Maintenance Best Practices. SSRN (2024). Open Access

  • Tokaji, D. P. Voter Registration and Election Reform. William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal (2008). PDF

:locked_with_key: 5. Election Security Comes from Transparency, Not Barriers

  • Islam, M.J., Karim, S.A., & Faris, M. Revitalizing Electoral Trust via ML. SSRN (2024). Open Access

  • Jefferson, D., Rubin, A. D., & Simons, B. A Security Analysis of the SERVE Voting System. (2004). PDF

  • Breedon, K., & Bryant, A. C. Counting the Votes: Election Integrity & Public Corruption. SSRN (2018). PDF

  • Committee on the Future of Voting. Securing the Vote. National Academies Press (2018). Full Book

:receipt: 6. Public Trust Grows When Rights Are Clear and Processes Are Fair

  • Park, S. The Right to Vote Securely. University of Colorado Law Review (2023). PDF

  • Li, M. C. Securing the Vote in 2020 and Beyond. New Labor Forum (2020). Abstract

:blue_book: 6. Definitions

  1. Automatic Voter Registration (AVR): An opt-out system that registers eligible voters during routine government agency interactions.

  2. Undue Burden: Any restriction or delay that unjustifiably prevents a citizen from registering or voting.

  3. Early Voting: In-person voting available before official Election Day.

  4. Due Process: Legal notice and opportunity to contest before voter removal.

  5. Verification: Use of agency-held records to confirm eligibility, including any required form of identification.

:thought_balloon: 7. Clarifications

  1. This amendment does not permit non-citizens to vote.

  2. Verification of citizenship and age shall be performed by the state using existing agency databases.

  3. No voter may be required to submit passports, birth certificates, or other documentation unless federally mandated.

  4. The state shall verify all forms of identification required for voter registration using government-held records.

  5. Geographic equity means availability across rural, suburban, and urban areas—not identical facilities everywhere.

  6. Voter roll removals must follow public reporting, notification, and appeal safeguards.

:hammer_and_wrench: 8. Implementation

  • Takes effect upon voter approval.

  • The Secretary of State shall issue administrative guidance within 6 months.

  • Counties must update procedures and roll management systems within 12 months.

  • The legislature may pass supportive laws but may not restrict or delay implementation.

:loudspeaker: 9. Why This Proposal Is Critical

  • Many states do not have an explicit right to vote in their constitutions—leaving access vulnerable to shifting politics.

  • Clear, secure systems reduce litigation, simplify administration, and protect voters from bureaucratic error.

  • Early voting and AVR empower more citizens—especially those with work or transportation barriers.

  • Updating voter rolls based on verified records protects integrity without risking wrongful removals.

  • This amendment makes elections fairer, smoother, and harder to manipulate—now and in the future.

:speech_balloon: 10. Call for Feedback

  • What additional safeguards might ensure accuracy and access in rural counties?

  • Are there specific state agencies (beyond DMV) that should be required for AVR?

  • Would a public transparency portal for roll updates improve confidence?

  • What oversight should exist for counties failing to provide equitable early voting?