Nation has Georgia on its mind, but many states are making voting easier
There have been efforts by states such as Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Vermont and Virginia to expand voting by mail, early voting and voter registration. In Kentucky, which did not have early voting before the pandemic, the Republican-controlled legislature passed a bipartisan measure that will establish a three-day early voting period.
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Ballots collected from drop boxes in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, on Monday, Oct. 5, 2020. [ AMY DAVIS / BALTIMORE SUN | The Baltimore Sun ]
Published 2 hours ago
Updated 2 hours ago
During the waning days of the presidential election, Vermont Democratic state Sen. Cheryl Hooker got a desperate call from one of her constituents: The woman said she had forgotten to sign her name on the absentee ballot, it had been rejected by the town clerk, and she couldnât fix it.
By Matt Vasilogambros
Apr 08, 2021
During the waning days of the presidential election, Vermont Democratic state Sen. Cheryl Hooker got a desperate call from one of her constituents: The woman said she had forgotten to sign her name on the absentee ballot, it had been rejected by the town clerk and she couldn’t fix it.
This was a familiar story around the country, as the pandemic forced voters and election administrators to take a crash course in mail-in voting.
“People make mistakes,” said Hooker, who couldn’t help her constituent at the time. “They don’t sign the outside envelope, or they forget to put their name on it. Their vote would not count.”
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Nation Has Georgia on Its Mind, but Many States Are Making Voting Easier
A voter in Louisville, Kentucky, votes during November’s presidential election. Kentucky enacted a law this week that adds three days of early voting.
Darron Cummings
The Associated Press
During the waning days of the presidential election, Vermont Democratic state Sen. Cheryl Hooker got a desperate call from one of her constituents: The woman said she had forgotten to sign her name on the absentee ballot, it had been rejected by the town clerk and she couldn’t fix it.
This was a familiar story around the country, as the pandemic forced voters and election administrators to take a crash course in mail-in voting.
Bruce Schreiner
FILE - In this Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019, file photo, Mike Adams, a Kentucky Republican candidate for secretary of state, addresses the audience gathered at the Fancy Farm Picnic in Fancy Farm, Ky. In sharp contrast to bitter partisan battles being waged elsewhere over election laws, Republicans and Democrats in Kentucky were on the verge Tuesday, March 16, 2021, of joining forces to loosen the state s voting access laws to make limited early voting a fixture. Kentucky is accustomed to bare-knuckled partisan fights, but Adams has noted the mild tone in the state, especially compared to the bitter debates on election law changes in other states. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)
Kentucky lawmakers advance bipartisan election reform bill
By BRUCE SCHREINERMarch 17, 2021 GMT
FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, file photo, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear addresses the media at a news conference at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky. A Kentucky legislative panel has recommended that no further action be taken on impeachment petitions filed by citizens against Beshear and Attorney General Daniel Cameron. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)
FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, file photo, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear addresses the media at a news conference at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky. A Kentucky legislative panel has recommended that no further action be taken on impeachment petitions filed by citizens against Beshear and Attorney General Daniel Cameron. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)