CT Legislation Could Implement ‘Universal Voting’

Connecticut's General Assembly is poised to take up a bill to study universal voting.  This is when voting isn't just a fundamental right, but required by law.

Research shows the U.S. ranked 31st for global voter turnout in 2022. Some of the top-ranked countries are those with universal voting in place.

The bill sets the wheels in motion by studying its efficacy, before committing to legislation that approves it.  Miles Rapoport, executive director at 100% Democracy: An Initiative for Universal Voting, said this could change campaign incentives.

"Right now, the current state for campaigns and political parties is to gin up your base, as much as you can," said Rapoport. "Some people say it's 'enrage to engage' and then try to depress the turnout of your opponent."

Some opposition to universal voting is from people who feel the government can't force them to do anything, although jury duty is a mandated civic duty. Others argue some voters who don't care will vote without making an informed decision.

This could bolster voter turnout in Connecticut, which peaked in 2020. However, in the 2022 midterm election, only 57% of the electorate voted.

But, Rapaport noted that a fundamental part of democracy is the ability to cast a ballot.

Universal voting legislation has come before the General Assembly in previous years, although it's failed each time.  Part of universal voting involves enforcement, which can take the form of a small fine. But, this would usually comes after several letters are sent asking why a person couldn't vote.

Most reasons are accepted, but penalizing voters might not be the best way forward for some.  Rapoport said there are other ways to get people to the polls.

"You could actually do an incentive-based system, rather than an enforcement-based system," said Rapoport. "It is possible to think about, some sort of a small tax credit for people who vote, who actually go out and participate."

If an enforcement system is used, Rapoport said the fine should be small - that it doesn't accumulate penalties, and can't be used as the basis of a criminal warrant.

This could bolster voter turnout in Connecticut, which peaked in 2020. However, in the 2022 midterm election, only 57% of the electorate voted.

This story written and reported by Edwin J. Viera of the Connecticut News Service, a statewide news service for Connecticut.