WHEN WE ALL VOTE: THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY: A roundup of recent voting news

Hi John,

Welcome back to "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly," your go-to source for the latest voting news. President Donald Trump has rescinded President Biden’s Executive Order 14019, which previously expanded voter registration. Meanwhile, Virginia’s Senate approved a proposal to restore voting rights for people with felony convictions. In Wisconsin, lawmakers approved a measure to cement photo ID requirements in the state constitution, and voters will decide its fate this April.

So, buckle up and join us as we navigate the world of voting — where The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly all meet. 😉

😃 THE GOOD: The Virginia Senate approved S.J.R 248, a proposed constitutional amendment that would automatically restore voting rights to convicted felons upon their release from incarceration. Virginia is one of a few states that does not provide automatic restoration of voting rights. Instead, individuals are required to obtain approval directly from the governor.

😠 THE BAD: The Wisconsin legislature has passed S.J.R. 2, a proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine photo ID requirements for voting in the state’s constitution. While Wisconsin law already mandates voters to present identification at the polls, a constitutional amendment would make it much more difficult for future legislatures to change or eliminate the photo ID requirement, ensuring it remains a permanent part of the state’s election process. In an April statewide referendum, voters will have the final say on this amendment.

😡 THE UGLY: On his first day in office, President Donald Trump reversed Executive Order 14019, rolling back expansions made by the Biden Administration to voting access and voter registration. The executive order previously allowed federal agencies to support states in establishing automatic voter registration and provide federal resources to assist at polling locations and to share voter registration information through federal websites. Elected officials in states like Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Texas challenged the order, claiming it overstepped federal authority. Courts rejected many of these challenges, but legal battles have continued.

John, this year, voters will decide over 100,000 local races for governors, school boards, mayors, and more. Democracy doesn’t take a year off — and neither can we.

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I’ll be back soon with more important voting news and updates.

— Beth