My guess is that from hereon in, concerning purple states only

[Lonestarblue]

9. We desperately need new elections laws, but I know we won't get them with this Congress.

Aside from a law negating many of the voter repression and nullification laws Republicans have passed, we need a federal mandate that all voting machines that are to be used in federal elections have paper backups and its programming tested before every vote by a nonpartisan independent agency. In addition, we need a uniform design for mail ballots with clear instructions for completion, including the use of color and arrows to highlight where the ballot must be signed and dated. Texas has deliberately designed its mail ballots to make them as confusing as possible to trip up voters so they can toss the votes for minor clerical errors.

Another issue that needs to be addressed is the restoration of voting rights for former prisoners. States should not be allowed to deny the right to vote after the person has been released from prison. Nor should states be allowed to prevent voting by forcing former prisoners to pay fines incurred before they were imprisoned. Prison is the punishment for crimes and nonpayment of fees. Florida has done this to get around the voters’ mandate that former prisoners be allowed to vote.

I hope we can add enough senators this fall to get around the current obstructors, while also holding on to the House. There is much work to be done and we need a functioning Congress. Given what we are seeing from the Supreme Court, passing term limits for justices should be one of the first orders of business. Then make Puerto Rico and DC states and move on to a serious evaluation of adding four more justices to the SC. With decades to impose their will, we could see many rights taken away unless the religious radicals are balanced with moderate or progressive justices who follow the law.