ALEC & Voting Rights

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ALEC's Legislative Agenda on Voting Rights

Through the American Legislative Exchange Council, on ALEC task forces, corporate lobbyists and special interests vote as equals with elected representatives on templates to change our laws, behind closed doors with no press or public allowed to see the votes or deliberations. ALEC has produced model legislation aimed at making it more difficult to vote, specifically for the elderly, minorities, low-income, and college students. In addition, ALEC's model bills on voting rights include measures opposing a national popular vote to elect the president and citizen ballot initiatives, along with a measure supporting the controversial Citizens United decision.

Restricting the Right to Vote

• ALEC's "Voter ID Act" makes it more difficult for American citizens to vote. It would change ID rules so that citizens who have been registered to vote for decades must show certain kinds of ID in order to vote. This bill disenfranchises many low-income, minority, college students and elderly Americans who do not have driver's licenses but have typically used other forms of ID.

• ALEC's "Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act" requires evidence of U.S. citizenship be presented by every person to register to vote and at the polling place prior to voting. This act is ostensibly aimed at undocumented immigrants, but requires every voter to show an ID. The bill would end up disenfranchising many elderly people, students, and minorities who may not have the required forms.

• ALEC's "Resolution on Military Voting Rights" expresses opposition to the 2009 MOVE Act, legislation passed to ensure military ballots are delivered in the shortest possible time. ALEC's complaint is that the legislation only allows one express mail carry to be used. Both FedEx and UPS are members of ALEC.

• ALEC's "Resolution to Preserve the Legislative Process" expresses favoritism in solving issues, such as minimum wage levels, in the legislative process instead of in a democratic, citizen ballot initiative.

Supporting Controversial Citizens United Decision

• ALEC's "Resolution in Support of the Citizens United Decision" supports the controversial Supreme Court decision to allow unlimited corporate spending in elections. The ALEC resolution opposes expanded disclosure of money spent in elections, reversing its position in an earlier resolution, the "Resolution Supporting Citizen Involvement in Elections," which had supported some disclosure to combat corruption.

Opposing Popular Election of the President

• ALEC's "Resolution in Opposition to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact" and the "Resolution in Support of the Electoral College" opposes the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, an effort to replace the electoral college with a direct, nationwide vote.