Following a series of sweeping expansions to expand access to voting in recent years, a California lawmaker is pushing to require voters to cast a ballot in future elections. The proposal, introduced in the state Assembly on Tuesday, would be unprecedented and probably challenged in court should it ultimately become law. Levine’s proposal does not include a mechanism used in some countries to also register all eligible citizens. In November 2018, 64.5% of the state’s registered voters cast ballots — the highest percentage for any non-presidential general election since 1982. Supporters of such efforts have argued it could inspire elected officials to better represent the interests of a broader spectrum of citizens.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 05, 2020 23:03 UTC