Opinion: Paul Ryan’s criticism of California elections is unjustified
Unlike other states, Golden State is a model for expanding voters’ rights
Marc Berman
The Mercury News
December 7, 2018
Outgoing Speaker of the House Paul Ryan recently cast doubt on California’s election results, calling our state’s election system “bizarre” and saying that it “just defies logic” to him.
As chair of the state Assembly committee that oversees our elections, I wanted to take this opportunity to enlighten the Wisconsin congressman. The results of the Nov. 6 election are what happens when a state takes the power away from politicians and puts it in the hands of the people, where it belongs, by making it easier to vote and ensuring that all votes are counted.
California has been a leader in reforming how our politicians get elected, becoming one of the first states in the country to create an independent citizens redistricting commission to draw political districts for state and federal office. This means that more districts are competitive between Democrats and Republicans, and that elected officials are actually held accountable by their constituents for the votes that they make.
When politicians draw up their own districts, as they do in Wisconsin, they practically guarantee their own political survival no matter what they do in office. In California, actions have consequences, and voters have the power to vote out representatives who aren’t actually representing their districts.
While other states like Georgia and Florida are finding creative new ways to stop people from voting, California has been at the forefront of expanding voting rights. And not just for voters who look or think a certain way – but for all voters, regardless of race or political party.
In California, any voter can sign up to receive a vote by mail ballot, without needing a reason. Vote by mail ballots that are mailed by Election Day are counted as long as they are received three days after the election, and voters can return their completed vote by mail ballots to a polling place anywhere in the state.
In addition, eligible Californians who need to register to vote—or update their registration—can do so on Election Day. Rather than turning eligible voters away from polling places without giving them the chance to vote, as is the case in Wisconsin, California makes extensive use of provisional ballots. This election cycle, more than 1 million California voters cast provisional ballots. While those ballots need to be thoroughly researched, and the voters’ eligibility confirmed, between 85 to 90 percent of California’s provisional ballots typically are counted.
California also prioritizes the security and accuracy of our elections. If we learned anything from the 2016 election, it’s that voters’ confidence in election results will suffer if our elections are not secure. That’s why California banned the use of paperless voting systems more than a decade ago. While paperless electronic systems may produce faster election results, they lack the transparency and auditability that is needed to maintain confidence in our election outcomes.
These voter-focused policies helped fuel the highest turnout in a midterm election in California since 1982, and demonstrate what elections look like when a state makes it easier for voters to participate.
And yes – one result of these pro-voter policies is that it can take a little longer to count ballots. Part of the reason that California’s vote count takes as long as it does is because the state is big—really big. Los Angeles County alone has nearly 5.3 million registered voters, 2 million more than the total number of voters in Ryan’s entire home state of Wisconsin.
But isn’t the integrity of our elections worth taking a few extra days? I think so.
California election officials should be praised for their dedication and commitment to ensuring the accuracy and integrity of California’s election results, not disparaged by uninformed partisans who disagree with the choices made by California voters.
Marc Berman, D-Palo Alto, represents District 24 in the California Assembly.