Republicans aren’t securing elections. They’re shrinking them | Emily Marburger

Montanans — and all Americans frankly — should be paying very close attention to what Donald Trump and his Republican allies proposed this week: a national voter database paired with new restrictions on mail-in voting. This will not secure our elections. It’s a deliberate attempt to exclude voters from participating in a crucial election this fall.

Democrats have long believed that our democracy is strongest when more people have a voice, not fewer. That means making it easier to vote: expanding early voting, protecting mail-in ballots, and ensuring every eligible voter can cast their ballot without jumping through hoops. What we’re seeing now is the exact opposite approach.

Remember when Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen sent Montana voter information to the federal government? She’s still refusing to answer questions from legislators, but it’s likely for Trump’s national voter database. Consolidating our sensitive voter information into one centralized system creates a powerful tool that could (and under Trump, would) be used to target, intimidate, or disenfranchise voters.

The kicker for Montanans? If you’re not on the list, you don’t get mailed a ballot. Trump has given USPS complete control of distributing ballots — even though the Constitution gives election power to the states. In recent years, Montanans have seen their mail be consolidated into "regional hubs," resulting in mail delays across the state. How much do you trust Trump’s USPS to get your ballot to you?

Efforts to restrict mail-in voting will hit working families, seniors, rural communities, and veterans the hardest. Distance and weather are real barriers to voting in Montana. Mail-in voting is a necessity. Many Montanans would have to drive 20+ miles to vote in person — on a Tuesday in November that’s not a national holiday. Democrats understand that your constitutional rights should not depend on your zip code, your job schedule, or your physical ability to stand in line for hours.

Republicans claim these policies are about “election integrity.” But there’s no credible evidence of widespread fraud that would justify making it harder for people to vote. What these proposals would do, however, is shrink the electorate. Republicans are scared they’ll lose big in November, so they’re cutting regular folks out of the process.

This is a fundamental difference in values. Democrats are fighting to protect and expand voting rights because we trust people. We believe that when more Americans participate, our government becomes more representative, more accountable, and more responsive.

The path forward shouldn’t be about fear or control. As Democrats sue to protect our rights, we should remember that we strengthen our democracy by ensuring every voice is heard. That’s what’s at stake. That’s what Montana Democrats will continue to defend.