(Assemblywoman Jill Dickman) – Elections are the heart of America’s democracy, the means by which citizens exercise their right to shape the future of our nation. Yet, as critical as elections are, they are not immune to vulnerabilities such as fraud, manipulation, and foreign interference.
The “U.S. Citizens Elections Bill of Rights” is a comprehensive legislative proposal designed to protect the integrity of our elections, ensuring they remain free, fair, and secure for all eligible voters.
This proposal lays out a series of commonsense reforms and safeguards, addressing everything from voter registration to election technology. By implementing these measures, we can strengthen public confidence in our election system and ensure that every legal vote is counted accurately. Here’s a closer look at the key principles behind this important initiative.
Ensuring Only U.S. Citizens Vote
The right to vote is one of the most sacred privileges of citizenship. Under this proposal, states would be required to confirm the citizenship status of every voter before they are added to voter rolls. This would include verifying citizenship through state DMV records, Social Security Administration data, and other official sources. IDs used for voting would also clearly indicate citizenship, ensuring that only eligible voters participate in our elections.
Additionally, the proposal calls for states to clean up existing voter rolls by identifying and removing ineligible voters, such as non-citizens, deceased individuals, and those who have moved out of state. This rigorous voter roll maintenance is critical to maintaining the integrity of our elections.
Voter ID for All Votes
One of the most effective ways to secure elections is to require voter identification. This proposal mandates that all voters present a valid photo ID that confirms identity, residency, and U.S. citizenship. For those voting by mail, additional safeguards such as QR codes or unique voter registration numbers would be required to verify the legitimacy of each ballot.
This measure ensures that every vote cast is legitimate while preventing impersonation or other forms of fraud. At the same time, it protects the fundamental principle of one person, one vote.
Voting on Election Day
To streamline the voting process and reduce opportunities for errors or manipulation, the proposal suggests moving all voting to Election Day, except for qualified absentee voters. By requiring in-person voting at local precincts, the plan seeks to make elections more transparent and manageable.
Absentee voting would remain an option for those who qualify, but ballots would need to be verified before Election Day and received by the close of polls. This ensures that every absentee vote is legitimate and counted on time. By processing and reporting all votes on Election Night, the proposal eliminates delays and builds public trust in the results.
Protecting Deployed Military Voters
The proposal includes special provisions for active-duty military personnel, ensuring they can participate in elections no matter where they are stationed. For military voters, the plan allows for registration and voting using copies of military IDs or U.S. passports and permits voting via email or fax. This recognizes the unique challenges faced by our service members and ensures their voices are heard.
Transparency and Accountability
Transparency is a cornerstone of any democratic election. The proposal calls for robust post-election audits and public access to all election records, including cast vote records, ballot images, and chain-of-custody documents. These records would be made available at no cost to the public, ensuring that election outcomes can be verified independently.
Election officials who fail to maintain transparency or destroy records would face civil and criminal penalties. These measures ensure that the electoral process remains open and accountable to the public.
Modernizing Voting Technology
In today’s digital age, voting systems must be both secure and reliable. The proposal advocates for the replacement of vulnerable voting technology with pre-printed, secure paper ballots that can be hand-marked and counted. It also prohibits the use of foreign-made voting equipment, software, or components to eliminate potential security risks.
To further enhance security, all voting technology would be built on open-source hardware and software, making it easier to detect and address vulnerabilities. Public pre-election testing of all technology would be mandatory, ensuring that voting systems are functioning properly before Election Day.
Rigorous Voter Roll Maintenance
Maintaining accurate voter rolls is essential to preventing fraud and ensuring fair elections. Under this proposal, voter registration lists would be regularly reviewed and updated to confirm the identity, residency, and citizenship of all registrants. Election offices would also be required to act on documentation of bad registrations submitted by citizens and to institute procedures for receiving notifications of voter relocations from the USPS and DMV.
To further ensure compliance, the proposal imposes penalties on election officials who fail to maintain clean and accurate voter rolls. It also allows private citizens to take legal action to enforce these requirements.
Protecting Our Constitutional Framework
The proposal strongly opposes radical election schemes like ranked-choice voting and the National Popular Vote compact, which threaten to undermine the principles of one person, one vote. By safeguarding the constitutional framework, the plan ensures that elections remain fair and reflective of the will of the people.
A Path Forward
The U.S. Citizens Elections Bill of Rights is more than just a proposal; it’s a roadmap to restore trust in our electoral system. By implementing these reforms, we can ensure that our elections are secure, transparent, and accountable to the American people. These measures protect not just the integrity of our elections, but also the foundational principles of our democracy.
It’s time to act. For more information or to support this initiative, visit VoteFair2026.com. Together, we can protect the future of our elections and ensure that every legal vote is counted.
Ms. Dickman is the Nevada State Assemblywoman representing District 31 in Washoe County
