Steven Holt: “The cost of restoring legitimacy is far greater than the cost of maintaining it. When there is an error in the election…”

“The cost of restoring legitimacy is far greater than the cost of maintaining it. When there is an error in the election or when there is uncertainty that there might be an error in the election, it hurts democracy. The winner is compromised; the loser is compromised. Democracy is compromised. So the fact that there is so much uncertainty about what happened in Florida three-and-a-half years ago is certainly no cause for celebration by the Republicans that they won because there is a cloud hanging over our democracy, and it cannot be resolved. The HAVA Act, the Help America Vote Act, does take care of some of the problems that my colleague from Florida raised. A voter now can demand a provisional ballot. If when you show up at the polls you are told, well, we cannot find your name on the registration list, you can vote provisionally. You must be allowed to vote provisionally under the Help America Vote Act. And then later they will determine whether that ballot is good. They will not turn you away. It also increases accessibility, it increases compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, it strengthens the Voting Rights Act of 1965, it provides for a centralized database in each State of registered voters, and it helps replace the old machines.”