Simplifying the American Voting Process

Amber McReynolds, the CEO of the National Vote at Home Institute & Coalition, delivered a talk on voting for TEDxMileHigh, in which she explains how America's democratic system can be improved and simplified.

She begins by highlighting the many issues that plague America's election process, speaking to the limited polling locations, confusion regarding registration, and long lines that can cause some voters to wait for up to 7 hours to cast their ballots. As she explains, making voting difficult goes against the very core of democracy, however support for a reformed voting process is not supported by many politicians who benefit from the suppressive system that currently exists. McReynolds goes on to explain who is responsible for making these changes in different states, and how the regulations differ greatly across the country. As the former Director of Elections for Denver, Colorado, and co-author of 'When Women Vote,' McReynolds is well-versed in the barriers that stand in the way of Americans, and how they can be overcome to encourage patriation among all eligible voters.

McReynolds shows how this is an attainable goal, using Colorado as an example to highlight how automatic registration, fewer restrictive deadlines, and ballot tracking can be shared with other states to provide more transparency, accountability, and convenience.