Mandela Barnes on Government Reform

Expand opportunities for early-voting, mail-in voting

• Mandela will fight to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to protect the right to vote and crack down on voter suppression efforts.
• Mandela will fight to expand online voter registration and implement automatic and same-day voter registration across the country.
• Mandela will fight to make election day a national holiday.
• Mandela will work to expand opportunities for early-voting, mail-in voting, and expand election infrastructure to cut down on long lines.

Don't allow Congress members to own individual stocks

• Mandela will work to ban Members of Congress from owning individual stocks, to prevent insider trading and self-enrichment.
• Mandela will work to stop the revolving door and limit Members of Congress from lobbying their colleagues and serving on corporate boards.

Supports regulating large corporate monopoly farms

Fighting to protect democracy and right to vote

Voted NO on new state-funded absentee voting hours

• A municipality may make available no more than 45 hours each week for in-person absentee voting for any statewide election
• A municipality may hire individuals to assist in receiving absentee ballots in person.
• The state shall reimburse the municipality for 50% of the compensation paid to such individuals.

Excerpts from veto message: I am approving in-person absentee voting between Monday and Friday from 8 AM to 7 PM, and prohibiting in-person absentee voting on legal holidays. I am vetoing hiring individuals to assist with in-person absentee voting. I object to a new state expenditure for a function traditionally performed by local governments. We should all be focused on ensuring the integrity of the voting process by making it harder to cheat.

Legislative Outcome: Bill passed Senate 17-16-0 on 3/12; passed House 56-38-5 on 3/20; State Rep. Barnes voted NO; vetoed by Gov. Walker on 3/27.