The integrity of the ballot depends on its limited access. To protect and ensure our representative government we carefully screen access to the ballot through registration, an election date deadline hour, ballot locations, and strict oversight of ballots while and after they are cast. By these measures we are better assured that, no matter how hard we can and should strive to make available to every eligible citizen the means to cast a vote, no one may cast more than one vote and only for himself or herself.

This proposed regulation change would erode that limitation for no justifiable purpose. Aren't we already able to vote early in person (even this weekend!) or mail in a ballot? If a ballot is received 3 days late and has no legible postmark, it's not a ballot anymore, because the election has ended without any proof of that vote being cast on time. Vote once, vote early if you like, but don't pretend this regulation change is anything but an open door for fraudulent behavior.