The issues with statewide ballot Proposal 3 and Proposal 4 have nothing to do with the proposals themselves and everything to do with how they would be implemented.

Proposal 3 eliminates the 10-day advance voter registration requirement, amending Article 2, Section 5 of the state constitution that states a citizen must be registered to vote at least 10 days before an election. If the amendment is approved, it would be up to the state Legislature to pass a law allowing a citizen to vote less than 10 days before the election.

Proposal 4, meanwhile, authorizes no-excuse absentee ballot voting, removing language from the state constitution that restricts absentee voting to people facing one of two specific circumstances: those who expect to be absent from their county on Election Day and those who can’t vote at their polling place because of illness or physical disability.

Both make it easier to vote — and that should be enshrined in our state Constitution. But passing the ballot proposals is only half the battle. Some boards of elections, like ours here in Chautauqua County, helped solve the absentee ballot issues presented to school districts in 2020. Much of the credit for that process not devolving into chaos belongs to local school officials, Republican Election Commissioner Brian Abrams and former Democratic Election Commissioner Norm Green. Not all counties are lucky enough to have such competent leadership on elections. The same has been true with the move to early voting, transitioning to new voting machines and quickly posting results online. Chautauqua County has been effectively tackled these problems, so we know it can be done.

Will it be done?

That’s another matter entirely. A Congressional race was undecided for weeks earlier this year. Democrats keep touting technology, but then make it harder to purge voter rolls.

It should be easier to vote. But votes must be legal. And it will be up to majority Democrats to come together with Republicans to make sure that happens.

Vote yes on Proposal 3 and Proposal 4.