Sen. Ron Rice isn't entirely wrong - most felons should have voting rights. But he's wrong to undermine the Democracy Act. Watch video
State Sen. Ron Rice is moving the goalposts again, and it's hard to tell why he would play political games that hurt the constituents he purports to serve.
The Democrats in the Legislature were poised to put the Democracy Act on the ballot in 2016 as a constitutional amendment - which, if the voters adopt it, would provide automatic voter registration when you apply for a driver's license, online registration, and expand early voting.
It's a comprehensive modernization package, and for a state that is 39th in voter registration - with a dismal 22-percent turnout last month - we could use some modernization.
But Rice isn't hearing it - again.
In June, he managed to get same-day registration scrubbed from the original bill (which Gov. Christie vetoed on Nov. 9), because he believes it exposes the system to fraud. And as someone who claims to have had three elections stolen from him, he's inflexible on that provision.
More: Same-day registration will boost turnout
Now he is telling the Black Caucus to withdraw support of the package unless it restores voting rights for everyone who is incarcerated, on parole, and on probation.
And time is short: If this isn't resolved by Tuesday, the opportunity to place the Democracy Act on the 2016 ballot will likely pass.
"It needs to be full restoration," Rice said. "Other than that, many of my (caucus) members can't vote for it."
More: Take voting rights out of Christie's hands
But full restoration won't fly. Most in his party are on board with "partial" restoration, which would return the franchise to 65,000 people currently on probation, something allowed in 19 other states.
Perhaps Senate President Steve Sweeney can introduce this as a separate ballot question or as legislation.
But he should also remind his colleague that he voted for the original bill without the restoration provision, and convince Rice that intransigence is a poor excuse to torpedo a chance to bring New Jersey's electoral process into the 21st Century.
More: Recent Star-Ledger editorials.
Follow NJ.com Opinion on Twitter@NJ_Opinion. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.