Arnold Schwarzenegger Proposes Plan to Strengthen Democracy

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Hollywood actor and former Governor of California, presented his vision for enhancing democracy during an appearance on *Real Time with Bill Maher* on March 8, 2024. His proposal emphasizes bipartisan collaboration between Democrats and Republicans, a point that Maher expressed skepticism about achieving in the current political climate.

Schwarzenegger outlined his plan in three main parts. Firstly, he advocated for the establishment of a national holiday on Election Day. “What I suggest is to have a proposal like the Save Democracy Act, where we go and make Election Day a holiday so that everyone has time to go out and vote,” Schwarzenegger said. The concept of making Election Day a holiday already has the support of many Democratic lawmakers.

The second component of his proposal focuses on fair redistricting. He emphasized the necessity of forming independent redistricting commissions in each state to ensure fair representation. During his tenure as governor from 2003 to 2011, Schwarzenegger championed the creation of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, a measure that has been contentious under current Governor Gavin Newsom, who is backing Proposition 50. This proposition aims to limit Republican gerrymandering in various states, including Texas and Missouri.

Finally, Schwarzenegger proposed implementing a voter ID system to ensure that individuals can verify their identity when voting. He highlighted that this proposal includes elements attractive to both political parties, promoting the idea that collaboration is essential to tackle issues surrounding democracy.

During the interview, Schwarzenegger also criticized Governor Newsom’s attempts to amend California’s electoral maps to counter Republican gerrymandering, suggesting such efforts contradict the principles of democracy. “I think that Prop 50 is a big scam,” he stated, arguing that it undermines the independent commission responsible for drawing district lines. He questioned how such actions could genuinely support democratic values, saying, “How does this help democracy, imitating what Texas is doing? It doesn’t make any sense.”

Both red and blue states, according to Schwarzenegger, engage in gerrymandering practices that skew representation. He referenced states where the political landscape does not accurately reflect congressional representation, stating, “There are states out there that have 40 percent Republicans and only have like 20 percent of representation in Congress.”

On the same day, Vice President JD Vance echoed Schwarzenegger’s views in a post on social media, highlighting that New England’s six states, which vote approximately 40 percent Republican, have no Republican representatives in Congress.

Former President Barack Obama has also weighed in on the issue, supporting Newsom’s efforts while recognizing Schwarzenegger’s stance on reducing political gerrymandering. Obama remarked, “Over the long term, we shouldn’t have political gerrymandering in America, just a fair fight between Republicans and Democrats based on who’s got better ideas.” He expressed respect for Newsom’s approach, particularly in light of partisan tactics seen in states like Texas.

As the discussion around these proposals continues, Schwarzenegger’s call for bipartisan cooperation and reform highlights the ongoing challenges facing American democracy and the need for solutions that transcend party lines.