On Monday DCist reported on the release of a report by the Commission on Federal Election Reform, whose 87 proposed recommendations for reforming the country’s electoral system did not include any mention of the District’s long-standing lack of voting rights. We — being fierce and unwavering advocates for D.C. voting rights — were obviously a little perplexed. Report on improving elections? No recommendation on granting District residents the right to vote? Huh?

So, being the quasi-journalists that we’d like to think we are, we went straight to the source, asking the Commission — which was organized and overseen by American University’s Center for Democracy and Election Management — why the District was slighted in a report that recognized the vital nature of well-functioning elections to America’s democratic institutions and credentials. Their response pointed us to an April 18, 2005 press conference and hearing entitled “How Good are U.S. Elections?” In it, former Secretary of State James Baker enlightens us as to why District voting rights would not be discussed by the Commission:

For these reasons; that is, the idea that we should not take on really volatile issues with respect to which we have no reasonable chance of success, we have agreed that the issues of the Electoral College, redistricting, and voting rights for the District of Columbia will not be on our agenda.

Come again? The principle of voting rights for District residents is as “volatile” as the Electoral College and redistricting?

DCist can’t help but think that the Commission — which was jointly headed by Baker and former President Jimmy Carter — squandered a perfect opportunity to make what we see as an obvious statement of principle: The American people are entitled to the right to vote, regardless of gender, race, political affiliation, disability, or geographic location.

How volatile can saying that be?