1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

Vote pairing is an inadequate solution for ensuring new parents in Congress can fully represent their constituents while caring for a newborn. It places an unnecessary burden on new parents to negotiate individual vote cancellations, often across party lines, instead of simply allowing them to vote remotely for a limited period after childbirth. This outdated policy forces new mothers to make the impossible choice of either rushing back to Washington shortly after giving birth or being unable to vote on critical issues for their districts. Congress should modernize its rules to establish a straightforward proxy voting system for new parents, recognizing that representing one's constituents and caring for a newborn child are not mutually exclusive. Such a common-sense reform would align our political institutions with the realities of modern families and promote greater representation of the full diversity of lived experiences in our democracy.