Help Needed for Son's Government Paper

[CRK7376]

My son has a homework assignment to write a two page paper about ways that citizens have recently proposed changing the election process of the president.

We need some suggestions and links....Google is not providing the answers or we're asking the wrong questions of google....

There was talk, especially after Bush-Gore of changing the Electoral College systems....What else?

Thanks!

[pinto]

1. it may be interesting, and informative, for him to ask 10 neighbors,

about their views on election reform, and write about his research...

could be more fun for him than an internet search, and more pertinent to your area...

just an idea.

[madaboutharry]

2. That is a great idea

He could conduct a survey on how citizens view the voting system and then analyze the findings.

[CRK7376]

3. Thanks for the suggestions.

We live in a rural area with few neighbors. We're doing mostly internet research.

[CindyDale]

4. You might get some ideas from this:

http://politics.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/11/10/0026255&tid=126&tid=103&tid=219

[SharonAnn]

5. Instant Runoff Voting to get more than two parties involved.

[BillZBubb]

6. There have been numerous proposals

Here are a few:

1. Standardized ballots. No one (at least no one but Repugs) wanted a repeat of the "butterfly" ballot in Florida 2000. Everyone should get the same ballot.

2. Electronic voting. Do away with punch cards by using electonic computer screens only. That way, no hanging chads! Of course those of us on the left view this as a way for the right to steal elections. By having no verifiable paper trail of ballots, it's pretty hard to detect vote padding by hackers.

3. Networks should stop relying on exit polls. Again 2000 Florida there was a discrepancy (or so they say).

4. Networks not announcing winners until all polls have closed nationwide. That way, people in the West are not discouraged from voting by the knowledge that a certain candidate has already been declared the winner.

5. Voters should be able to vote with provisional ballots in cases where their registration is suspect. If it proves valid, the provisional ballot is counted. If not, it is dumped. This is the result of Florida turning away thousands of minority voters in 2000.

Hope that helps.