Sorry John, we don't need the "best election system money can buy"

[SoCalDem]

Money cannot 'buy' a fair election.. it CAN royally screw up an election. John Edwards meant well, but that statement turns me OFF.

We need a SIMPLE...election system..

Federal offices MUST be separated from the local/state offices (to keep it focused and simple)

By doing that ONE thing, the ballots becomes, at MOST , 3 races..

congress
senate
president

For an election THAT easy, one needs NO machines..

a 5 x 7 card with those 3 races...check-box immediately next to the names of the candidates..and a sharpie pen..

After the election's over, call in the gazillions of unemployed local people, and get them busy counting..

videotape the whole counting process..inculding the calliing in of totals..take a screen cap of the written down tabulations..give each district's numbers to the press..

The states and locals elections could be whenever they choose.. I don;t care about who's county commissioner in Dubuque, Iowa, but I do care who their congress/senate person is..

Fedearl elections should stay in even years...local.state could be in odd years..

This would also prevent 'bloody shirt' propositions being piled onto ballots to muddy the waters.

[MichiDem]

1. I'm not familiar with the term

"bloody shirt". Could you explain?

[SoCalDem]

2. Gay marriage, abortion, guns, ten commandments, flag burning

:)

[bryant69]

3. I Assume he's talking about the gay marriage initiatives

for an example. Shoved on the ballots to remind America that a vote for Democrats is a vote for Gay marraige.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Benhurst]

4. Following the Civil War, Republican politicians would

"wave the bloody shirt" in campaigns against the Democratic party, reminding voters that it had supported the Confederacy.

[La Coliniere]

5. The Canadian Method...

You pretty much articulated the way Canadian elections are held. All paper/pen ballots hand counted in a matter of hours. They do so many things right in Maple Leaf Land: Green Belts around cities to limit urban sprawl, universal health care, real community/public involvement when it comes to municipal decision making. I could go on and on. If the Canadians can hold honest elections, so can we damn it.

[socoljam]

6. Why I was little...

I assumed everyone had the same voting system we have in Michigan. Big paper ballots, with arrows pointing directly at the name of the candidates (or yes/no, whatever) and you take a pen, complete the arrow for John Kerry. It goes through a scantron right in front of you. Paper ballot, easily counted, almost impossible to screw up (and if you do, the machine rejects it).

I honestly thought all states used this great system, and I don't understand why more don't.

[newyawker99]

7. Hi socoljam!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: