If you were in a position to implement election reform,

[elperromagico]

what would you propose?

Here are a few of mine:

- Strict caps placed on the amount of money candidates for federal office may raise and spend during an election cycle.

- A national standard requiring that all voting systems have verifiable paper trails and a national standard for the carrying out of recounts.

- A national standard to determine one's eligibility to vote, based on prior felonies, et cetera.

- "First in the nation" primary status is rotated every four years in order to give different states a greater voice in choosing Presidential nominees.

- Election Day is made into a federal holiday. This might serve to encourage higher voter turnout.

- Electoral College votes are apportioned based not on total Congressional seats but on total votes cast in the previous Presidential election. This, too, might serve to improve turnout.

- Electoral College reform which provides that any candidate is eligible to receive a state's electoral votes so long as that candidate meets a certain threshold of popular support in the state (perhaps 15% or 20%).

These are not all realistic proposals, I know. Electoral College reform would require changing the Constitution. But they are the sorts of things I would propose if I were in a position to implement them.

What about you?

[jojo54]

1. I'd go for Election Day to become a federal holiday.

But I'd also like to see crayons and boxes for X's again. And a lot more education to ALL voters. Haven't figured out the housebound senior/disabled thing yet

And last but certainly not least, the votes are counted by groups of ordinary citizens that are sequestered.

That's my idea of a fair and balanced election!

[MissWaverly]

2. how about restrictions on dirty politicing

with strict fines for broadcasting slurs, lies or doctored video,
the Dean scream that was a doctored video, the swift boat lies, if we
can fine a station for Janet Jackson's costume failure, it seems reasonable to fine for untrue or unverified information

[Heyo]

3. I would make voting machines like ATM's

And that would be the only way you could vote. (there'd be enough of them in my "wish" scenario)

Your social securty number would be your pin number, one vote per eligible socal security number, 2 paper copies printed, one given to voter, one retained by machine and copies made available to votes upon request. It might need a little tweaking

:hurts:

Heyo

[Rosco T.]

6. Add to that... if you have your 'voter registeration card'...

.. which is secured by you SSN as a pin.

For a FEDERAL election (note the operative, FEDERAL) you can vote ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY YOU CAN REACH A MACHINE.

If you have your card, you are registered.

If it's secured by your SSN, you can only vote ONCE.

If it's a FEDERAL/NATIONAL election, you should be able to vote anywhere in the NATION for it.

[annabanana]

4. Voter Verified Paper Ballots Voter Verified Paper Ballots

Voter Verified Paper Ballots Voter Verified Paper Ballots Voter Verified Paper Ballots Voter Verified Paper Ballots Voter Verified Paper Ballots Voter Verified Paper Ballots Voter Verified Paper Ballots Voter Verified Paper Ballots Voter Verified Paper Ballots
Voter Verified Paper Ballots Voter Verified Paper Ballots
Voter Verified Paper Ballots Voter Verified Paper Ballots Voter Verified Paper Ballots Voter Verified Paper Ballots Voter Verified Paper Ballots Voter Verified Paper Ballots Voter Verified Paper Ballots

AND.... did I mention

VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS??

[Eric J in MN]

5. Every citizen at least 18 can vote, even while in prison.

Vermont already has that policy.

Election Day registration, as we have in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and a few other states.

Also,
PAPER BALLOTS, PUBLICLY HAND-COUNTED at each precinct on Election Night.

[MH1]

7. Mandatory random audits.

One percent or so. Get some process control engineers with experience in high-reliability manufacturing to determine the process control design, such as sample size, how to ensure randomness, etcetera.

Audit every county at every election. If the audit result is bad, recount the county. Period. Engineer a high-reliability process control for the most important process in democracy, and stick to it.

In our dreams...