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5 Simple Ideas For Election Reform

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davefromqueens Donating Member (277 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-08-08 07:43 PM
Original message
5 Simple Ideas For Election Reform
Now is the time to govern. One of the areas where change is needed is election reform. Here are some of the ideas I propose.

1. All votes must have a paper trail. All machines should have two receipts, one that goes into a box with the number of the voter and the other to the voter.

2. You want 60 Senators? Make Washington DC and Puerto Rico states. Frame the issue in terms of racial discrimination.

3. Eliminate felony disenfranchisement. Once you serve your time, you are eligible to vote.

4. Stronger penalties for election fraud or attempts to prevent legit people from voting. Mandatory jail terms, write the statutes clearly and enact them.

5. Automatic registration. Every citizen has a SS card. When you turn 18, you are automatically registered to vote as an independent. Should you choose to join a party, you do so on your own initiative.
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shraby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-08-08 07:49 PM
Response to Original message
1. Concerning #4..
the penalty should be 5 years which will put the transgressor in jail past the next election, and out of business in the mid-term also.
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davefromqueens Donating Member (277 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-08-08 09:22 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. 5 years should do
Statute would have to be worded carefully and construed strictly with intent a clear element.
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adadem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-08-08 07:57 PM
Response to Original message
2. Every state should
be required to have early voting and "no reason" absentee voting in a federal election

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Enthusiast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-09-08 07:45 AM
Response to Original message
4. No machines! nt
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BeFree Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-09-08 12:04 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. And if...
...we have machines forced on us we must make sure the software is controlled by the people in some fashion. As it is now the software is a big secret and totally controlled by private interests. Problem.

I understand the need for rapid counting of 1000's of millions of votes. But the total number of votes for federal offices don't need to be counted by machines as such votes are tiny in comparison to the multitude of state and local races.

The first crack in the wall of the present system can and should be that federal races are counted by hand. It can be done, and done simply. I don't think anyone who is aware of the problem could reasonably object to that.
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kster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-09-08 12:05 PM
Response to Reply #4
7. Yep the good ol' fashion American ballot box
Transparent Ballot Box, for 500 - 800 Paper Ballots, with Deposit Trap and Counter
Easy to use, sturdy and stackable. Lockable with two individual locks. Deposit trap is operated using a lever which is coupled with the counter. Can be safely stored in the reusable protective box.


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yourout Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-09-08 09:43 AM
Response to Original message
5. National holiday for Presidential elections.
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