What can be done to get paper ballots for 2018?

[lostnfound]

Why isn't the Democratic Party trying to organize groups to push for that in each state?

[elleng]

1. Nothing.

Dems haven't taken action(s) for a long time.

[pnwmom]

5. Nothing because each state controls its own election process. This isn't the Dems fault. n/t

[elleng]

6. Dems fault in each state.

[pnwmom]

8. Yeah, right. Always blame the Dems. n/t

[elleng]

10. When they're wrong they're wrong,

like anyone.

[Funtatlaguy]

2. I think the goppers have over 30 states

Where they have a Repub Gov and a Sec of State...plus one or both State Houses.
The Sec of State controls the voting mechanisms in each state.
Every ten years, the most important elections are held when they take a new census and one party gets to set the districts (gerrymander them).
We really need to retake a lot of state houses in 2020.
That's why I kind of hope to run against a flawed Trump than Reverend Pence.
So, maybe impeachment isn't such a good idea.

[TheFrenchRazor]

12. this is definitely a problem; i think only the threat of a democratic hack would move the GOP take a

action to secure the elections.

[Warpy]

3. Lawsuits might work better

No transparency, no chance of a recount that wouldn't just duplicate incorrect results from hacked machines, that sort of thing.

They were really clumsy in NM in 2004. We got paper ballots in 2005.

[loyalsister]

20. Who has standing to rescind civil rights advances?

There is an accessibility argument against eliminating machines. A number of disabled people could not cast a private ballot until that option was available. This, civil rights and opportunities were expanded. Suing to take them away might not be the best strategy.

[longship]

4. Move to Michigan.

Or to several other states, e.g., Oregan.

[JI7]

7. like Michigan ...............

[trueblue2007]

9. DO WHAT OREGON DOES .... paper ballot and vote by mail. it is great

[TheFrenchRazor]

11. ballot initiatives, publicize the issue of machine vulnerability; until dems believe that their cons

constituents are demanding and end to the machines, nothing will change.

[BainsBane]

15. until legislatures, including Republicans

Because 30 states are controlled by the GOP.

[lostnfound]

18. You would think our elected Dems would consider it a matter of professional survival.

Their jobs depend on clean elections in a lot of places.

[BainsBane]

13. What is going on in your state?

What are you doing about it? What do you think the Democratic Party is? A concierge service? It's made up of voters. That means you. Have you looked to see if any groups in your state are organizing on the issue? Have you talked to your representatives in the state legislature? Set up a meet up group to organize on the issue. Or go to an indivisible meeting to ask if others are interested in pressing the issue. Because sitting back and asking why "the party" isn't doing this or that is a sure fire way to ensure nothing gets done.


My state has had paper ballots for a long time. It's up to you and others in your own state to address the problem there.

[mia]

14. Excellent question.

This issue could bring voters from all sides together. Many Republicans voters also think that the voting process is rigged. Groups like Common Cause could lead the way.

http://www.commoncause.org/press/press-releases/PenceKobachLawsuit.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/

Common Cause Sues to Protect Voters Under Privacy Act

Urges Voters to Stay Registered in Defiance of Pence-Kobach Commission’s Disregard for the Law

Posted on July 14, 2017

"The nonpartisan good government watchdog group Common Cause filed suit today to protect the privacy rights of voters, specifically seeking to prevent “the unlawful collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of the sensitive and personal voting data of millions of Americans,” by the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Social Security Administration.

Also known as the Pence-Kobach Commission for its Chair and Vice-Chair, Vice President Mike Pence and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, Common Cause asks the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to order the commission, DHS, and SSA to stop seeking and using the voter history and party affiliation of voters, and return any such data it has already obtained from any state.

The case alleges violations of the Privacy Act and the Administrative Procedure Act. Of several lawsuits filed against the commission, Common Cause is filing the only suit that, if successful, would permanently enjoin the collection of data.

“Every eligible American has a right to an equal voice and vote in the future of their family, community, and country,” said Karen Hobert Flynn, president of Common Cause. “The Privacy Act was passed in the wake of Watergate when the Nixon White House compiled information on individuals with opposing political views. It was wrong then and it is wrong now.” Common Cause’s founder, John Gardner, a Republican who was Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in the Johnson Administration, was on Nixon’s infamous enemies' list."

[BainsBane]

16. On the right they support voter ID

While the People's Summit resolved to replace primaries with caucuses--which have the lowest rates of participation, particularly by the poor and people of color--and thereby restrict access to the ballot.

Voters believe the system is rigged when their chosen candidate doesn't win. When we have people across the political spectrum working to restrict access to restrict the franchise, the idea that the country would unite around a common system of electoral reform strikes me as highly unlikely. A good percentage of the country, and not just Republicans, don't care that the Russians intervened on behalf of Trump, and polling consistently shows a high level of support for voter ID laws.

We have gotten to the point in this country where far too many have little to no respect for democracy. We have seen people argue that millions of votes should be discarded in order to benefit their favored candidate.
We've seen people complain that the elderly and disabled were allowed to vote by proxy.

I find your claim that rhetoric about the election being rigged means they will support greater accountability and transparency in elections to be far from convincing. Complains about an election being rigged do not mean they want the election to be open, secure, and honest. From what I have observed time and time again, it means they want their favored candidates installed in power.

[JI7]

17. Republicans consider elections to be rigged because non white people vote

[Funtatlaguy]

19. The solution that won't happen.

A Constitutional Amendment federalizing the Prez election only every four years.
Make the Prez election a stand alone event. Nothing else on the ballot.
Move it to a Saturday in the summer. This is the deadline for postmarks.
Make it mail in ballots to a special bipartisan counting division in DC.
The vote is the national vote total. The Electoral College is abolished.
Only names that are garnering a minimum of 3% in at least 3 out of a group of national pre-approved polls within 30 days of ballot printing will be on the ballot. Write-in votes are allowed.

The Goppers would never go for this because it would raise participation level.

[CK_John]

21. That would require a budget item and the will to do something. State budget

usually run from Oct 1 and most state legislation's need a yr or two to add or change a budgeted items.

Process is more important than politics.

[MineralMan]

22. You could work in your own state to get that to happen.

Other than that, nothing. Elections are run by states, not the federal government. There's work to be done if your state has unfair or rigged elections. Good luck with your effort!