Needed: a Constitutional amendment unifying vote system

[BJ]

SomethingKathlee Hall Jamison said on NOW with Bill Moyers got me thinking.

She said something to the effect that reactionary politicians evoke amending The US Constitution as a way of telling voters that they are serious about doing such and so. Never mind that it is over trivial issues for the most part, it appears that they are serious about changing the political landscape.

Plus all the news stories about voter fraud especially in Ohio and Florida points to the need for something, anything, to be done to rectify this situation.

Therefore I think it is time we liberals, progressives, leftists, what have you, propose a Constitutional amendment stating that all voting within the United States and its dependent territories will be a single unified system, that shall feature a double-verifiable, preferably paper, counting method. No Diebold touch screens!

[aden_nak]

1. But, but, . . . GAY PEOPLE! They might live together. In the same house!

Where are your priorities? Seriously!

[Nordic]

12. what a shitty response to a serious post

[Not Me]

2. Hear, hear!

I cannot believe we have a system whereby every county in the country has its own rules, procedures and equipment for voting. And, in most cases, the local BofE officials have way too much authority to discount ballots, etc.

At least for federal elections, I strongly support a single system with congressional oversight.

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. That amendment would never see the light of day.

The repukes own the government. They will do as they damn well please and taking away their great new voting system that steals elections just isn't going to happen. It's a great thought though. :(

[BJ]

6. You never know if you don't try.

And do you really think the reactionaries are sincere in getting Constitutional amendments banning gay marriage passed?

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. I know repukes well enough to know that they will NEVER

ever, ever let an amendment make it to the floor. Are you kidding? In 2006 they will steal more congressional seats and finish it off in 2008. They will not stop until they rule this country with one party. THEIRS. As for the FMA, stay tuned. They're trying to amend the constitution again, very soon. Apparently, they are serious/sincere.

[BJ]

10. So you're ready to throw up your hands and surrender?

Jeeze, you sound like a DLCer.

Look, do you know how hard it is to amend the Constitution? Do you even know how the Constitution is amended?

Article. V.
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

Two thirds of both House or two thirds of the state legislatures.

You really think even with this seeming "mandate" that the Repiglicans are going to get any of their "cultural" amendments passed? Do you think the Repiglican hierarchy really wants to remove the irritants that fire up the base of their Christian Reconstuctionist base?

Come on, get some spine.

[in_cog_ni_to]

11. ME? Give UP? Hell no!

I just thought I would pass along what the repukes are going to try to do. If they DON'T pass an amendement then, IMO, this takes the issue off the table because THEY are in charge now. PUT UP OR SHUT UP. The Democrats can throw it in their face if they EVER try to use it as a wedge issue again. "You had the opportunity to pass an amendment and you chose not to." Are the Democrats willing to call their bluff on this? If you think the repukes REALLY don't want an amendment then you should also believe the Democrats should call their bluff on it. The Dems should vote with the repukes. Call their bluff. Whatcha think? Will they?

[BJ]

13. Just watched the Newshour with Jim Lehrer.

The Repiglicans just may try and pass an anti-gay marriage amendment, just to throw a bone to their Reconstructionist Christian base. But a Constitutional amendment can be fought ever inch of the way in the various state legislatures. However it is more important for the likes of Karl Rove to keep the faithful realy for battle with "liberals" than aquiesce to their wishes.

Furthermore these so-called "social" or "cultural" issues are meant to distract, and distract they do.

What I hope my Democratic politicians might say is:"Can you tell me how (cultural "issue" of your choice) puts money in your pockets, food on your family's table and a roof over your head?"

Our politicians must start preaching the social gospel rather than mealymouthing states like, "I personally think that marriage is between a man and a woman, but I support civil unions."

[Trillo]

4. 3 methods of verification

How sane is voter secrecy?
If everyone has an exact copy of their paper ballot, it adds a third auditing method.
1. Count the votes
2. If challenged, recount the paper.
3. Let the people in a district rebuild the vote from their copies.

This last one, number three, means that voter secrecy is abolished in order to have 3 methods of verification.

[Poiuyt]

5. Kind of makes sense, doesn't it?

In this day and age, you'd think that we could produce a consistent, reliable, fast and verifiable voting machine. And you're right, it should be the same for ALL of the US.

[City Lights]

8. The counting of votes need to be taken away from partisans.

Maybe it's time to have the GAO oversee our elections.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. We absolutely

have to do SOMETHING or we can say hello to being ruled by the GOP forevermore or until they cause the complete demise of the world.

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