LET'S MOVE ON to how we improve our elections

[jswordy]

Let's quit the LA-LA-LA stuff on Kerry's fantasyland win possibilities, and move on to examining how we can make our elections fairer and make every vote count. Please?

As a start, I would like Congress to examine federalizing the election rules and procedures for any office of national stature. Make the bill like the National Highway Bill, where states are not required to do so, but those that do not do so then do not get money to help with their elections. Currently, national candidates are elected under a patchwork quilt of state elections rules and vote countign methods. Standardize and federalize them.

The effect would be, of course, that even local elections would eventually be run under the national standards.

We also need to figure out a way to remove the oversight of elections in the states from political partisanship. Electing either a Democrat or Republican to oversee a state's voting automatically subjects it to charges of being rigged.

Your comments and suggestions?

[NYC Liberal]

1. I agree, but this challenge

was never about overturning anything.

[jswordy]

2. I thought it was not about overturning anything, either...

...but if you will peruse the blog here you will see volumes of posts from folks who actually believed Kerry could still win if only...if only...

Sad but true.

Now about my post here...comments? Suggestions?

[redqueen]

3. National standards are way overdue.

Other than that I'd also like to see a holiday for election day.

[NYC Liberal]

5. So would I.

Or else spread the election over the course of a weekend. That way so many more people would be able to vote.

[jswordy]

6. National holiday a good idea.

I had not thought of that one. Why not?

Any more great ideas?

[redqueen]

8. Actually, yes. I'd like for anyene to be able to vote at any polling place

None of this precinct business. I hate that they can move the polling location at the last minute.

[Rockerdem]

4. Good luck in trying to get publicity for it

After today, it will be like a lot of other substantial ideas that go nowhere. Before today, we had some leverage. Now? A big nada.

[jswordy]

7. That is not the point of this topic, thank you!

There are plenty of other topics already for bellyachers. In this one, how about some thoughtful suggestions for solutions?

Heh...betcha this topic dies and falls off the page faster than a bird hitting the windshield. Easier to bitch. LOL.

[jswordy]

9. It's F-A-L-L-I-N-G off the page

ROFL

[Rockerdem]

11. Sorry, js

I'll give a repentent "kick". I was just so disappointed. Lately Ive been resigned to *, but conceding that he clearly won Ohio was a point that is still in limbo and DIDNT have to be made so readily. Almost cheerily.

[GreenPartyVoter]

23. kick

------------------------------------------------------
Election reform can help save this country!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[Ganja Ninja]

10. Voting for people with a spine would be a good start.

:mad:

[moggie12]

12. Go "jswordy"! I'll help you keep it at top of page!

Practical vs. bitching! Not letting despair get in the way of action! Monitoring your post and asking people to stay on subject! I love it!

Here's my two cents: Oregan apparently does mail-in voting! No lines at all. I will research on Web and post if I can find something that provides detailed info.

I'm editing this in light of Rockerdem's comment, which appeared while I was writing mine. Yes, you're right, Rockerdem, it's not what many were hoping for, but it's a start. Two days ago, I didn't think there was a snowball's chance in hell of anybody standing up and saying anything. Rome wasn't built in a day and its going to take a while to rebuild the Dem Party's spine. They haven't used it in a while!

[Rockerdem]

13. Everyone is on the same page, objective-wise

Its the strategy used, and the disagreement over the path toward achieving the goal that we're talking about.

After conceding that Bush definitely won Ohio, the cause will become less of a leftwing activist one and more of a standard, Common Cause good-government (goo-goo) talking point. I think it will stall the momentum, and will return it to the "it only matters in close elections" realm.

One of my best friends is a fundraiser for a national organization that you would recognize. Hes told me a dozen times that you need attention-grabbers, or things will get lost in the shuffle. Im afraid we lost our best attention-grabber today, and I hope that it doesnt doom the good cause. But if pressed, Id say the you will be seeing this ball carried more by the Fred Wertheimers of the world and less by the Howard Deans, et al. IMHO.

[jswordy]

14. Thanks, but that's not a suggestion to improve the process

You know, if all it was was an attention grabber or a talking point, then isn't that kind of a sham?

What I'd like to discuss here is, how do we make the process better and instill more faith in it?

For example, I'd really like to know what suggestions Jimmy Carter would have.

[moggie12]

18. Yes, Rockerdem, but I think that's good!

I didn't want "Bush stole Ohio" becoming our rallying cry. I wanted Dems to push REAL electoral reform with (don't gag..) bipartisan support!! I want this front-and-center on the MSM (hey, I'm getting the lingo down good for a newbie!). I don't want Fox News and Repubs to be able to marginize electoral reform by saying "it's nothing but Democratic sour grapes". I want Dems to do a bill that non-kooky Republicans like McCain and Chuck Hegel and others will support.

I know, I'm so mainstream, moderate and idealistic it's sickening but that's what I want: Results. We make it too darn easy for Karl to marginalize us sometimes.


**Edited for boo-boo's I missed in my haste to post this before 20 more replies get in before me.

[jswordy]

15. Thanks!

I think we need to keep our eyes on the ball, which is in the future, not in our failed past. Then we need to change in whatever ways we can to get that ball, just as a football receiver twists and accelerates to grab an airborn pass.

I agree with your comment about spine. In my view, if we don't start talking about shaping our future, we will never get anything done and we will not improve our lot.

Suggestions about improving the voting process made in this thread could conceivably later be turned into a platform for a candidate or for our party to run and win on. You never know.

[moggie12]

20. Cool

Amen to that and I particularly like your last sentence. I am new to this site but think it's fantastic. If you could use something like this to communicate with Party leaders, it would be tremendous. I think the Party desperately needs grassroots input -- they are in Washington DC bubble and don't see what is happening in "real, average" America.

[jswordy]

16. How about a federal motor voter?

Present your driver's license, vote at any precinct in your county of registration.

Your thoughts?

[jswordy]

17. If electronic voting is here to stay...

...how can we be sure it is fair and accurate, and manipulation-proof?

Your thoughts...

[Rockerdem]

22. Do it like the pros. Watch the way banks handle valuables & security

If security is be all and end all:

1. ID cards with pin numbers
2. Security cameras at ATMs
3. Oversight, double checking, approvals and audits
4. Social security numbers and moms maiden name.
5. $50 fees for bad accounts (kidding)

Is this the way that we want to go?

[SOS]

25. There are two bills

in Congress now. HR 2239 and S 1980.
Both inadequate, but a start.
They have been blocked from discussion by Republicans for nearly two years.
The Republicans really like the secret Diebold vote counters and don't want to discuss the matter.

[moggie12]

29. Really?

I hate to admit my ignorance, but I didn't know that! Why haven't Dems made a big deal about it? Did they and I just missed it?? Did Kerry raise this during the campaign?

[GreenPartyVoter]

19. Here is what we need to do

Ranked voting ballots and same-day primaries for starters, but also the things mentioned on my site.

------------------------------------------------------
Election reform can help save this country!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[GreenPartyVoter]

21. kick

------------------------------------------------------
Election reform can help save this country!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[redqueen]

28. Thanks for the link!

:hi:

[imenja]

24. we do need Dem elections officials, non-partisanship is a fiction

Fla determined that Secretaries of State should be non-elected and non-partisan. What happened? Jeb appointed a Republican operative, only now the people have nothing to say about it.
We must: 1) elect democratic supervisors of elections
2) elect democratic secretaries of state
3) pass state constitutional amendments and state initiatives requiring voter reform (eg. a verifiable voter trail).
4) love Jesse Jackson's point that there is no federal constitutional right giving individuals the right to vote. How about making that a national issue? One person, one vote!

The idea of non-partisan election officials is a lovely one, but it's not realistic. People are partisan, particular those who work in public life. We have to make the system work for us.

[janx]

26. We could at least work to make sure that Sec. of State

holders aren't also chairs of any presidential campaign committee in any state.

I don't think that would be too much to ask...

[imenja]

30. good idea

but Florida is a prime example that itself isn't enough.

[moggie12]

27. Oregon Mail Voting Procee

In a previous post, I mentioned Oregon's mail-based voting as a potential election reform. Took a while to find what I remebered reading but here it is:

http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=253099&kaid=104&subid=116


Someone posted this on DU yesterday. Please note that this is from the NDOL website. Those who hate the DLC, please don't let that prevent you from reading about what Oregon's Democratic Secretary of State has done....