A VOTERS BILL OF RIGHTS FOR ALL UNITED STATES CITIZENS

[kpete]

July 26, 2006 at 18:56:28
A Voters' Bill of Rights

by Brian Lynch

http://www.opednews.com

A VOTERS BILL OF RIGHTS FOR ALL UNITED STATES CITIZENS

FIRST: We should amend the US Constitution to abolish the electoral
college and institute direct popular elections for US President. This
way, every state would be in play during the Presidential election
season.

SECOND: We should add an amendment to the US Constitution making the
act of voting, and the counting of an individuals vote, a protected
right for all United States citizens. This would allow individuals to
bring federal suit against their state government when their voting
rights have been abridged.

THIRD: Once our voting rights have been constitutionally secured on a
federal level, state and local government entities should not be
granted final authority to decide for us on the methods and means used
to register voters, screen voters at the polling stations or to cast
and count our votes. The voting process doesn't belong to the states,
or to political parties or to local government administrations. It
certainly doesn't belong to a handful of private corporations.
Ownership of the voting process belongs to all the people and is
nontransferable. Governments instead should obtain our consent as to
the means and methods we wish to employ in casting and counting votes.
Voting practices and procedures should all be subject to approval
through statewide public referendums.

FOURTH: Federal law should require that every vote cast must be
recorded in writing on a visible paper ballot. When it comes to
casting or counting votes, democracy only exists on paper. We can only
agree on a vote we can see.

more at:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_brian_ly_060726_a_voters__bill_of_ri.htm

[kster]

1. I can't find nothing to bitch at in this article, accept

I'm not fond of the idea that only the candidate can trigger a second hand count, but other than that, as the kids say "I'm down with this"

[mod mom]

4. I agree with you. It's not the candidate's votes but the people's votes.

[brilyNJ]

6. It's In There....

A vote belongs to the voter and the constitutional amendment I
am suggesting would allow a voter to take action if they
believe they were improperly prevented from voting, or that
their vote wasn't properly counted. 

An election belongs to a candidate, and it is up to the
candidate in my proposal to accept an electronic vote count or
not.  The default option under this plan would be to count the
individual ballots unless the candidates conceed based on the
electronic vote count.   

[kster]

2. One more vote puts it over. Anyone? Please.

[autorank]

3. #5 here teacher and I've got an apple too...

[Kurovski]

5. Kick.

:kick: