Why Election Reform is BADLY Needed

Published on January 6, 2005 By Gideon MacLeish In Politics

The national election of 2000 brought it to the forefront of our minds.

And, if you are living in the state of Washington, you're even more compelled that our nation's electoral system needs a MASSIVE overhaul.

Two recounts in Washington gave the governor's seat to the Republican candidate, the third went to the Democratic candidate. All were by extremely narrow margins, all were highly contested. Now, the state GOP is demanding a new election because of the concern that provisional ballots in heavily Democratic King County were counted on election day without being verified. It's all a little too "Banana Republic" for my taste.

Poor sport candidates aside, the fact remains that all of the election controversies that have arisen have arisen over the fact that ours is an increasingly stupid and inefficient system. Ballot formats vary from state to state, and even from county to county, in such a way as to make recounts an inexact and costly procedure. When you add to that the ENORMOUS cost of litigation in all of the instances where the results have been called into question, then you have to realize something's gotta give.

We are supposed to be the standard bearers of democracy, but instead, stand on the slippery slope of being its laughingstock.

Respectfully submitted,

Gideon MacLeish

Comments

ParaTed2k

on Jan 06, 2005

Our system of voting does need to be reformed, but that reform should be more of a return to how it was meant to be than a total overhaul.

First of all, the total idiocy of the "provisional ballot". What is a provisional ballot anyway? It is a ballot cast by someone whose eligibility to vote is questionable. Why is it that, on election day, that person's status us still not verified? Because we have almost completely destroyed any common sense in how we accept a ballot in the first place.

Like I said, we need to return to how it was... when it worked. A person went to a registrar, with proof of citizenship and residence, filled out a form, and registrar verified the person's documentation, then under penalty of law, signed the form affirming that the voter is a citizen and a resident, meets all other requirements and is eligible to vote.

Now pretty much any citizen can become a "deputy" registrar, special interest groups full of the "deputies" are free to register whoever they feel like registering.. no questions asked (And that doesn't even cover those who cast "provisional ballots", since those are still left, "unverified".

Do you realize that in most states, an illegal alien can register to vote. Do you realize that many of the 9/11 terrorists were registered under those stupid "Motor Voter" laws.

It seems that, in an effort to accomidate "everyone" in making it easier to register to vote, we've made it so easy that you can even vote if you weren't even eligible to register legally.

As for "standardization" from state to state, that would require the federal government to run elections, which of course is highly unconstitutional and would disolve the seperation of powers between the federal and state governments. Standardization within a state would be a good idea though.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jan 07, 2005

Para,

Excellent points, all. I'm bumping this in the hopes that your response gets the airtime it deserves.

whoman69

on Jan 07, 2005

First of all, the total idiocy of the "provisional ballot". What is a provisional ballot anyway? It is a ballot cast by someone whose eligibility to vote is questionable. Why is it that, on election day, that person's status us still not verified? Because we have almost completely destroyed any common sense in how we accept a ballot in the first place.

If a person votes once every four years, they are not going to find out that their eligability is being questioned. There is no other way to do it.
My wife filed a provisional ballot in her first election after becoming a citizen. We found out that the registration forms we filled out at the courthouse immediately after were not filed. Her vote was not counted.

Now pretty much any citizen can become a "deputy" registrar, special interest groups full of the "deputies" are free to register whoever they feel like registering.. no questions asked (And that doesn't even cover those who cast "provisional ballots", since those are still left, "unverified".

Its still the job of the county to confirm that the registration is an accurate one. Provisional ballots must also be confirmed by the county. The example above, they threw out my wife's vote. They do and should check.

ParaTed2k

on Jan 07, 2005

Thanks, this is an important issue to discuss, my response was specifically to your article, so your opinion of what I said is all I was looking for. However it would be interesting to see what others say about it.

Glad you liked my reply.

ParaTed2k

on Jan 07, 2005

If a person votes once every four years, they are not going to find out that their eligability is being questioned. There is no other way to do it.

Yes, there are many examples like your wife. However, instead of the costly processes that have been set up (last election Milwaukee went more than $3 million over budget for the election, because of all the extra people and overtime they had to pay accomidating the new laws), how about this idea...

The registrars should tell the voters to make sure they call the county to verify their registration has been filed. That not only puts the responsibility of verification where it belongs (with the voter), but it would go far to decrease the problem.

Instead we have done little to help ensure that your wife's vote counted, but we have done much to enable the ineligible people to vote.

drmiler

on Jan 08, 2005

Reply #4 By: whoman69 - 1/7/2005 1:40:35 PM
They do and should check.

I'll agree they *should* check But to say they is untrue. They may have checked in you wife's case. But how about all the cases of more registered voters than what what was available?

The registrars should tell the voters to make sure they call the county to verify their registration has been filed. That not only puts the responsibility of verification where it belongs (with the voter), but it would go far to decrease the problem.

This would be a *great* idea!

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