what can be done to increase participation at mid term elections ( and elections in general) ?

[alc]

9. how can we make sure that people who vote, also "have a clue"

I really don't want someone who doesn't pay attention to issues, and doesn't know who the candidates are to go vote for D or R or the person with the most honest sounding name or the person who's name doesn't sound foreign or who their pastor told them was best, or whatever other reasons they may have.

Making voting easier would be great. Making it compulsory would not be good unless we can also compel them to attend classes and learn the issues and candidates or get fined. In jury duty they are forced to listen to the case (both sides) before they decide guilt. Compulsory voting would be like letting the jury stay home until deliberations then decide guilty or not guilty based on anything they wanted.