|
First and foremost, as I’m sure you all can guess from my name, I’m on the right side of the aisle. Don’t panic: I’m not here to taunt or disrupt or anything like that. I want to make a positive contribution to this discussion.
As you can probably guess, I don’t believe that the election was “stolen” or anything like that. I’m not here to discuss that. I just want you all to know that my cards are on the table here, and that I’m being upfront and honest with you.
I think that, on its face, electronic voting is a good thing. With something over 100,000,000 ballots cast, it would take ages to count each one by hand. It’s simply way too much stuff to go through. Besides that, there’s just too much risk that these things can get damaged, etc. We all remember the concerns about possible damage to ballots in Florida.
But, I do understand and recognize that electronic voting can be a genuine concern in its present form. So, I partially agree with you on this.
Now, with all of that out of the way, here’s what I’d like to say: I don’t think an amendment to the Constitution is the answer, because I don’t think that this is a Constitutional issue. I do think that we should examine a federal “voting standards” law, which would standardize the method in which votes are collected around the country. I think that this would solve a couple of issues:
1.) No more arguments over whose voting machine is “better.” Whether it’s Diebold or Jim’s Voting Machines wouldn’t matter: they would all have to adhere to the same basic standards. 2.) Those who travel to a different state would know when they walk into the booth at their new precinct, they wouldn’t be standing there trying to figure out a new machine after voting on a different type for the last 10 years. 3.) I think that there needs to be a national voter database, updated before each Presidential election. Verified addresses, say 2 months before the election by mail-outs with SASEs to confirm that someone is still at whatever address, and that they are still alive, eligible, etc. This would be an ideal time, perhaps, to send voters a sample ballot. Cross-check the database with known felons, death records, Social Security database, etc. If someone is living in a state that does not let felons vote, they’re sent a letter explaining why they can’t vote in this election. Then, each voter gets a magnetic-strip photo voter registration card (think drivers license with a credit card strip on the back). Now, here’s where a lot of people are going to freak out: there has to be a unique number assigned to each voter that stays with them for the rest of their lives. A lot of folks will panic over that one, because that smacks of “national ID card.” I agree that the concept is a bit scary, but don’t we already have this in the form of Social Security numbers? With that unique number, we can then truly verify that one eligible person gets exactly one vote. There would be no question of identity. All of those sorts of problems are solved.
Sorry to be long-winded, but that needed to preface this:
Now, with all of that in place, we can address the voting machines themselves. I think that the machines should be reasonably simple touch screen or whatever, something that anybody can understand. The ones here are pretty straightforward, with a nice big piece of paper put over the top (not really a “screen,” but you get the idea), and a big spot to push for your candidate. There’s a little light that comes on beside the candidate’s name when you push the “button” for them. You know who you’re voting for, without a doubt.
Here’s where my idea gets different: once you push all of the buttons that you want for the appropriate candidates, you hit the “vote” button (the proverbial “pulling of the lever”), you get a “receipt,” showing all of your votes, and a unique identifier for your vote (think of a big number like a UPS tracking number or something like that). You know you voted, and you can prove it. This would be printed on NCR (carbonless) paper or something like that, so that there is a backup copy secured inside the machine.
At the end of the voting day, the electronic ballots are counted. If you have any question as to whether or not your vote counted, just check it against your unique number on your receipt. I’m quite certain that this could be accomplished with a website. And, if anyone has any questions about the electronic votes, there’s a paper trail to back it up! Not just one, but two! Anyone and everyone can be certain that their vote counted.
So, with this sort of legislation, we can: 1.) Address all concerns of whether or not someone is eligible to vote; 2.) Basically remove all posibilities of voter fraud through an organized system, and; 3.) Eliminate everyone's concern about whether or not their vote counted.
How does that sound to everyone?
|