Tempus Fugit

Election Reform

It seems that most of the people crying out for election reform in the United States are on the left. Why should this be? Election fraud has just as much potential to harm the right as the left.

Powerline (very much a right-wing blog) has a nice article that calls electoral fraud “a grave and growing threat to our democracy.” Hear hear! We’re fairly technologically advanced here in the States, why should we be conducting elections like it’s 1960?

Here is what would make me happy:

• Biometric scanning of voters, to ensure proper identity and uniqueness.
• A printed record of the vote, both retained, and given to the voter, so that there can be no question about the intent of the votes.
• An interstate system to check for dual registrants, especially in Florida and California, where so many northerners go for the winter.
• A common voting system across each state, but with Federal guidelines.
• No more exit polls, as they can skew voting, and could be used to manipulate votes
• No reporting of votes until all polls are closed nationwide

These were just ideas that came off the top of my head. I’d be glad to discuss any of them or have you tell me why they might be bad ideas, or listen to your suggestions for improving the process.