It’s time for a federal takeover of national elections

[UCmeNdc]

As Florida continues to find ballots stashed in warehouses, it has become abundantly clear that individual states can no longer be trusted to administer free and fair elections.

It is time for the federal government to create an independent, non-partisan body charged with administering elections.

Unlike the Federal Elections Commission, whose authority is limited to the financing of campaigns, this body would be granted the following responsibilities to ensure that our elections are free and fair regardless of who you are, where you live or for whom you intend to vote:



http://americablog.com/2012/11/a-blueprint-for-electoral-reform.html

[Kingofalldems]

1. All citizens of age can vote

Very simple. And paper ballots.

[Change has come]

2. K & R

[Laura PourMeADrink]

3. Great idea. Put it on the list if we ever control the House and Senate again.

that bullshit states rights meme would be deafening

[Marie Marie]

4. I'd say it is past the time for this.

Partisan SoS's running elections is just wrong on every count. Selective voter suppression, distribution of voting machines, voting hours and days are just ripe for manipulation. Unfortunately, gerrymandering will probably remain with the states. But we could at least start with some standardized election rules. I am from PA where we still get just 1 day to vote while other states have weeks of months to do it. Some common sense rules from the Feds, allowing easy access to registration and voting should be a no-brainer.

[Old Codger]

5. Yes

federal laws for federal elections....

[LiberalFighter]

6. That is the key.

Require the same number of days to early vote.

Require same day voter registration.


Require sufficient machines to handle voters without long hours waiting.


Require paper trail.
Possibly provide a printed qr scan for the voter.

Require open source on the software.
Software for used in federal elections must be certified at the federal level by an independent or bi-partisan committee.

Require anyone 18 or older the right to vote as long as they are not in prison.
If they still want to restrict felons out of prison they need a separate database.

Require removal of voters from the database be performed during odd years only.
A list of voters removed must also be supplied to the county parties with the reason for removal.

Require that polling places must be represented equitably with election workers from both the Democratic and Republican party.

Require any election worker or watcher be fixed if they unjustifiably challenge any voter.

[Old Codger]

9. Maybe try

Going to nationwide vote by mail and some sort of auto-registration, not sure how that would be accomplished but I am sure it could be done. The system we use now is so archaic as to be laughable.

[LiberalFighter]

13. One of the things that needs to happen

is when a voter moves out of state there needs to be an automatic revocation of the voter's old registration when they register in the new state. It would help clean up the system better.


Remind people that voter registration was not a process in the early years of America.

[BlueCaliDem]

7. Yes, this is possible and Congress can do it, but do they have the will?

Federal elections should not have to be dependent upon partisan Secretaries of State because as we've seen, Republicans will steal, steal, steal, and suppress every which they can. I say Republicans because they're they ones constantly doing this, and each and every "irregularity" appears to favor Republicans. It was never more glaringly apparent than last election.

This has got to stop or the people will never trust our elections again.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

8. Redistricting should be computer generated as well. Hand-drawn districts in the 21st Century?

Are you fucking kidding me?

[Jennicut]

10. I agree.

The districts in most states are a mess and make no sense other then to combine people of race and class together. Makes changeover less likely.

[jeff47]

11. So that you only have to manipulate one system in order to win?

Not a good idea. The 50-state patchwork is actually a nice barrier to election fraud.

What it needs is stronger oversight and large penalties for states that fail to handle elections properly.

[ancianita]

12. One simple change: let the new districts be already existing counties. I can't see any downside.