I'd like Obama's first legislative proposal go toward fixing the voting system

[CatWoman]

in this country.

What about you?

[John Q. Citizen]

1. He had a bill introduced that would criminalize attempts to subvert others right to

vote.

I think that's legit. Committing fraud to misinform voters about locations or times of elections should be illegal.

So should intimidation to damp down turnout.

[CatWoman]

2. excellent!!!

thanks.

I didn't know that :)

[Lumpsum]

4. Amen.

The fact that it isn't already a law is sad.

[lonestarnot]

17. Felony yes! Misdemeanor no!

[uponit7771]

18. KEWL!!!

[Zynx]

3. The first bill has to be regarding the economy. The voting bill can wait as long as until June to

get it in place before the elections in Virginia and New Jersey.

[CatWoman]

5. good point

however, this Election Day suppression and intimidation has got to STOP!! :grr:

[Mme. Defarge]

6. Absolutely!

Without that we have nothing.

[Captain Hilts]

7. We also have to standardize eligibility to vote in Federal elections vis a vis felons. nt

[VPStoltz]

8. I am drafting a letter to my senator on just this issue.

I am asking that she introduce a bill to federalize the system.
Other countries have unified systems. It's not a matter of "states rights" being that federal positions are filled.
I was confident Obama would win. It was the state of the system that had me worried.

[Gregorian]

10. I'm glad you mentioned this. Can you answer something?

I've been looking over the Constitution for the section that says the states reserve the right voting as they see fit. I can't find it. Are you familiar enough to know where it is. I mean, it's not a long document, and I haven't seen it. But I know we don't have a federalized system.

I'm trying to come to grips with the pros and cons.

Obviously a federalized system has the potential to be far more damaging than one that operates through fifty independent states. But a state system also allows for perhaps just as much damage by those who can identify the critical states in any given election through which to manipulate the results.


I'm most impatient to see the end of the messy voting systems we have.

[the other one]

9. Yeah, but I'll settle for universal health care, THEN voting.

:)

[mzmolly]

11. Mandatory paper ballots in every state! In addition, I think we need a uniform

system of voting. Opti-scan machines serve us well in MN, for example.

[Steely_Dan]

12. On the surface....

this sounds like a great idea. Because we all know that something has to be done.

Here's my problem...

I do not think it is wise for the Dems to spearhead this effort. At least, not in the beginning. The reason why is that the Right Wing would find a way to say that any legislation from the Dems is to give them an advantage in elections. This would be true even if the legislation were perfectly equal.

This effort should be taken up after other areas have been addressed and successful solutions are evident to all.

-P

[Enthusiast]

14. Sorry, I disagree

The Democratic Party should lead the charge to make voting uniform, fair, accurate and easy. Registration should be easy and transparent. I don't give one shit about what the Right Wing says. They say a lot of things, nearly all of them wrong.

[Joe Chi Minh]

16. ...and they've been found out, big-time. Nor will they have a worshipful MSM.

[Phredicles]

13. Agreed - something simple, easily verifiable, and standard nationwide.

Campaign financing needs to be addressed, too, but the most important thing is the simple mechanics of counting the votes and making sure they're counted accurately and fairly.

[Joe Chi Minh]

15. That would be like a cruciform, garlic encrusted stake, bathed in bright light,

straight through the heart of the already moribund, Republican Party. Shame....

Bush's extremism seeems to have brought about so many extraordinary, unexpected benefits. That should be anoother one.