Posted on 10/22/2016 12:58:01 PM PDT by faucetman
I have advocated for a national day of voting holiday for a long time.
1. Election day made a PAID national holiday. Everyone gets the day off.
a. There would have to be provisions made for essential personnel, police, fire, hospitals, etc. (NOT for Walmart) .....Details.
b. Payment can be worked out. Who pays, how much, tax credit, lump sum, variable based on income. ....Details.
EVERYONE votes on election day during the same period of time. (minor exceptions for Hawaii and any other far flung places). ....Details
2. The polls open and close at the exact same "moment" nationwide.
a. By the clocks, times would be different across the country because of time zones, but everyone would be voting during the same "time frame".
We are only talking 5 hours here. Polls in the east could open at 10 am and close at 10 pm. 12 hours of voting, should be enough. You've got all day instead of trying to squeeze it in before work, during lunch, after work. 8 hours of your voting day is now spent at work, unavailable to you for voting.
Polls in Alaska could open at 6 am and close at 6 pm.
Let's say 1 hour before work, 1 hour at lunch, and 3 hours after work. That's only FIVE hours instead of TWELVE and almost everyone else was in line trying to vote at the same time!
Later in the east, earlier in the west. Hours available for actual voting would have to be shortened (only by 4 hours in NY), BUT everyone has the day off. No 6 pm to 9 pm after work/dinner crunch.
If overcrowding at some polling places would likely occur, create MORE polling places. ....Details.
3. Make it illegal for the press or anyone else to release ANY voting data before the polls have CLOSED.
Remember, ALL polls are closing at the exact same moment! No way for one state's results to influence another's.
NO EXIT POLLING! They'll just have to WAIT for "ACTUAL RESULTS", how droll.
NO EARLY VOTING! Absentee ballots should only be used by the infirmed, active duty military, overseas citizens, etc. You know, like it USED TO BE.
No more Florida 2000s where Dan Rather et al, caused the election debacle in Florida, falsely declaring Gore the winner in Florida, when the polls were still OPEN in the Panhandle, a Republican stronghold.
Note: I used to think this was just an F*** up (Foul up), but with what I know today, I'm convinced it was a deliberate attempt by the liberal media to throw the Presidential election to the Democrats.
Bonus: You might have to or want to take your kids to the polls. A VERY teachable moment! Make voting a FAMILY affair. Train up the youngins to VOTE.
Bonus: You could have voting parties, rallies, get togethers. You could go to the polls together. (designated drivers)
To avoid added pressure on police, ambulance, and hospitals, make your parties, Party Specific R or D. Undecideds, fence sitters, not fully committed, voters will still attend your gathering. It could be a chance to sway a few more votes your way. Take them with you to the polls!
Election day may well be the most important day of the year for our country. We DESERVE fair elections, devoid of FRAUD.
I know many will object to the "PAID" idea, but what is more important to spend our money on than fair elections? I'm sure there are a MILLION budget items that we could choose from to cut so we could afford this, or we could make Mexico pay for it!
I refuse to have a defeatist attitude. We CAN make things better if we don’t just quit.”
Not trying to be a defeatist. However, to make positive changes and restore integrity to our election process there is going to have to be agreement on the steps which need to be taken by citizens, businesses, educators and lawmakers on the state and national level and then follow-up to make sure it happens. Don’t see it happening in my lifetime, perhaps in my grandchildren’s.
I’m wayyyyyyyyyyyy old! But you are right about it being changed, I believe in 1970 or 1971. When I was eighteen we were allowed to vote in very local elections. Didn’t affect the outcome of much but did give us some exposure and experience in that arena.
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