Clinton and Boxer, Representative Tubbs Jones and Others to Unveil Major Election Reform Bill

http://clinton.senate.gov/~clinton/news/2005/2005217501.html ^ | 2/17/05

[Bahbah]

Voting is the most precious right of every citizen...

Silly me. I thought it was my liberty. I'm surprised they are not suggesting that Europeans be allowed to vote in our elections since what we do affects everyone.

[bullfeather]

ok . seems alittle harsh. like a police state

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

Let's see how long it takes the GOP to affix a provision to this bill requiring valid state issued identification in order to receive a ballot.

In corporate takeover speak - this would be the poison pill.

[bert]

Well, we have a choice. Do we police the voting process or do we loose it completely to fraud?

It is widely believed in this forum that the process is fraudently controlled in many major cities that controll state majorities.

[1903A3]

Purple fingers
THAT IS THE ONLY REFORM NEEDED

[NEPA]

I love it for voting but the federal government would find a way to screw it up requiring the federal ID (which it seems to amount to) for too many other things. Like a Social Security number, which was "not for identification purposes", the government and business would corrupt it.

It would definatly ensure fairer elections however.

I am for ID requirements for voting. As with first time voters now, there could be a lot of leeway, I don't think it presented a problem in the '06 election (e.g. a voter registration card and a utility bill could be accepted though I think that type if ID required 2 forms, not just 1).

Same day voting is a definite no-no. As stated somewhere above it would guarentee long lines and plenty of fraud.

I don't really have a problem with ex felons voting as long as there is some process they go through to regain voting rights. Maybe a waiting period and a recommendations from some responsible person. Remember that not all felons are unredeemable low lifes. They could be someone that screwed up on their taxes and can't afford to fight the IRS and end up with a record.

[Piquaboy]

We going to let the prisoners in GITMO vote also? The Liberals want to give them the protection of the Constitution.

[bullfeather]

prior registration, minimum 60 days. allows processing.
valid registration card for that precinct
valid photo id for that state
a set ratio of voting machines to registerd voters(ie 1/100)
remove presidents day as holiday and add voters day.
absentee ballots sent out 30 prior to vote

[maggief]

"What about me?!?" ...Sen.John Kerry (news - web sites), D-Mass., and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (news - web sites), D-N.Y., take part in a news conference on voting reform legislation Thursday, Feb. 17, 2005, on Capitol Hill.

[NEPA]

Correction in my post: It should read same day registration, not "voting". Sheesh, time to pour another cup of coffee.

[Ed_in_NJ]

"Voting is the most precious right of every citizen...."

Horse puckey! There goes the Witch speaking for 'every American' again -- without a clue! What percentage of citizens actually vote? Many of them seem to prefer "talking about it" over really voting! Maybe the right of 'free speech' is more precious -- maybe it's the right to move about freely -- for some it's even the 'right to life' (do we know Witch way she's leaning today?) -- but once again she thinks she has the right to speak for 'all Americans,' and she most certainly does NOT!

[maine-iac7]

bill also enacts "no-excuse" absentee balloting

i.e., just because we don't mail out the military ballots in time for the military to get votes back - that is no excuse...they won't be counted (as always)

[DoctorMichael]

Load-of-crap Bump.

[Vinnie]

Where is their big push to make sure ALL of our Military absentee ballots are counted?

My first thought also.

[KenmcG414]

Americans can't trust these socialist liberals. We should have strict standards on voting such as ID cards, making sure citizens only vote once, assuring our military votes get counted, not allowing third parties to pick up absentee ballots, strict standards for absentee voters, the dead may not vote etc. etc. You bet we need voter reform but no the type Hillary and her cohorts support.

[upchuck]

Gee, and not one word about how much this is gonna cost us. And when you figure the cost, don't forget to add the entire government payroll for one day. Plus the cost to modify/replace the thousands and thousands of already delivered electronic voting machines so a paper ballot/receipt can be printed.

I work as a poll manager in SC. IMHO,
- requiring a photo ID and doing an "inky finger" sort of ID would go a long way towards preventing fraud
- Absentee ballots should be rare
- The cut off date for counting absentee ballots and early voters should be early enough so that these people, who have already voted, can be automatically flagged when the voting lists are printed

[RayChuang88]

The current bill as it stands will not likely even make it out of committee for these reasons:

1. The Republicans oppose allowing convicted felons from voting.

2. There are no provisions for getting votes from overseas voters properly counted in time.

Sorry, Senator Clinton.

[cgbg]

Their focus on process and not outcome is, to quote the former Senator DHole "deeply troubling".

While Congress continues to enact new entitlement programs, spend like drunken sailors, attack smokers and gun owners like criminals, make insane treaties undermining US sovereignty, fund the ideas of people I abhor, etc., etc., etc.....

I am supposed to care about "every person's vote counting".

The new people Hillary wants to register on election day will take away even more of my liberty.

[McGavin999]

There is no excuse for all the so called problems they've been claiming. With early voting, absentee ballots etc. anyone who claims they didn't get to vote is a moron and shouldn't be voting. The same for multi-language ballots, if you can't speak the language you shouldn't be voting. We should make it a requirement that you speak the language BEFORE you can become a citizen and then it's no longer a problem.