You have touched on exactly why there seems to be so much utter stupidity these days - the consequences for indulging in stupidities are insufficient to teach a lesson. Real and substantial financial or physical punishments administered quickly would improve things vastly.
Take vote tampering or other such activities, what if everybody associated with ballot box stuffing knew that if they are caught they would go to jail for a couple decades with no opportunity for parole *and* every one of their assets (retirement, bank accounts, home(s), autos, etc) would be seized effectively throwing their families out on to the street penniless. There would always be some ‘true believers’ willing to take one for the ‘D’ team but your average poll worker would not.
Make this the consequence; once the political minion is convicted of doing, aiding and abetting election fraud the gaining politician is automatically charged with the same offense.