It's unpopular, but I think we need to eliminate absentee ballots. In my uneducated opinion, they're vehicles for voter fraud.
Now... I said I was uneducated. I don't know how to ensure that servicemembers are not disenfranchised, or how to fix the other problems that absentee voting corrects if you do away with the process of absentee voting.
As I see it, the problem is maintaining the idea of one person, one vote. We've got to fix the problems with vote fraud in this country. We MUST. As much as I don't like the idea, the only way I can think of to do it is to have some kind of national database (maybe based on your driver's liscense number or SSN?) that instantly checks you off as having voted, but obviously not recording who you voted for. Then, you could not vote again in that race. I have no idea how to secure that type of system, but it's the only way I can think of to eliminate vote fraud. Do any of you other, more educated and better informed FReepers have any ideas?
Well, you're close.
As I see it, the problem is maintaining the idea of one person, one vote.
It was not by accident that the Founders did not write the Constitution with a universal franchise.
While I may not agree with the compromises they reached with respect to the eligibility requirements for voting in federal elections, I agree with their assumption that not everybody ought to be voting.
It is exceedingly clear from the Federalist Papers that the Founders considered a citizenry that was both informed and familiar with the mechanics of government to be essential to the survival of the Republic.
We require that legal immigrants to the U.S. to pass a test to prove that they have a certain amount of knowledge about the history and political structure of this country; I believe that those who wish to vote should be able to pass an equivalent test.
In addition, I believe that those who suckle at the teat of government should have no say whatsoever regarding the distribution of the bacon.
If the amount of taxes you pay is less than the total amount of money you receive from the government, then you don't vote. Period.
Any questions?