What is your opinion of these changes to voting in US?

Question

1. Change the Federal level elections to the 2nd Monday in August, that way more teenagers and children could participate in campaign and hopefully lead to less apathy, also Congress would be in recess so they would devote that time to campaign instead of when they should be working. Also most people are not farmers anymore and don’t have to choose between harvest or voting(that’s why it’s in November)
2. Make it a Federal holiday, people would be more likly to vote , and we could use a 3 day weekend in August.
3. Have to show photo id, because voting should be more important than getting a movie, and you can’t do that without a photo id.
4. Have the system incorporate biometrics so only 1 vote per person.
5. Mandate that exit polls on election night include how many people were asked and how many responded.

Answer 1

I like some of the changes.

Answer 2

1) I prefer no change; there is no real benefit to this and if parents decided children should be involved they can take them out of school for the day.

2) A federal holiday for voting is cool - in November.

3) I like a photo ID requirement but the left will kick and scream you are discriminating against someone because of it.

4) No need for biometrics; assign a voter ID number, and when the ballot is cast its done. In fact if another attempt is made on the same voter ID - prison time.

5) Don't mess with free speech.

Answer 3

Problem with August is that many people travel in the summer months and might be away from their polling place.

I federal holiday? I don't think so. The folks at the post office don't really need another day off.

The ID is a good idea ... but how about absentee voting?

How would you go about voting twice the way things are currently setup?

I do believe we need to take precautions to keep elections honest.
Something very strange happened in Ohio in 2004,

Answer 4

I don't see any value in #1 or #5, but the rest seem like a good start. Some changes I'd like to see include:

- Federally sponsored campaigns for federal elections and NO private money allowed (no donations) so that candidates don't have to be rich or have rich friends they owe favors to, to get elected.

- A comprehensive and mandatory class at the high school level to teach kids our political system, how to judge a candidate or issue and the critical importance of voting.

- Ballots and materials issued only in English (no, I'm not a bigot but anyone not fluent in our native tongue is going to miss out on a lot of vital information)

- Presidential debates that are not run by a privately owned company that is owned by the Dems and Repubs, that is a genuine debate, open to candidates of all parties and that isn't pre-scripted.

- Laws requiring incumbents to make public their voting records (Congressional and Senatorial positions)

- A prohibition on dirty advertising. Ads should be limited to one's own record AND platform issues. Period.

- Texas allows people to vote during an open period that includes Saturdays, not just one day. This allows more time for people to get out.

- a whole day off is expensive to employers but what if they have to give 2 hours paid time off to anyone who brings back the receipt that they voted?

There's more..but between you and I...we've got some good ideas.

Answer 5

1. not necessary. 2. absolutely no, make the fed. employees work. 3. yes and I say yes again. 4. not necessary, although they do need to be alive. 5. no. Try this, make the election day 24 hours, starting and ending at the same time across the country. Say 12:00am on the East coast and 5:00 am in California. That would take away the news using exit polls to effect the voting on the west coast.