How do you feel about the system we have of voting?

[BlueDragon1981]

I have to do a panel discussion in one of my classes for college. I thought it would be a good idea to ask others how they feel on this. (If you are from another country you must know something about the American voting system in order to give a good response). Im going to include a poll question and a number of other questions. This could be a long winded answer to some of you. That is okay. This is going to help me get data to how the public feels on the system.

 

1. First is the Poll questions. Please answer it. It is the most important to our discussion.

 

Do you think the voting procedures (in the US) need to be looked at or changed to make it more convient and precise?

 

2.

 

Do you think the electoral collage is something of the past or would you keep it?

 

3.

 

Do you think the Popular vote should have more baring.

 

(example: Gore won the popular and Bush won the electorial.

 

4.

 

If you elect to keep the electoral collage do you think we should give a certain number of electors to the popular vote?

 

5.

 

How would you change the system.

 

6.

 

Do you think making it more than one day would help?

 

7.

 

Do you think adding an internet voting system would help and produce more of a turnout?

 

8.

 

How much of the "Im a Republican" "Im a Democrat" should be played into the voting. (In other words just because you are republican you vote for the republican.)

 

9.

 

Do you think the canidates personal lives should be kept out of the ads?

 

With this one do you think the negative ads cause less voter turnout because people just start to not care?

 

10.

 

Would an Undecided help on the balloting? (this would make it so you don't have to vote on canidates your not sure on) For example if you dont know who you want for the pres but you do for the others on the ballot at that time, then you could go through and vote for who you want and pick undecided for the ones you dont know. This would also make it so the third party nominee doesnt get votes that could very well go to another canidate.

 

11.

 

Do you think this is an important issue? Take into consideration the Florida voting system. It has caused scandal twice now. The recent elections and the Presidential elections. (the weird thing is President Bushs brother (Jeb) is the gov of that state. (both times went towards republicans)

 

I will and anything I forgot later. Thanks in Advance to any of you who respond.

[shotochem]

Hi BD, I see nothing wrong with the concept of the electoral college. However, I believe the electoral votes should be given proportionatly to the popular vote (ie. if a candidate wins 60% of the state he gets 60% of the electoral vote). I also believe in a cap on campaign financing to the same amount for all candidates as well as manditory debates. The whole concept of partisan politics needs a reality check. I propose that in a presidential election the one with the most votes is the president, the next most the VP. Internet voting would never work it is too easy to tamper with and someone would sue. (discrimination for those who cant afford a computer ) I have voted for both political parties over the years Rep & Dem. They both suck.

 

Thats all for now, back to work...

[Red J]

IMO:

 

The electoral college is outdated.

 

The popular vote should determine the victor.

 

Campaign finance needs to be reformed to keep out the influence of special interest groups.

 

Personal issues should only be relevant when dealing with character and past performance. IE keep the families out of it.

 

I don't vote along party lines, I vote for who I feel is the best person (or sometimes the lesser of two evils).

 

I hope this helps.

[BlueDragon1981]

shotochem - an internet system could work if it was built an designed right. Today you have to go out and vote. People who dont have a way to the polls would then be the ones not getting a chance. It could work. I do see your point that it could be tampered with. Thats why im doing research on that also. To see if a system could be devised. I dont mean solely on the internet either. Just another way added so more people could vote. The original poles would be open still. I would also like to know Anything you would change or anything you could say that would make it easier.shotochem - an internet system could work if it was built an designed right. Today you have to go out and vote. People who dont have a way to the polls would then be the ones not getting a chance. It could work. I do see your point that it could be tampered with. Thats why im doing research on that also. To see if a system could be devised. I dont mean solely on the internet either. Just another way added so more people could vote. The original poles would be open still. I would also like to know Anything you would change or anything you could say that would make it easier.

 

Red J - I appreciat anything you and anyone offer. Do you think just certain states need to have things changed. (Florida is what comes to mind)

[Red J]

Yes, our machines have changed. They are now touch screen computers and only allow for one race per screen. It's super easy and before you finalize the vote, the last screen gives you a recap on how you voted and an opportunity to change it. You can skip races that you don't want to vote for but you can't vote twice in one race, the computer won't allow it. The technology is great, but the problem is that volunteers are relied upon to man the voting precincts. This is where the last error came into play with the volunteers being late in opening polls on time. It was further exacerbated by the govenor ordering that the polls remain open two extra hours across the state and some workers had shut down the machines. As a result, some votes were recorded by hand as when a machine is shut down it has to be reconfigured.

[Red J]

Take into consideration the Florida voting system. It has caused scandal twice now. The recent elections and the Presidential elections. (the weird thing is President Bushs brother (Jeb) is the gov of that state. (both times went towards republicans)

 

Actually the last mistake was during the Democratic Primary. McBride versus Reno. McBride won and will be in the governor's race. Hopefully this November will be smoother.

[shotochem]

The use of the new touch screens is certainly a good start. The other thing I find disturbing is the the media is adversly affecting the elections with premature predictions as to the outcomes. Ie. with 10% of the vote counted candidate X is in the lead with a 70 -30% lead. I believe that the results and predictions should not be broadcast until the polls close. I am also in favor of extending the hours of polling to accomodate working people. Open earlier stay open later any more than one day would not be feasible. I have also witnessed militant partisan tactics by both parties practically dragging people to the polls and pressuring them to vote down the line for their party as opposed to picking and choosing.

 

 

 

[BlueDragon1981]

I agree nothing should be prodcast till they cose

[diamondick]

I think there should be more variety of political parties,

 

only two leave little choice for the voter.

 

Republican and Democrat for ages over there,

 

it should evolve into a more open and plural system

 

This is the little I know about it

[Red J]

The media did have a part to play in the presidential fiasco. Take the following scenario. I live in South Florida and voted in the morning. My brother lives in the Panhandle and got off work in the late afternoon. He almost did not vote because of the networks calling the race. He told me that many people west of Tallahassee that live in Florida but in a different time zone did not vote because of the reporting. Precincts in those areas reported less traffic during the last hour than did the polls in the EST zone (ie polls just miles apart that close an hour later because of the time zone). How many voters failed to vote because they thought the race was over? We will never know either way.