https://apnews.com/article/mishandled-ballots-bridgeport-connecticut-election-security-70f95f347dfa1e581a6955027d64ae2
I wrote about this earlier, and wanted to do a quick update. When I first wrote about this there were some skeptical comments and we now see that the original story was accurate. Now, is this evidence that the 2020 election was flawed, no. But it seems reasonable to conclude that if a local democrat party hack would go to such lengths to rig a relatively meaningless local election, that they just might do the same in other elections.
I want to reiterate that my stance on elections is non partisan. I highly value the right to vote that our founders gave us, and believe that the right of eligible citizens to cast their vote must be protected. I am not complaining about wins or losses, I am championing the protection of everyone's votes.
To that end, I would propose the following. Borrowed from Vivek Ramaswamy and edited.
- Election Day as a National Holiday: The majority of Americans are not entitled to time off on federal holidays and, currently, only 29 states and Washington, D.C. require employers to give employees time off to vote in general elections. Only 23 of those states require that time off to be paid.
- Single-Day Voting: I recognize that there should be some means for people to vote who are truly not able to go to the polls on election day, and have no problem accommodating those people. However, the right to vote is precious and having to put forth some effort to vote is not necessarily a bad thing. I would also be fine with voting on two consecutive days as well.
- Voting on Paper Ballots Only: The majority of states have already transitioned to paper ballots. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, 93% of the ballots cast in 2020 had a paper record.
- Government-issued voter ID matched to the voter file: In 2020, nearly 29 million voting-age U.S. citizens did not have a valid driver’s license, the most common form of photo ID used to fulfill voting requirements.
I would also suggest some limits on reporting of the vote. I believe that the media does have the power to influence voting by how they report the early returns in the Atlantic and Central time zones. I'm not sure how this would look, but it's something to consider. Maybe requiring states not to report any figures publicly until 90% of the votes are in. I would also suggest that any precinct that reports more votes than registered voters, should automatically be audited by an outside auditor.
5 comments:
First off, I agree with your opening sentiments. One's party affiliation is meaningless if the process lacks integrity and one's vote can be nullified by the addition of ineligible votes. Thus, how elections are run is essential. As to the suggestions:
1. This is the only one on the list which doesn't trample on the Constitutionally protected right of states to dictate how elections will be run in their own states. We already have a single day set aside for elections which has been stretched to absurdity by leftist self-interest. A National Holiday makes sense as it eliminates the problem of work interference and all which comes with it (kids in school or day care...stuff like that).
I don't abide the paid day off angle. I don't abide it for any other holiday, even though I liked seeing my paycheck unaffected by not working. But from the employer standpoint, it's a clear burden and a negative impact on profits. And if no one is forced to pay, no one can complain. If any biz chooses to pay for holidays, that's their biz and a perk for employees to entice them to work there.
2. There's really no need for multiple days if there's a National Holiday. One is enough in that case. Of course, absentee ballots on request only with a legit reason for them should be re-established as originally intended. Jimmy Carter once cited absentee ballots (which were by request at the time) as the least secure balloting method before morons began sending unsolicited ballots to everyone. But they're necessary for those too ill or infirm or away on biz or military service.
3. Also essential, paper ballots are not any more or less time consuming than electronic, so the for the voter it's no big deal. In addition, I'd like a record of my selections for personal protection of my vote. Risky if one is overly concerned with anonymity, but just shotgunning here.
4. State ID cards look almost identical to one's driver's license and they are often free to acquire. Years ago, I looked up how much each state charges to get one, and at the time, the most expensive was $45 and that was only one state as I recall. Even if that was the same everywhere, one has at least two years between elections (four for those who only vote in the presidential elections) to set aside the dough to have that hefty amount. But at that time, even where states had some charge (I believe the average was around $15) most of them allowed for free acquisition. So there's no excuse not to have some form of official ID if one regards voting as important. As has been said ad nauseum, state IDs are required for so much in every day life. There's no excuse not to have one.
Two additions to the list I would add:
5. All votes must be counted immediately after the polls close and counting cannot end until all are indeed counted and totals recorded accurately. The recent election in Argentina and the last in France, I believe it was, showed how other nations are getting it done quick enough to know who won the next day. There's no excuse for our country not to be as good at at it.
6. All absentee requests must be in with enough time to vote and send the ballot in to be counted with all the others. That should be the only allowable form of early voting. Obviously the ballots would likely arrive earlier than the start of normal voting, so the ballots must be secured and guarded like freakin' state secrets until they are added to the totals.
1. I don't have a problem with making it a holiday. I'd argue that making election day a holiday makes more sense than some of the other federal holidays.
2. Even if it's a holiday, it's impossible for no one to be working that day. I fail to see how making it a two day event is problematic. Or maybe make it 2 days to avoid making at a holiday and mandate PTO to vote in person.
3. I think paper ballots are essential. If for no other reason than to have a physical means to verify the votes cast.
4. ID is requited for so many things these days that it's absurd to think that it's a burden to acquire one.
5. I have no problem with a manual count, or at least a manual recount.
6. I also agree that for the limited number of absentee ballots, that they must be submitted before the close of voting on election day. There's no excuse for not getting absentee ballots in by election day. The fact that they count ballots for several days afterword is ridiculous. Absolutely the security of the physical ballots must be held more securely than Biden keeps TS docs.
I think that this notion that we have some sort of "right" to have instant election results is ridiculous. Take a day or two, count and recount to verify and catch errors, then make the announcement.
1. Again, it's a day already set aside for the purpose. It's easy enough to make it a national holiday.
2. Naturally, our ideas need to be thought out more deeply than either of us has done yet, but I think there's two ways this can work with just one day:
a. Those who must still work for any reason will likely know ahead of time and can vote via absentee ballot.
b. With most everyone off in order to vote, those who must still work will likely still be able to get in line at some point. But the precincts could be shrunk or more polling places or voting booths provided. I think that should be done anyway and it would lessen the need to wait in line.
3. Paper ballots can't be messed with as easily as some might think if they're handed out only at the polling place and never leave the building overseen by poll workers from both parties. The electronic machines are really no more than complex alternatives which, when done right, still produce a paper receipt of some kind with one's selections. Why bother with that?
4. The arguments against ID are just lies. IDs make it harder to cheat and Dems can't have their ability inhibited in any way.
5. Each precinct/polling place only has so many voters eligible to vote there. The number if all show up to do their duty is still not so large that all ballots can't be counted three or four times within a few hours.
6. We're not in agreement here, because my position is that absentees must be submitted so that they are available to count with all the other ballots on election day. I think perhaps it's the word "submit" which may be confusing for me. I want them "submitted" in the mail early enough to be counted on election day with all the in-person ballots. That means it's the only form of "early voting" allowed. Those ballots may actually have to be mailed so that they arrive a day early because...well...you know...we're dealing with the USPS.
I also disagree about immediate results. We need them counted and the winner announced ASAFP. Other countries manage it. I believe we used to not so very long ago. Keep in mind how little time there is to contest a result. That narrow window was used against the Trump team with regard to at least a few of their fraud claims.
1. Which should be done.
2. Sure, anything is possible. But it seems like spreading voting out over two days would be easier on employers. Of course, you advocating for absentee ballots as a way to make it easier not to vote in person on election day is amusing.
3. That's why I advocate paper ballots. I have no problems with machines that electronically read the ballots as an efficient way of counting. But having paper ballots as a back up seems essential. I'd argue that the paper ballots should be electronically counted at least three times at a minimum. More if there are still discrepancies.
4. Yes. Id's are incredibly easy to get and required for so many other things that poorer folx do, that to argue otherwise is simply nuts.
5. I agree. Of course, when the number of ballots exceeds the number of voters, then there is a problem that must be addressed.
6. I've said the same thing. The allowing of ballots that arrive after election day should not be counted. Early ballots should be held securely until election day and counted then. Doing otherwise allows for the potential manipulation of the in person vote. Much like east coast voting might affect west coast turnout.
I'm not suggesting that we take weeks for the results to be counted. I'm suggesting that we (maybe) stop the partial results dumps early and make one announcement at 6 AM the day after election day (for example). I think too much of the immediate results demand is created by the MS who enjoy their role in the process a little too much.
2. I advocate absentee ballots for anyone with a legit excuse for not showing up in person. We already have several such excuses allowed. If there is some reason an employer can't let an employee off to vote, the employee should be able to be among those who can legitimately request an absentee ballot. Sure, it would be tricky to allow without the allowance being abused, but I think it can be worked out. Don't forget...you were the one who mentioned that some there are always people on the job on holidays.
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