In order to help increase voter participation one of two things should happen: 1. Election Day shouldn't just be a day. The election period should stretch over maybe two days. In order to prevent people from voting multiple times the voter must give their driver's licence/state ID number at the voting booth. It could be entered electronically. With a couple days to get to the polls people hopefully would be able to find time to vote. Also, if problems arise at polling statons there would be more time to fix it. I've heard of problems such as polling stations opening late, poll workers not being properly trained, polling machnes braking and minorities being denied access to polling stations. OR 2. Election Day should be a single day, like now, but it should be a national holiday. Sometimes finding time to vote in my already busy schedule is a challenge. I have to vote without taking time away from work and before the polls close. If Election Day was a holiday that wouldn't be a problem. People would have all day to vote. Of course this idea doesn't fix voter apathy, but that's another blog.
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Heck, we're having enough of a hard time trying to get cities and states to require picture ID to vote how it is!
when I voted last, I never showed my ID or even had to give my name. I stood in a line and was told to find my name and sign in, then they gave me a ballot. I could have signed in as anyone.... AND, with how little attention was given to me, i could have changed my clothes and waited in the other lines to vote a few more tmies.
picture ID should be required to vote. And not "printed on the printer at home" Picture ID.
who here, of voting age, who can legally vote, doesn't have a driver's license or other photo ID?
I have 3 photo IDs, all from the state of oklahoma, one is a driver's license, another is a non-driver's license photo Id, and a third.
The problem is not voter participation... it's voter awareness of the issues and who they are voting for. Most people vote simply off of name recognition... or randomly. I'm not kidding.
I would MUCH rather have 12% of the population do the voting if they are intelligent, informed, and wise than have 98% participation with the majority of them being a bunch of idiots punching at names randomly.
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"Smart" is definitely a relative term. I know a great many intelligent people who do a great many unintelligent things.