With the midterm election behind us, it's time to look forward and begin to talk about what the Democrat controlled Congress should focus on first.
I've argued that the best opportunity awaiting the Democrats, in terms of a bipartisan victory early in the '07 session is raising the minimum wage. That may be the best opportunity, but passing the increase would not be as an impressive victory as doing something about the voting problems this country faces.
For all the "spreading democracy" rhetoric the Bush Administrations spews, they've done little to nothing to improve the US electoral system. This despite the fact they've been personally engaged in two scandal-ridden elections. Soon to be Speaker Pelosi talked the talk about voting reform before the election, but that has dropped of the radar screen. Bringing the issue to the forefront before November 7th only to whisper it in passing after winning control of the Congress leads me to believe the issue was floated out there only to place doubt in the minds of voters in case the Democrats lost. This started the dialog before it was actually needed.
Despite numerous reports last Tuesday about problems with electronic voting machines, provisional ballots, and various other dirty tricks, neither party is up in arms. In the past, the Democrats have led the charge that machines were rigged and the other side participates in massive voter suppression techniques. Even though the Republicans lost and lost some close races, they're not crying foul. This could be because there were very few reports of suppression against the Democrats and most electronic machine issues centered on complaints of Democratic votes going to the Republican.
Winning isn't enough of a reason for the Democrats to shut their mouths. Rep. Pelosi and Sen. Reid should champion real voting reform. Creating some voting standards and correcting some of the mistakes from the past will go a long way in winning back disenfranchised voters. But more than that it will help restore true democracy in a country that claims to be the leader of the free world.
Here are just a few areas where we can reform voting and improve voter turnout:
* Establish national standards for elections - One of the few highlights of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 was the formation of the US Election Assistance Commission. The EAC needs to have the proper funding to help put together standards that can be enforced through out the country. Currently there are few federal guidelines to help piece together the patchwork quilt of over 3,000 counties and 9,000 townships. Standards should include a mandated paper trail and standard rules for provisional ballots.
* Require a reliable paper trial - What has happened with some of the electronic machines since the 2000 election is embarrassing. For years we got along fine with paper ballots, punch cards, and levers. For some reason we decided it would be best to help those same people who can't operate their universal remote vote by making them do it on something reminiscent of an ATM. Look, electronic voting machines are here to stay, but any state that is going to use them must be forced to use only machines that provide a paper trail.
* Establish a constitutional right to vote - The right to vote isn't apart of our Constitution. If a right to vote amendment were passed, it would give the courts jurisdiction to demand equal protection of the right to vote. This would help facilitate further national voting standards.
* Influence states to promote mail-in voting - If Americans are given the option up front to have all of their ballots mailed to them weeks prior to the election, they will be more likely to participate. This country demands convenience and it doesn't get much more convenient than you filling out your ballot in your spare time.
* Mandate that all states must mail out informational guides on issues and candidates - Oftentimes, people complain because they feel like they just don't know the issues. One popular complaint is that to find out the facts about issues and candidates, voters have to go to several sources to get unbiased information. Sending out a state funded pamphlet that provides a statement from the candidates, descriptions of the issues that are on the ballots, and for and against comments about those issues gives the voter a nice primer of information.
* Fund campaigns publicly - Big money politics takes the voice away from the middle class and it goes against everything that democracy stands for.
Some of these are easier to accomplish than others. The last several elections prove that there continues to be issues with voting in this country. The Democrats have an opportunity to be the party that helped hand democracy back to the people and they should step up and be that party before it's too late.