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Good Elections in 2004; Better Elections in
2006
Responding to concerns that U.S. election procedures are still subject to some of the same problems that plagued the 2000 presidential elections, U.S. PIRG called for states to implement ten tips to make the November 2004 election as open and accurate as possible and to move toward five reforms that should be adopted for future elections.
“Casting ballots, and having them accurately counted, is the bedrock of our democracy,” said U.S. PIRG Democracy Advocate Dana Mason. “Without increased diligence in this election and better systems in the future, we run the risk of repeating the problems of Florida in 2000.”
Of particular concern is the ability of local election officials to fully process all of the recent voter registration applications and ensure that each registrant is added to the voter rolls in an accurate and timely manner. The New Voters Project of the state PIRGs, for instance, has registered some 330,000 young voters in recent months.
“All who are registered should be sure to exercise their right to vote on Election Day,” said New Voters Project Director Ivan Frishberg. “Adjusting to the changes under the Help America Vote Act is a learning process for everyone, so voters should be patient as well as vigilant that election officials count their vote.”
Another concern is the availability of provisional ballots for those voters whose registration is not processed correctly or who, for whatever reason, do not appear on the registration rolls. The Help America Vote Act guarantees the right of every citizen to receive a provisional ballot. There are concerns, however, about whether provisional ballots will be provided in all cases and whether those ballots will be tallied correctly.
“Nothing is more sacred than the right to vote,” said Derek Cressman, director of TheRestofUs.org. “While it’s fine that Americans disagree as to who our president should be, we should all come together to make sure that our elections are as accurate and accessible as possible.”
“America’s technology, prosperity, and legacy of democracy should make us the yardstick by which other countries measure the freedom and accuracy of their elections,” said U.S. PIRG’s Mason. “We have made some progress in the past four years, but we are still woefully behind where we ought to be in terms of election preparedness and systems to ensure that all citizens cast an accurately counted vote.”
The state and the federal governments should provide the resources
necessary to run elections smoothly. Specifically, all new registrants’
information must be processed in a timely and accurate manner,
local registrars must be prepared to accommodate rising numbers
of voters on Election Day, and local officials must have a fully
trained staff to handle new voting systems and rule changes. Basic rules and requirements should be clearly posted and available
in every election office and polling location so that voters can
assess if they are being treated fairly and in accordance with
the rules. In this way, voters will understand their options if
problems or questions arise. Voter groups and campaigns should include information about the
mechanics of voting and voters’ rights as a part of their
GOTV efforts. State and local election officials should include non-partisan
voter groups in the training and orientation of election officials
who will run the show on Election Day. Voters should go to the polls equipped with acceptable forms
of ID as required by the state. Provisional ballot and recount rules should be clarified and
publicized in advance of Election Day, and the campaigns should
have understood and agreed to these procedures in advance. Prior to Election Day, the media should aggressively and regularly
provide voter information on the candidates, the rules, and the
voting procedures. Citizens deserve more than just a horse race.
State and local law enforcement officials and national election
observers should aggressively ensure that the rules are being
applied fairly and equally to all voters. It should be made clear
that unequal application of the law is against the law. No voter should go to the polls alone or leave behind a registered
non-voter. Bring a friend, a relative or a total stranger, but
make sure that when you vote, America votes. Election officials, campaigns, the media and voter groups should
all work hard and work together to make sure that November 2nd
is a shining day in the American democracy, an example for the
entire world to see. U.S. PIRG also advocates that the following 5 reforms be adopted before the next congressional election in 2006:
Five Key Reforms for Future Elections 1) Allow voter registration up until and on Election Day. As states computerize their voter rolls by January 1, 2006 as required by the Help America Vote Act, it will become technologically easier to register voters right at polling places on Election Day. This will eliminate much of the rush to process registrations and ensure that people who have recently moved, such as students or members of the military, can vote. The six states that currently allow registration on Election Day -- Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Wyoming -- had an average turnout of 68 percent in the 2000 election, nearly 10 points higher than the national average.
2) Voter guides. States should issue every registered voter a detailed guide of all candidates and ballot measures that allows each candidate to explain their platform in 500 words or less, provides links to candidate web pages, and provides pro and con arguments for all ballot questions. The guide should include a sample ballot and clear instructions on how to vote, as well as the location of the citizen’s polling place.
3) Ensure that all voting machines provide a voter verified audit trail for use in recounts. While touchscreen voting equipment has many advantages, including greater accessibility, most do not currently provide a receipt that can be checked by voters and used in recounts if need be. Oregon and New Hampshire currently have laws requiring ballots to be cast on systems that allow for manual recounts. The Secretaries of State in Washington, Missouri, California, and Ohio will join Nevada in requiring paper trail printouts for touchscreen machines by 2006. Other states should follow suit.
4) Make Election Day a Holiday. Given the importance of voting to our democracy, we should ensure that everyone has a chance to vote by declaring a state holiday at least for presidential elections.
5) Prevent minor parties from “spoiling” elections by using Instant Runoff Voting. Our last three presidents were elected with pluralities, rather than majorities of the vote. This can lead to distorted election results. For instance, George Bush won Florida in 2000 even though a majority of voters supported either Al Gore or Ralph Nader. Likewise, Libertarian candidate Michael Bednarik may win enough votes in Nevada this year to allow John Kerry to win the state, even though a majority of voters may prefer Bush or Bednarik. Instant Runoff Voting, recently adopted by San Francisco, avoids this problem by allowing voters to rank their top three candidates in order of preference.
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