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Democracy only works if people vote. That starts with voting locally. My proposal is that local voting should be mandatory for local state elections. Here are the stipulations:
a) 3 year minimum state residency in order to vote in state elections. This will help insure integrity for the local residents and help prevent transplants from altering the democracy arbitrarily
b) ID required
c) A basic but random test that shows the voter has basic knowledge of the state's laws and constitution. The test will be administered at the state level by elected reps already in place and non-partisan. Maybe a brief test that shows the voter understands the principles of the candidates and what exactly they are voting for.
d) If someone chooses not to vote without good reason a fine will be imposed by the state($50-100?) which will need to be paid in order to vote in future elections
These basic requirements would be huge for democracy to be more effective and lead to more inherently responsible states. The citizens will be less inclined to be apathetic and point fingers because democracy will be representing the citizens of their states much better.
People are stupid not to vote in local elections. Their pocketbook is more directly affected by local elections than most anything DC does. I live in a small city of some 72,000 people. The proposed school budget $259,622,488. There were 2,035 votes for the budget and 719 against. That's a disgrace. The school board has raised their taxes every single year and the voters never say no.
Democracy only works if people vote. That starts with voting locally. My proposal is that local voting should be mandatory for local state elections. Here are the stipulations:
a) 3 year minimum state residency in order to vote in state elections. This will help insure integrity for the local residents and help prevent transplants from altering the democracy arbitrarily
b) ID required
c) A basic but random test that shows the voter has basic knowledge of the state's laws and constitution. The test will be administered at the state level by elected reps already in place and non-partisan. Maybe a brief test that shows the voter understands the principles of the candidates and what exactly they are voting for.
d) If someone chooses not to vote without good reason a fine will be imposed by the state($50-100?) which will need to be paid in order to vote in future elections
These basic requirements would be huge for democracy to be more effective and lead to more inherently responsible states. The citizens will be less inclined to be apathetic and point fingers because democracy will be representing the citizens of their states much better.
That is rather authoritarian!
Free people have the liberty to be governed, or not. Some people don't like "other people" thinking for them.
Democrats win when voter turnout is high. You'd be okay with that?
Over the longer term their would be no 'winning', as it should be and states would have the democracies that represent their people best. This would lead to better economies and better representation on national level.
Keep in mind that the already heavily democrat states would be getting the representation they deserve as well. Isn't that what they want and always complain about? Let them eat their cakes and keep them too and see what the results are.
Requiring the stipulations I listed the moderate and right leaning states with more independent citizens would certainly not go liberal and would see population increases of like minded people. This would substantially increase their voting power on the national level.
The results would be that the left leaning states would be losing population and going bankrupt at a faster rate and the moderate and right leaning states would have vibrant economies and more political power over the course of say 10 years.
The liberal democrat states would be in a world of hurt in facing the reality of what they wished for. Many already are.
Democracy only works if people vote. That starts with voting locally. My proposal is that local voting should be mandatory for local state elections. Here are the stipulations:
a) 3 year minimum state residency in order to vote in state elections. This will help insure integrity for the local residents and help prevent transplants from altering the democracy arbitrarily
b) ID required
c) A basic but random test that shows the voter has basic knowledge of the state's laws and constitution. The test will be administered at the state level by elected reps already in place and non-partisan. Maybe a brief test that shows the voter understands the principles of the candidates and what exactly they are voting for.
d) If someone chooses not to vote without good reason a fine will be imposed by the state($50-100?) which will need to be paid in order to vote in future elections
These basic requirements would be huge for democracy to be more effective and lead to more inherently responsible states. The citizens will be less inclined to be apathetic and point fingers because democracy will be representing the citizens of their states much better.
Let's also require that they can pass a basic course in civics.
Democracy only works if people vote. That starts with voting locally. My proposal is that local voting should be mandatory for local state elections. Here are the stipulations:
a) 3 year minimum state residency in order to vote in state elections. This will help insure integrity for the local residents and help prevent transplants from altering the democracy arbitrarily
b) ID required
c) A basic but random test that shows the voter has basic knowledge of the state's laws and constitution. The test will be administered at the state level by elected reps already in place and non-partisan. Maybe a brief test that shows the voter understands the principles of the candidates and what exactly they are voting for.
d) If someone chooses not to vote without good reason a fine will be imposed by the state($50-100?) which will need to be paid in order to vote in future elections
These basic requirements would be huge for democracy to be more effective and lead to more inherently responsible states. The citizens will be less inclined to be apathetic and point fingers because democracy will be representing the citizens of their states much better.
Democracy only works if people vote. Voting should be mandatory.
Local votes, for all issues, especially bonds, should ONLY be held the same time as the national elections. First Tuesday following the first Monday of November. Local taxing districts keep putting out more and more bonds out and fail to adequately inform the voters. Worse, they keep putting up the same ones time after time until finally the opposition is worn down and enough fail to show up to vote for bonds to pass. They can be voted down time after time...they only have to pass ONCE. Local taxes are skyrocketing across this country and government workers are pampered more every year.
Democracy only works if people vote. That starts with voting locally. My proposal is that local voting should be mandatory for local state elections. Here are the stipulations:
a) 3 year minimum state residency in order to vote in state elections. This will help insure integrity for the local residents and help prevent transplants from altering the democracy arbitrarily
states already have a minimum residency requirement, but true they do vary from state to state.
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b) ID required
many states do have, or have passed laws requiring IDs to vote, but many have been overturned in the courts, apparently its too difficult to get a voter ID but not a drivers license for poor people.
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c) A basic but random test that shows the voter has basic knowledge of the state's laws and constitution. The test will be administered at the state level by elected reps already in place and non-partisan. Maybe a brief test that shows the voter understands the principles of the candidates and what exactly they are voting for.
try reading the 24th amendment. while it refers to a poll tax, it also prevents requiring people to pass a "test" in order to vote, since that can be construed as an other tax.
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d) If someone chooses not to vote without good reason a fine will be imposed by the state($50-100?) which will need to be paid in order to vote in future elections
again unconstitutional.
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These basic requirements would be huge for democracy to be more effective and lead to more inherently responsible states. The citizens will be less inclined to be apathetic and point fingers because democracy will be representing the citizens of their states much better.
the problem is you cant force people to vote in this country. if you do we may as well become a dictatorship.
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