What's new
Frozen in Carbonite

Welcome to FiC! Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

American Electoral Reform

Just leave the ballot blank, that's what happens in Australia anyway.
You could leave the ballot blank, but it could still leave Americans quite bitter because of possible feelings of being forced into this. It might not anger Australians, but it could very well anger Americans. I, an American, would be considerably irritated.
 
Wouldn't the electoral college encourage the presidential candidate to ignore certain states because said states are considered a guaranteed victory or defeat? For example, Democrats, Hawaii; Republicans, Utah.

A national popular vote using ranked-choice voting could encourage presidential candidates to broaden their platforms and run aggressively in every corner of the country.
... your ignorance astounds me. The 'stronghold' states thing is a byproduct of the winner take all system, not the college itself. You keep forgetting that the US is built upon a balance of power system from the lowest office to the highest one. Getting rid of the college is basically going to turn the US into late Roman Republic in terms of political bloodshed because you've sentenced anyone outside a city to an apparent death-sentence.

... which would likely force the US military, IC, and DoJ to pull a coup and thus start a civil fucking war. This time with nukes.
 
... your ignorance astounds me. The 'stronghold' states thing is a byproduct of the winner take all system, not the college itself. You keep forgetting that the US is built upon a balance of power system from the lowest office to the highest one. Getting rid of the college is basically going to turn the US into late Roman Republic in terms of political bloodshed because you've sentenced anyone outside a city to an apparent death-sentence.

... which would likely force the US military, IC, and DoJ to pull a coup and thus start a civil fucking war. This time with nukes.

Getting rid of the college...

Probably helps, actually. Less blatant dodgy dealing (2000 bush) less presidents who didn't win the popular vote getting in (Seriously, that isn't how democracy is meant to work) and hell it'll probably increase public confidence in the idea that they're the ones choosing the presidential candidate, not the old men and women in a room.

I still don't get the idea that switching to a method where Urban voters are represented by their portion of the population is bad. Lord knows in Australia they get enough attention despite being an even smaller fraction of the population.
 
Getting rid of the college...

Probably helps, actually. Less blatant dodgy dealing (2000 bush) less presidents who didn't win the popular vote getting in (Seriously, that isn't how democracy is meant to work) and hell it'll probably increase public confidence in the idea that they're the ones choosing the presidential candidate, not the old men and women in a room.

I still don't get the idea that switching to a method where Urban voters are represented by their portion of the population is bad. Lord knows in Australia they get enough attention despite being an even smaller fraction of the population.
Nope because the US is built upon the principles of balance of power since day one. A lot of the compromises were built upon that concept. No one group (i.e. high pop/low pop states) can have all the power. Since NYC can cancel out 17 states by itself and only gets worse from there...

... late Roman Republic era bloodshed would be certain.
 
Citizen and Legislative Efforts to Reform Redistricting in 2018
Grassroots and advocacy groups around the country are working to curb gerrymandering – the manipulation of voting districts to favor or disfavor one group of voters over another or to protect incumbents. Similar grassroots efforts in recent years led to the successful implementation of independent commissions in Arizona and California.

24 states have a ballot initiative process that allows citizens to propose a law or constitutional amendment, either to the legislature or directly to voters. Other states only allow the legislature to amend the constitution or pass laws, meaning, in these states, that citizens must persuade their legislature to pass reforms.

A round-up of the latest news on key citizen-driven and legislative efforts to reform the redistricting process.
Citizens and state legislatures are putting effort to deal with the gerrymandering problem. What catches my eye is the possible creation of bi-partisan/independent redistricting commissions in Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, and Michigan.

Losing redistricting power in Michigan could really hurt the Republicans' chances in the House for the future.
 
For Maine Reformers, The Fight for Fair and Equal Elections Continues
Ranked choice voting, in the eyes of many reform advocates in Maine, was an important step to create an electoral system that better represents the people of Maine and hold lawmakers more accountable.

Maine made history in June by becoming the first state to use ranked choice voting for statewide, legislative, US Senate, AND US House primary elections. In November, it will be the first state to use the reform for US House and US Senate general elections.

But many voters may be left wondering: Why just two elections? What about the other races?
Because of the questionable state constitutionality of the new voting system, ranked-choice voting will be used only for the United States House and Senate elections in Maine. State elections like the governorship and state legislature will continue using first-past-the-post. Electoral reform activists hope to get supporters for ranked-choice voting elected in the governor's office and Maine's legislature to reform the Constitution of Maine to accept ranked-choice voting.
 
Actually people, given the situation, we'll need to ensure that Russian 'Active Measures' don't screw things up. For those not in the 'know', Active Measures is a series of programs originally done by the USSR's intelligence services and kept going by the Russian Federation's intelligence services specifically designed to sow as much discord as possible to create as much disunity as possible. This includes falsifying history of the CIA to discredit it, falsifying that AIDS was actually a US bioweapons program, and -given the history of these 'Active Measure' programs- likely created the TEAParty and the GOP as we know it, culminating in the electioneering of the 2016 elections to install Trump as president.
The US was built on a lot of principles, like human bondage, that doesn't make those things good.
Problem with your assumption that balance of power isn't a good thing is that you are blinded with your assumptions on the human condition. The US is built upon the ideals of Locke -which is commonly referred to as Hobbes Lite, and for good reason... and the fact that for the most part Locke, Hobbes, and Machiavelli are right- and Machiavelli. Given the shenanigans that happened during the Articles of Confederation era, the instillation and solidification of Locke/Machiavelli style politics became paramount for long-term survival of the State.
 
Vox provides us a video why automatic voter registration is needed to improve democracy in the United States of America.


Here's the problem, ever since Reagan the GOP would practically kill anyone politically who even suggested this, as they morphed into the shitstain we now love to hate. Then there is the fact that despite this, even if you could get auto-registration, the political currency to improve things isn't there thanks to the fact that the current work environment that those who benefit from this the most has made it quite literally impossible to vote. You can't vote if missing even an hour means starving or even getting fired.
 
Here's the problem, ever since Reagan the GOP would practically kill anyone politically who even suggested this, as they morphed into the shitstain we now love to hate. Then there is the fact that despite this, even if you could get auto-registration, the political currency to improve things isn't there thanks to the fact that the current work environment that those who benefit from this the most has made it quite literally impossible to vote. You can't vote if missing even an hour means starving or even getting fired.
Go ahead. Kill everyone by State terrorism. Then you will see your precious Genocide Man made reality.
 
Poll: Support for November ballot proposals strong
A trio of proposals on Michigan's Nov. 6 ballot are getting majority support a little more than a month before the election, including a redistricting commission proposal that has found increased backing, according to a new statewide poll.

The Sept. 30-Oct. 2 Detroit News-WDIV survey of 600 likely voters showed support for Proposal 1, which would legalize recreational marijuana; Proposal 2, which would create an independent redistricting commission to draw political boundaries every decade; and Proposal 3, which would expand voting options to include no-reason absentee voting and same-day voter registration.

Voters supported a proposal that would create the redistricting commission 55 percent to 23 percent, with 22 percent undecided. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
According to a poll, support for Michigan's ballot proposals seem to be strong.

Proposal 1 legalizes recreation marijuana.
Proposal 2 creates an independent redistricting commission for both state and congressional districts.
Proposal 3 has a list of electoral reforms. Straight-ticket voting, automatic voter registration, same-day voter registration, and no-excuse absentee voting.

Proposals 2 and 3 are what making Republicans nervous because improving voting hurts their electability. Michigan is considered a very important state for Republicans to control the House of Representatives.
 
One thing I've been wondering of late, would it be easier for a lot of people to have time off to vote if they simply moved election day from always a Tuesday, to say a Monday or Friday. For a lot of people in jobs or industries that only do a 4 day work week, such a move might be more convenient, and I could see some employers being somewhat more open to the idea of scheduling a floating holiday around that time and either not starting up again til Tuesday or starting the weekend a day sooner as opposed to starting up Monday, having to shut down Tuesday, and going through the startup process all over again Wednesday .
 
One thing I've been wondering of late, would it be easier for a lot of people to have time off to vote if they simply moved election day from always a Tuesday, to say a Monday or Friday. For a lot of people in jobs or industries that only do a 4 day work week, such a move might be more convenient, and I could see some employers being somewhat more open to the idea of scheduling a floating holiday around that time and either not starting up again til Tuesday or starting the weekend a day sooner as opposed to starting up Monday, having to shut down Tuesday, and going through the startup process all over again Wednesday .
That won't happen because there is no 'sanctified' day of the week in the US where there isn't work.
So, it sounds like what we need is manditory holidays for most jobs on election day.
The corporations will pitch a shitfit if you tried that. It cuts into their profits.
 
That won't happen because there is no 'sanctified' day of the week in the US where there isn't work.

The corporations will pitch a shitfit if you tried that. It cuts into their profits.

Which isn't an unreasonable arguement. At the factory I work for, we have one area that has several large industrial ovens that painted parts and certain types of glass go through before they are sent to the various assembly lines, or in some cases straight to shipping. When 3rd shift comes in on Sunday nights, it typically takes them about 5 hours to safely turn them on, and when 2nd shift shuts them down on Friday evenings it takes roughly the same amount of times. To bring them online from a cold startup generally costs about $100K. Say we get Tuesday off for an election day, we would have to go through the entire process twice over the course of a week.

Move the election day to either Monday or Friday, and you would still have to make adjustments, but not nearly as many as a random day during the middle of the week. That and if you're like me and vote a week or two before election day, it would be much more convenient to have a Monday or Friday off at the end or beginning of the normal weekend. With three days off I could have time to maybe even take a short road trip or something.
 
Anti-Gerrymandering Reforms Sweep the Nation Tuesday
SAN DIEGO, CALIF. – Game-changing proposals to end partisan gerrymandering passed in 3 states Tuesday — with the results of a 4th (Utah) pending — taking control of redistricting out of the hands of partisan politicians in favor of a nonpartisan system.

Nonpartisan redistricting proposals were on the ballot in Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, and Utah. Though each proposal differs to various degrees, the goal for all of them was the same: implement a redistricting system that puts the interests of voters ahead of party scheming.

The challenge in getting these proposals passed also varied from state to state. Some of the proposals had zero registered opposition, while others had to survive court challenges and oppositions from partisan and moneyed interests.
Michigan, Colorado, and Missouri have passed their ballot measures to create independent redistricting commissions while Utah is still pending.
 
Arnold Schwarzenegger's War on Gerrymandering Is Just Beginning
Arnold Schwarzenegger is preparing to travel to the future of the gerrymandering war.

Tuesday brought wins for independent redistricting commissions that Schwarzenegger backed in three of the four states where they were on the ballot—Michigan, Missouri, and Colorado, with Utah still counting, but also trending toward yes. Now the former California governor has begun planning a summit for advocates, donors, and the people behind some of the successful campaigns to brainstorm and build to more wins.

It will be held at the Schwarzenegger Institute at the University of Southern California. Plans are being made to bring the group together within the next few months.
Former Republican Governor of California and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger has achieved great success in his fight against gerrymandering after the 2018 midterm with three out of four ballot measures to create independent redistricting commissions have passed and the fourth is in the lead. He plans on preparing for his next battle in the 2020 elections.

I think the next states he should go after are Maryland, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
 
Arnold Schwarzenegger's War on Gerrymandering Is Just Beginning

Former Republican Governor of California and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger has achieved great success in his fight against gerrymandering after the 2018 midterm with three out of four ballot measures to create independent redistricting commissions have passed and the fourth is in the lead. He plans on preparing for his next battle in the 2020 elections.

I think the next states he should go after are Maryland, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
NC is the worst in the nation. This year democrats got 54% of the vote there but only 23% of the seats
 
Back
Top Bottom