Election reforms needed to make it easier to vote, tally results

The 2020 primary elections have been marred by a controversial caucus, six-hour lines at polls and wasted votes.

The most advanced democracy in the world doesn’t make it easy for residents to vote.

Election officials and elected leaders often thwart voting, even in an era where enlightenment and technology should make it simpler for state elections.

On Tuesday, some waited more than six hours to vote at a Texas Southern University polling place. That should be unacceptable. A 2013 commission appointed by President Barack Obama determined that no resident should wait more than 30 minutes to vote.

There were also problems with primary elections in Dallas County.

An undetermined number of March 3 primary ballots from 44 vote-tabulating machines were not counted in Dallas County, according to court documents obtained by The Dallas Morning News. Dallas County officials are seeking to add them to the total.

The 2020 elections have been embarrassingly ineffective in fostering a fair and convenient system of voting. The Iowa caucuses were marred by the inability of the local party to receive and tally results in a timely manner. It took about a week to make certain that former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg was the winner.

The primary schedule has also been a problem. Americans from 14 states went to the polls on Super Tuesday to make their preferences known. But many of them had their votes practically nullified because Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar suspended their campaigns before election day. Because of the tight calendar, early voting in Texas began before the Nevada and South Carolina contests. According to the Texas secretary of state, at least 174,000 people cast ballots for candidates who had dropped from the race.

If lawmakers truly want full participation in elections, there has to be legislation or policies that make it easier for people to vote, as well as assuring that those votes count.

Marathon waits at the polls must go away. When did voting become a worse experience than getting a driver’s license?

Here are some reform ideas to consider.

Create an election system with uniform standards

The Constitution guarantees the right to vote, so federal officials should pass laws that create a system of counting votes and securing elections that’s based on the best technology and best practices.

For those who believe such matters should be left to the states, then the states should develop those standards for its elections. For example, every county in Texas should be working off the best election system available. The counting of votes should meet a standard that assures it’s done properly.

America should modernize the way it holds elections. That’s the best way to increase voter turnout and protect the integrity of the contests.

Fix the primary system

What gets lost in modern contests is that primary elections are vehicles for political parties to choose their nominees. The smoke-filled rooms of yesteryear have been replaced by elections in the states and territories that mimic an open process. But these elections are part of an archaic political process that includes delegates, election thresholds, caucuses and conventions. The general election is more of a pure process, with voters being able to select from a list of party nominees.

If political parties want to truly empower voters, caucuses must be abandoned. Asking residents on a set afternoon or night to meet at a venue and stand for a candidate and a second or third choice is a party insider activity, not a contest that encourages broad participation. What if you have to work, are out of town or need to stay home for any reason?

Democrats and Republicans should also have the early contest states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina stage their contests on the same day or within a week of each other. Then put some air between them and the other contests. In 2020 South Carolina had its pivotal primary on a Saturday, and three days later, 14 states, including Texas, had their primary contests. The calendar was a headache for both candidates and voters, and it didn’t have to be that way.

Make it easier to vote

In a matter of minutes, Americans can get approved for credit and then buy a new living room set. Potential voters should also be able to register and vote on the same day. That would increase voter turnout.

In Colorado, every resident can vote by mail. Online voting should be explored, though fears about fraud under such a system are understandable.

Election Days should be national and state holidays, and for smaller elections, employers should be encouraged to give their workers time off to vote.

Finally, voter suppression, in any form, should stop.

Over the years the number of polling places where Texans can vote has dropped, especially in communities of color. The newly conceived polling centers were supposed to help cut costs and improve convenience by allowing people to vote anywhere in a county, but in cases like Super Tuesday, the decreased number of traditional polling places hurt. Since 2012 Texas has closed 750 polling places. Most of those closures have affected African American and Hispanic residents.

It’s better to have short lines or modest activity in numerous polling sites, if you can attract more voters. That beats long lines in fewer polling locations that discourages voting.

It’s not hard. If you make it easy, more people will vote.


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