Voting

This election is setting records for voter turnout. In some areas, people have been standing in line from eight to ten hours! When asked how long they would wait to vote, people from all across the country have replied, “As long as it takes.” That is the only right answer because otherwise they would in effect give up their right to vote.

That aside, it has become clearer than ever that we need a nonpartisan federal election commission to be in charge of presidential voting. It also means getting new, workable machines that leave a paper trail and can be used everywhere! Voting must be brought into the 21st century. And thank heavens for early voting. It has shown up the deficiencies in the system and has actually given more people an opportunity to vote. Recall that thousands were unable to vote in the last presidential election because they turned away after waiting for many hours! That should never ever be the case. It is denying citizens their most precious right. The more serious problems seem to be cropping up most notably in Ohio, Florida, Georgia, and Missouri (interesting that it seems to be toss-up states). Let’s get this process straightened out. And I suggest that those in particularly long lines might perhaps find it in their heart to allow elderly people and very pregnant women go ahead of them. Yeah, you may have to wait a while longer, but it would somehow be the right thing to do.

The next presidential election should see new working machines in every state and early voting available everywhere. Indeed, it is only due to this early voting that various problems have been spotted and dealt with. Considering this, I find it strange that the two most populous states in the country, California and New York, do not have early voting.