Thoughts On The Upcoming Election

Stipulations:

• In the United States it is important that every eligible voter be able to register and to vote. A government of, by and for the people can operate no other way.

• Anyone directly or indirectly involved in interfering with voter registration, the casting of valid ballots, tampering with the election system should be severely punished.

• Citizens eligible to vote are expected to accept and fulfill the responsibility to prove their eligibility, to register and to get to the polls and cast his or her ballot.

• Every eligible voter has the responsibility to learn about the issues and candidates and cast an informed ballot. An uninformed voter should not cast a vote.

• Good Samaritan aid may be provided to eligible voters who are unable to get to the polls on their own, so long as no effort, either overt or covert, is made to influence how the voter votes.

Most of us will readily agree that a perfect election is not possible. We must strive for perfection, all the while knowing that it cannot be achieved.

Problems occur in every election, in every state. Some problems arise directly from the voters themselves, who do not understand the ballot or some other aspect of the process. Some problems arise from mistakes made by election workers. Other problems result from illegal activities.

The questions then become, “What level of imperfection is acceptable?” “How many votes can be screwed up and still have confidence in the election?”

These are the questions for this election, and unless Bush or Kerry wins by a fairly large margin, say six or more points, this election will be questioned, and the results challenged.