If I become a citizen in 2012 I might qualify in time to vote in that election. Perhaps I’ll be voting for a second Obama term. In the meantime, I’m a resident alien who votes in absentia in the UK.
I think voting is really important. The political system might suck, but in most countries people died for the right to vote. It’s worth defending, no matter how compromised the system…at least that’s true for most countries.
What I find really shocking in the U.S. is how this country tolerates such a dysfunctional execution of that right. The events of 2000 were off the charts in terms of denial of rights, but even this time around there are numerous tales of problems with student registrations and predictions that people in Virginia will have to stand in line for ten hours to vote.
This is not intended to be a “my country is better than your country” rant, and I fully acknowledge there are many deep flaws in the UK parliamentary election system, but I humbly offer suggestions for reform from the UK and other European countries.
1. X marks the spot
Nothing is more reliable than the simple pen and paper ballot. It can be physically counted time and again. There are around 60 million people in the UK, more than California, and we are able to count the votes by midnight or the early hours of the morning by staffing up. And when there are disputes, there are few ballots that will end up in any real controversy. No hanging chad, no technology failures.
2. Polling stations galore
I am constantly amazed at what a chore it is for people to online casino’s vote here because lines are long. I have voted in the UK in London, Norwich, Sheffield, and Manchester – and there are only about a dozen other people in the polling station at the same time, because there must be so many polling stations available. It is a densely populated island and yet I’ve never had to wait…the whole process takes less than five minutes.
3. Paper chain
It is criminal to run out of ballots. There is no excuse for this one. If there are 5 million people in a state of voting age there should be 5 million ballots available and a few to spare. This is the one day where we can prioritize democracy over wasting resources, whether financial or material.
4. I reside, therefore I vote
A couple of months before the election, the local councils in the UK send out a card to every household asking them who is eligible to vote. The register is based on council (state) tax records, but the head of the household can submit the card back adding other residents who need to be registered. Before the election voter registration cards are sent out – not essential for voting but they clarify who is on the role and give another opportunity to correct records. The onus is on the local authorities to register voters as much as on the individual.
5. Redirecting redistricting
Another moment of total disbelief in my American education came when I saw the shape of electoral districts. It’s totally corrupt! And silly. In the UK we somehow have objective, cross-party electoral boards who agree on redistricting based on population shifts and…common sense. It seems to work.
6. Sunday, Sunday
In France, all major elections take place on Sundays to ensure maximum participation. It’s rather a good idea.
7. What, no ads?
Hold on to your hats…did you know that political advertising on TV is banned in the UK? The major parties are permitted a number of “party political broadcasts” which are very limited, very controlled, and very dull. But they save the voter from this awful, sensationalized TV advertising and elevate the importance of independent media coverage and door-to-door and printed communications. I know it will never change here, and maybe it’s patronizing to ban TV advertising, and certainly anti-constitutional in this country…but wouldn’t it be nice?
8. State of independence
In France, it is illegal to report data from opinion polls within three days of the election to stop undue influence. Like #7 above, there’s a rather paternalistic motivation behind this and it would never fly with the First Amendment, but I like the idea of forced independent thought.
I know that not all of these are important or desirable, but I heavily advocate for points #1 through 5.
Happy voting, American friends. May all your democratic dreams come true.
Excellent! Policy wonkery on a Friday! I endorse 1-7, with 7 modified somehow (or change the First Amendment, fine with me). 8 strikes me as silly.
so give us an update on UK politics, i’ve read good press for brown lately but cameron seemed a huge threat before the economic crisis. what’s the latest?
brown has been saved by the economic crisis – he was so unpopular before, but now everyone wants a dull, stable, scot who was chancellor of the exchequer for ten years and actually understands economics.
krugman praised him for leading the way managing the economic crisis in the UK this week, so he may live to see another day. but generally the country is tired of (not so) New Labor, of Blair’s legacy, and cameron may have a fighting chance.
Remember – we don’t vote for the prime minister separately, only for the member of parliament, so it will come down to a constitutency by constituency fight in the end.
Yes, Dave, election fever has even reached the domestic confines of the Friday GW! Whatever will happen next!
Here, here, aye, aye! I like ’em all. Just curious, Dave, why does 8 smack as silly?
I’m slightly encouraged by today’s Supreme Court ruling regarding Ohio’s Republican push, which was seemingly to require hundreds of thousands to vote with provisional ballots. And it’s interesting that in Colorado nearly half of all voters have requested to vote via mail. Mail-in voting offers many the opportunity to vote who otherwise wouldn’t, and that’s a good thing, clearly, but I think extended polling-place hours is a better idea than encouraging all-out mail-in voting. What about Saturday AND Sunday? Or, Sat, Sun, Mon? (Wow, how liberal. . . .)
Of all your ideas, Stella, 5 strikes closest to my heart. But then I live in Utah, where redistricting is (magnified above that in many states; more pronounced here in the heart of Red-dom) a decennial hunting forray to kill the lone, Democratic, recusant Congressman.
I’m all about mail-in voting. I’ve never gone to a polling place in my life, but send me a mail-in ballot and I’ll vote on every single occasion.
I prefer to do my civic duty in private.