Today is election day across America. It isn't a big election day in most places but there are a few governors being elected and a slew of local issues being decided. In some states, some people have already voted since early voting is becoming more in vogue these days. Some states are also becoming more lenient in allowing voters to register right up until election day. But most still close down registration a few weeks before.
And why do we still have this patchwork quilt of voting laws in 2007? We know why. Because it has taken decades and decades of blood, sweat and tears to even get to the point today where we have made it possible for everyone over the age of 18 to have the right to vote, much less a uniform approach to how we actually vote in the individual 50 states.
That should be next on our voting rights agenda. We need uniform laws across the nation that says we can register to vote year around, including on election day itself; that allows for us to vote early starting four weeks before election day; and that says everyone in a voting line at the time of polls closing in any state of the union will be given the right to cast their vote. Should we consider allowing people to vote from home on the Internet? It should be studied, but call me old fashioned because it seems to me we should have enough desire to participate in the electoral process that we can get out of our house or place of business to go join our fellow citizens and vote in our polling place.
One other issue that should be considered is the day we choose to vote. Federal law in 1845 mandated elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Tuesday was generally considered the best day of the week for a country that was then dominated by agriculture. Obviously, things have changed a bit. So, lets move elections to Saturday. Some states do that now. It might be worth a try to reflect where our country is today.
Regardless, we should all vote whenever we have the opportunity.
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