As harrowing and frustrating as the current unsettled state of this year's presidential election may be for all of us, think about how Al Gore and George W. Bush must be feeling. Both could make very well-reasoned arguments that because of voting irregularities and irresponsible media coverage, they lost enough votes to possibly cost them the election. This week, the Red Eye makes its case that online voting could solve most, if not all, of the issues that have put the presidential election on hold -- to the detriment of not only our entire nation, but also to our stature in the world.

SOLVE THE VOTING PROBLEM AND SAVE THE NATION
This election year in particular has made it embarrassingly clear that the most powerful democracy in the world needs a better voting system. The spectacle of election officials holding up paper ballots to the light and squinting to see which hole a voter punched for president should make all of us -- as we're living in the middle of the information technology age -- squirm. 

Election experts say that 20 percent of U.S. voters use one of 27 different types of mechanical-lever machines; 25 percent fill in a circle, square, or arrow next to their choice. Fewer than 10 percent of voters touch a computer screen or push an electronic button. 

The reality of this patchwork system is that the quality and thoughtfulness of voting execution varies dramatically, a discrepancy that could be solved overnight. The tragedy is that, in an election this close, whether certain ballots are missing, stuck together, or designed in a confusing manner actually matters.

No matter which candidate wins the election, it is clear that their legitimate claim to our country's highest public office will be in question to a huge proportion of the voting public. One way or another, one group will feel the election was, in some way, "stolen." Mix these emotions with a pretty evenly divided Congress, and it could make for an ugly four-year 
administration. So whichever candidate wins is going to have to work very quickly to overcome questions of legitimacy and establish any semblance of an electoral mandate. 

CONFIDENCE BUILDER
One quick way for a new President to gain voter confidence would be to confront immediately the ancient voting systems currently in place and replace them with an all-out Internet strategy. Because state governments are legally sanctioned to oversee elections, the new President would only be able to champion this from the bully pulpit, but even so, this could be a great way to demonstrate leadership and establish some form of mandate going forward.

The new President could encourage each state to work in conjunction with county governments to build and maintain a comprehensive and fully interactive election Web site. Most importantly, citizens would be able to access this site freely, and they could use it to register to vote as well as to cast their vote come election time. In addition, the site would also include all the voter information required by law; and it could provide links to the campaign Web sites of every candidate on the ballot and to the groups who are either fighting for or against ballot initiatives and referendum. The Federal and State Election Commissions could also provide campaign contribution information, so voters could see what individuals, businesses, and political interests are funding each candidate and each initiative. 

The bottom line is that this system would solve most of the voting problems made prominent in this election. First, the system could be designed so voters could review their voting choices on screen and, if they wished, print out the form before pulling the final lever, thereby minimizing voting errors. The system could also be designed to ask voters, say, three times if they are ready to send in their votes, and it would not allow double voting.

IT'S THE TECHNOLOGY
These sites could also incorporate clearly delineated "help" pages that walk voters through the entire site, and each state could also set up toll-free operators who could help voters vote successfully online without confusion. Properly executed, an Internet-based voting system could significantly minimize voter mistakes and eliminate the whole idea of "recounting." 

An Internet-based voting system would also allow citizens to register to vote right up until the last minute or check and see if they are indeed registered and even update their record, if necessary. This kind of setup would most certainly increase voter registration. Voters could also cast their votes from any Internet-enabled device and from any location in the world, which would most likely increase total voter turnout. Citizens who are sick, traveling, or just too busy, for example, could easily cast their votes from home, work, a hotel room, or even the back of a taxi cab with a wireless device.

Neither Al Gore nor George W. Bush invented the Internet, but whichever one ends up in the White House has an opportunity to turn a bumbling chapter in United States history into a mandate to secure our role as the first Internet nation. That alone would be a great legacy for any future president.

Discuss today's column in the Red Eye column discussion, or check out forums, video, and events at the Discussions home page.

Please send your comments to Vinnee Tong, a regular contributor to The Red Eye. 

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Yours For Increased Voter Participation.

David Biddulph
CEO OnlineDemocracy.com, Inc.
"a free web site by the people for the people"
email: [email protected]
Phone 904-423-4744
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