In today's OpinionJournal, John Fund reports on some frightening election [counter-]reform legislation from the Democratically-controlled Maryland legislature:
The most troublesome bill undermines the concept of local polling places by allowing all voters to vote anywhere in Maryland using a provisional ballot ... Another bill would allow any voter to cast an absentee ballot for any reason. The state's League of Women Voters ... points out that absentee voting increases risks to "privacy, accuracy, security" and creates opportunities for "intimidation."Feh. We've had both sorts of fraud-fermenting reforms here in Washington for years, and has our democracy been undermined? At least Maryland isn't trying to force everybody to vote by mail. Speaking of which, Deanron argues that one of the advantages of mail-only voting is that it undermines the secrecy of the ballot. Speaking at his press conference yesterday [audio] --
It gives them the ability to access the resources in the voter's pamphlet or to go online or to talk with people they share values with and make up their mind and to cast that voteOf course we can already discuss candidates and ballot measures with people we share values with, we can make notes on the voters pamphlets that are already mailed to us, and we can take our notes into the private voting booth when we mark our ballot. It is neither necessary or desirable to have the actual ballot in front of us when we discuss it with others, let alone have ballot parties where people can be coerced or cajoled into voting a particular way to fit in with the group. Maybe disposing of the secret ballot is what Deanron has in mind when he says that mail-only voting will increase "transparency". Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at February 09, 2006 03:46 PM | Email This
You make exactly the same point I have tried to make to anyone who claims that vote-by-mail makes it easier for voters to study the issues and candidates before casting their votes. What hogwash. We have always had weeks - nay, months - before Election Day to educate ourselves, and as you point out, nothing has ever prevented us from taking our marked-up sample ballot with us into the voting booth. It's amazing how many people buy that line without giving it (apparently) any thought....
Posted by: Patrick on February 9, 2006 04:57 PMThe problem is, she could win when the election system is out of control. You think the Patriot Act could be abused with her in power ? Damn right it will be ! Wake up and smell the coffee - don't be complacent, or else it will be a rude awakening in Nov. 2006 and worse yet in 2008 !
Posted by: KS on February 9, 2006 07:05 PMOn another note, I think you should capitalize the R in DeanRon, as the two, while having one agenda, yet maintain separate pie traps.
Posted by: mark on February 9, 2006 08:37 PMI've had to deal with smater floaters than yous
Forgetaboutit.
Posted by: Joey bag of doughnuts on February 10, 2006 03:54 PM