Election Overhaul: Carter, Baker offer imperfect solutionsLots of coverage today on the election reform commission headed up by Jimmy Carter and James Baker:
here,
here and
here for starters.
The recommendations include the Sergio Leone trinity and more:
The good: more voter registration outreach, though they exclude the single most effective tool - same-day registration.
The bad: The insistence that elections should be run only by non-partisans is a slap in the face to thousands of good election administrators who balance their personal politics with a strong sense of fair play.
The ugly: Photo ID to vote. Even though they qualify it as many ways as they can it's still going to impact outsiders of all stripes more.
The indifferent: I just can't make myself care about paper trails; I know computer systems are fallible but I look at anyone who insists that information is only "real" when it's on a piece of dead tree as a Luddite. TalkLeft calls this the "most important" item. I seem to be in a minority here and have no real objection.
I'm sure the blogosphere will ramp up quickly on the regional primary issue: They propose four dates, one a month, but leave Iowa/New Hampshire as exceptions. TalkLeft calls this the most controversial item. And obviously my self-interest is close to the bone here.
Also missing: any discussion of instant runoff, proportional representation, or redistricting reform.
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