We’ve Got To Do a Better Job Running Elections!

Every four years I’m reminded that elections in this country are a ludicrous mish-mash.  Systems and rules vary from town to town. Polls open and close at different times. There are touch screens in some states, paper ballots in others. And there always seems to be confusion. Remember those hanging chads?

In national elections, Californians complain that because of the three-hour time difference, the winner in a presidential race can be projected while they’re still voting. Here in Hawaii, we’re another two hours behind California!

And is there really any excuse for 90-minute waits in long lines? Isn’t it government’s obligation to make voting as convenient as possible for people? (One of the really under-reported stories of this election is the outrageous efforts occurring in more than 30 states to actually suppressthe vote.)

A number of years ago, a friend of mine and I thought of a simple change that would fix at least some of those problems: require polls to be open for a full 24 hours … the same 24-hour period everywhere across the country.  So whether you live in Bangor, Maine, or Meridian, Mississippi, or Klamath Falls, Oregon, or Kaaawa, Hawaii, the polls in those towns would open simultaneously and all would close 24-hours later.

There are other ways to improve the system and most would cost money. But can anyone tell me it wouldn’t be worth it?