Nearly every time an election comes around at all levels—city, county, state, and federal—there are outcries from some folks on both sides of the aisle regarding election transparency and delayed results. In most developed countries, election outcomes are announced the day of the election or soon after, often with simple paper ballot tabulations.
Why does it take so long for election officials in the United States to count ballots and deliver final results when most of them can utilize modern technology? Is it an obsession with accuracy, excessive amounts of mail-in ballots, or other problems related to the entire voting process?
In order to reduce the degree of second-guessing, claims of election fraud, and long-delayed Election Day results, there are a few solutions that could be implemented to improve election integrity in recall, regular, and special elections.
First, only citizens should be allowed to vote since voting is a hard-won privilege.
Next, a valid ID ought to be required for all elections so there can be a match between the address and the face and name of the voter. While most folks are honest, this requirement could add to the fairness and security of elections.
Third, legislatures should avoid changing election laws in the middle of an election season. Changing any laws should only occur every two or four years when scheduled elections take place at all governmental levels. This could reduce the degree of confusion between election officials and the electorate and also increase fairness regarding the two main political parties.
Fourth, the courts and legislatures ought to discourage the use of dark money, or money that’s used to influence an election or policy wherein the donor’s name or organization isn’t disclosed. Too often, dark money has been utilized to spread disinformation by distorting facts or even ignoring factual truth.
Moreover, there should be laws to limit the amount of money one person or business can donate to a campaign or ballot initiative. For example, George Soros or Mark Zuckerberg should have dollar limits when supporting campaigns.
Fifth, voters should educate themselves on all candidates and issues and do their own fact-checking regarding candidates’ track records and the accuracy of initiatives and referendums. Voting is a big responsibility, because citizens are voting on candidates who are planning to implement policy proposals that will affect their lives.
Sixth, purging the county voter rolls every few months is of paramount importance because of factors such as the deaths of registered voters or voters moving in or out of a county. When an election comes up, voter rolls must be as accurate and up-to-date as possible. When voting ballots and information booklets are mailed out, they should reach addresses where registered voters reside. This is the responsibility of the Registrar of Voters.
Seventh, vetting the folks who work at voting locations on Election Day is crucial, too. While most poll workers are honest folks, it can’t hurt to vet them and ensure that they have enough training to monitor and supervise a clean election.
Eighth, although ballot harvesting should be discouraged, if there are some cases when it’s legal to do so without compromising the vote, then it could be done on a limited basis.
Ninth, early voting ought to be encouraged so that no single party has an undue advantage. In addition, voting day in November can present problems. There might be long lines at polling stations, inclement weather could occur, or voting machines can break down.
However, if a substantial percentage of voters mail in or turn in ballots, the ballots should only be counted prior to and on Election Day, not after the polls close. These rules should be applied across the board in every state. Further, if any ballot is illegible or a signature doesn’t match the name on the ballot or envelope, it must be discarded.
Tenth, security at the polls and at the deposit boxes for mail-in ballots must be as tight as humanly possible. Any type of fraud must be prevented, and the integrity of the vote must be preserved. In a democracy, voting is both a privilege and a responsibility that should be taken seriously.
If the aforementioned guidelines are adhered to, election integrity could improve, and election results could be delivered in a timely manner the same night or soon after. The American people deserve timely and transparent elections.
