We’ve already told you how Senator Bill Nelson wants to change the way and day we vote. Now two other election reform bills have surfaced that may do the same thing, in different ways.

In February, low-key Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl (D) put forward S. 2638, the Weekend Voting Act, something he’s done before and something we’ve discussed with him on video. Right now the bill sits in the Senate Rules and Administration Committee for markup. We’ll keep following it.

In late-breaking news, the other Wisconsin Senator — Russ Feingold (D) — and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN), in response to Monday’s Supreme Court voter I.D. decision, put forward a proposal to have nationwide Election Day registration. We’ve talked with Feingold before on video, too. We’ll keep our eyes and ears peeled and bring you any further updates.

For more about Election Day Registration, check out our very own Barnett Zitron’s analysis.

Photo of Senator Kohl, at right, via compujeramey on Flickr.

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Posted in Election Reform, Election Day registration, Weekend voting | No Comments »

Why Tuesday? Board Member Norman J. Ornstein

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) is one of the good guys in Congress — smart, thoughtful, decent and hardworking. Now, fortunately, he is turning his attention and considerable energies to election reform, a broadly defined issue.

It is fortunate for two reasons: First, there are big issues out there and enough people distrustful of the electoral process or cynical about it to create a real crisis of governance the next time we have a very close election. Second, precious few lawmakers have decided to devote their time and attention to this topic.

Despite the emotions raised by problems with voting, this is not a slam-dunk winner of an issue politically. And those lawmakers who were instrumental in passing the Help America Vote Act in 2002 have either lost interest in the issue, are exhausted from it or believe we should wait awhile before acting again.

They are wrong. We do need to be careful about rushing to major reform without considering the costs and consequences; we are paying now for the rush to employ touch-screen devices known as DREs, or direct-recording electronic machines. And every major reform has to be absorbed by hapless election administrators who have neither the resources nor the trained personnel to make big changes on a frequent basis.

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Posted in Vote Centers, D.C., Why do we vote on Tuesday?, Election Reform, Election administration, WT? in the news, Existing laws, Weekend voting, Electoral College, Electronic voting | No Comments »

NEW YORK, NEW YORK — The 2008 nominating contests are highly contested and are attracting record turnout levels in State after State. Candidates are doing their best to maintain this upward trend in turnout; however, Republican turnout is sure to falter after Super Tuesday’s results.

For the Democrats, in this spectacle horse race, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton continue to inspire new voters (more…)

Posted in History, Nebraska, Kansas, Election Reform, Washington, Louisiana, Opinions, Election administration, Election 2008, Weekend voting | 1 Comment »

“Doctor, Doctor! My feet are killing me and there is something wrong with the way I vote,” said the patient who booked the appointment one week prior.

“Well you know Election Day is hard on your feet,” explained the podiatrist who thought to himself, “Why Tuesday?”.

Well, here is our answer, Doctor. And here is a brilliant piece of writing that ties visiting the Doctor and casting a vote together on Flavors of Abruzzo. Who woulda known that market day is still on Wednesday in Italy? Enjoy.

Posted in Election Reform, Opinions, National Holiday, Weekend voting | Comments Off

Visiting us from the Ocean State? Tonight (Moday), your secretary of state, Ralph Mollis, wants to hear from you at a forum in Warwick about election reform. He’s considering ten reforms, including moving election day to the weekend. That, and nine other reforms - including proof of residency requirements and a photo ID law (controversial in the past) - are after the jump. The details of the event are, too.
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Posted in Election Reform, Rhode Island, Weekend voting | Comments Off