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Ideas for a New Democracy

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Share your ideas on gov 2.0, elections, technology & civic engagement with Warren Slocum

 
Following the voters' defeat of California's "budget fix" ballot propositions, the Golden State needs to rethink its approach to the conduct of public elections.

Why not move toward "all mail elections" like Oregon and Washington have done?

This would save a great tons of cash at the exact time when California needs it most for other vital public services. Voting by mail increases
voter turnout. At the May 19th Special election, for instance, Sierra County, that votes by mail had the highest turnout of any county in the state at 53.6%. Furthermore, studies show that voting by mail increases minority turnout as well.

Mail elections are secure because all signatures on the vote by mail ballot envelopes are compared to the original signature on voter registration card - a control which does not currently exist at a polling place election.

The bottom line is that mail ballot elections work for everyone.