On Sep 15, 2005, at 7:21 PM, Erik Riese wrote:
This is pathetic! We need to do something about how little the citizens care about their government. Perhaps we should institute an election quorum. Say 60% in a primary and 85% in a general. Unless we get that level of participation the election is void and we have to have a do over. At some point we could force a rotation of the candidates. The candidates would be forced to put their efforts into real get out the vote instead of just getting out their voters.
this is somewhat facetious, but I think we ought to run elections like MPR runs their fund-raising pledge drives. Start the election on, say, Friday and run it through the following Friday. Every day -- on every broadcast station -- announce what the voter turnout percentages are (but not the counts for individual candidates). Exhort folks to "do your share." Guilt folks to "do your share." Offer premiums for voting (uh, guess not -- strike that). Once the participation goal is met, turn off the exhortation(s) but let the polls stay open until the end.
Of course, we political junkies will need to sit on pins and needles for a week to know what the outcome is ... just imagine the tone of the posts on lists like this (grin)
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