Reply #29: Good idea to separate Federal elections

[many a good man]

and make them all pen and paper ballot. Make it a federal holiday. Unfortunately elections are run mostly by volunteers who are hard to find for just one day of the year. Maybe we can also pay election workers and make them take an oath.

It would be unfeasible to run state and local elections this way, due to the sheer number of races and state ballot ordering rules. Depending on where you live, you can find several dozen measures and offices to vote on. Its staggering. Under the Constitution it is each state's responsibility to regulate elections, but federal money can be used to implement the highest standards and best practices. Its a matter of money and will.

Electronic voting can provide a triple-redundant, completely auditable process that can cater to all special needs (language, blindness, etc.) far better than any paper-based system. There are ways to certify and lock down such systems. Standardization can reduce costs considerably and add to security. We just have to get serious about demanding it.