Dear Brad and
Desi,

It may be news to some, but a noted coal mining museum in Kentucky has recently converted over to solar electric power....

clean coal, indeed.

Meanwhile, election officials in Florida have now revealed that more than 6,600 vote-by-mail absentee ballots sent and post-marked by Election Day went uncounted in the Sunshine State's midterm election. Those numbers don't yet include ballots from Palm Beach County, a Democratic stronghold. The untabulated ballots might have effected a number of close races in FL, including those tallied in statewide "recounts" for U.S. Senate, Governor and Agricultural Commissioner. While state law allows ballots post-marked by Election Day from overseas military votes to be included in the tally if they are received up to ten days after the election, all other "late" ballots are ignored.

In regard to elections for United States Senator and United States Representative, we need to have a Federal ballot. There is absolutely no reason why bad ballot design by a State should affect the outcome of a Federal election, as was the case with Bill Nelson losing a significant number of votes because of such a shortcoming that was in defiance of the recommendations of the United States Election Assistance Commission. And there is no justifiable reason why ballots in a Federal election cannot be counted because of State rules. Governor and other down ticket races should be on a State ballot.

Philip @1:

Ha! Actually, we covered that story when it first came to light (no pun intended), I want to say, about three years ago! However, time has now, officially, lost all meaning to me, so it might have been within the past year. Feels like forever ago, at this point. Happy for the reminder again today, however, as it's still rather hilarious (and maddening).

Marvin @2, argued:

In regard to elections for United States Senator and United States Representative, we need to have a Federal ballot. There is absolutely no reason why bad ballot design by a State should affect the outcome of a Federal election, as was the case with Bill Nelson losing a significant number of votes because of such a shortcoming that was in defiance of the recommendations of the United States Election Assistance Commission.

Well, setting aside any Constitutional questions related there, what makes you think a federal body, run by .... take your pick of Trump or Dubya appointees, for example .... would create a ballot that was designed any better?

Also, once the feds get to create the ballot itself, what keeps them from also determining how it is to be voted (on a DRE, a barcoded "ballot", via the Internet, etc?)

Careful what you wish for, amigo!

Brad, the point is not perfection. Of course, there will be difficulty at every level. But, at bare minimum, there should be separation between the two. For "a federal body, run by .... take your pick of Trump or Dubya appointees" pointed out the proper ballot design--precisely the kind that was NOT used by the Sunshine State--and so, if there was a Federal ballot, there would be at least the possibility of that one problem being solved.

Secondly, a 1972 Supreme Court decision written by Justice Black supported an Act of Congress that allowed eighteen year olds to vote in Federal elections. States, at the time, were still able to set the age standards for their elections. (The Consent of the Governed and Other Deceits by Arthur Krock, 24-25) So a separate ballot for Federal and State elections should not raise "any Constitutional questions."

Finally, my support for a Federal ballot for Federal elections does not change a position previously shared on this site: "Paper ballots, counted--by hand--where cast, before the public, the press, and the parties, would take place at the precinct level; it would be unhackable and, therefore, more secure. Furthermore, it would increase public confidence in the results and also negate foreign influence."

Marvin @5:

In my previously reply, I was setting aside any Constitutional issues to focus on your argument. Happy to stipulate that a federal ballot, as you describe it, could be found Constitutional for purposes of this discussion.

More to the point then, you say above:

so, if there was a Federal ballot, there would be at least the possibility of that one problem being solved.

Understood. And I'm not seeking "perfection" either, as you suggest above. But where the problem here happened in one county in Florida, I do have concerns about worse problems being introduced in in EVERY county, and every state if the feds are empowered to make decisions like this.

See, for example, the recent push for unverifiable touchscreen Ballot Marking Devices with barcoded "paper ballots". That's something that Dems have been (foolishly) pushing for for years, and Republicans are now joining them. We may get them everywhere eventually anyway, but at least we can currently fight against them in each state and county at this point.

Similarly, after the 2000 election, many Dems were also pushing for DREs at the time. If they were able to institute them at the federal level, we'd likely have them everywhere now!

There are certain things I'd love to see required at the federal level (the right to a HAND-MARKED paper ballot for every voter, for instance.) So, I'm just warning to be careful what you wish for. I'm not looking for perfection, but we should know by now how easily good ideas can be abused by bad (or just dumb) guys.

But where the problem here happened in one county in Florida, I do have concerns about worse problems being introduced in in EVERY county, and every state if the feds are empowered to make decisions like this.

And that is why we must have paper ballots, counted--by hand--where cast, before the public, the press, and the parties, at the precinct level--"a HAND-MARKED paper ballot for every voter." That would go hand in glove with a Federal ballot.

Yes, the potential for abuse of power is going to exist, whether at the Federal or State level. That is a given, simply due to human nature. And since the Founders could only count by hand at the local level, that would be consistent with past practice and makes the most sense practically. That is the way to contain the "worse problems...in EVERY county." But the ultimate check will be left to concerned citizens who need to make it clear to their representatives at the Federal and State level that we want legitimate elections.

Marvin @ 7:

Yes, the potential for abuse of power is going to exist, whether at the Federal or State level. That is a given, simply due to human nature.

Yes. But abuse of power at the county or state level only affects that county or state, theory. At the federal level, one bad decision (doesn't necessarily need to be abuse of power, as I described in previous responses here), can have an catastrophic national/planetary effect.

I'd be more inclined to join you in the "federal ballot" suggestion if we had the hand-marked and hand-counted paper ballot mandate you'd like to see go with it. Even with it, however, handing too much power to one federal body to undercut (should they chose) our entire democracy in one fell swoop is a precarious idea.

Hope you otherwise understand I agree with your general thinking, of course.