In an ideal democracy, citizens are responsible for voting and then assuring their vote is recorded and counted correctly. In order to create and sustain such a democracy, the system of voting must be transparent to its citizens. An outline of such a system follows.

This proposed system allows voters to vote in the convenience and privacy of their home and to verify that their vote was received and recorded correctly. Additionally, it allows individual citizens, community groups, and political parties to verify that only legally registered voters in each precinct vote and have their vote counted. Everybody can be an auditor. Finally, this system may reduce the cost of holding an election by seventy-five percent. This proposal is for all Americans to VOTE BY MAIL.

Details of this system are:

1.     Paper ballots would be created and distributed in much the same manner as our current Absentee Ballots. The following control information must be included on each ballot: a) a unique ballot number, and b) a randomly generated verification number would be printed on the back of each ballot (this prevents others from creating “copies” of ballots and using them to challenge votes.). Additionally the local precinct number must be included on the return envelope along with the voters name, address and signature. Ballots would be mailed to all registered voters at least one month before each “Election Day”. Voters, for whatever reason, may request that their ballot package be held at the Supervisor of Elections office so that they can pick it up personally or vote (just like absentee ballots are voted) at the SOE office.

2.     When the Supervisor of Elections receives the sealed ballot, the unopened ballot envelope would be scanned and the voters name, address and precinct would be placed in an on-line “Voted” database available to all citizens in a read-only format. The sealed ballot would then be filed by name and precinct, in a secured location.

3.     A Vote Count day would be established – the day after the final “Election Day”.

4.     On Vote Count Day, the sealed ballots would be opened and counted by an optical scanner and totals would be maintained by precinct as they are now. All ballots for a precinct would be removed from their envelopes in a manner that conceals and protects the name and address of each voter. This precinct batch of ballots would then be run through the optical scanner and counted. This vote count would be open to the public.

5.     These votes would then be placed in a “Counted Ballots” on-line database by precinct and ballot number and the paper ballots would be filed in the same order in a secure location. Again, this database would be available to all citizens in a read-only format.

This system protects the privacy of every voters vote and provides the opportunity for all citizens to verify:

·        Only registered voters in each precinct actually voted in the precinct. Any citizen can challenge voters and the Supervisor of Elections must be able to overcome the challenge and prove the voter is a legally registered voter in that precinct.

·        Voters can verify that their vote was recorded correctly. This can be done directly on-line or by phone to the Supervisor of Elections office. If their vote is recorded incorrectly, they can show proof of their actual vote with a copy of the ballot and the ballot verification number. Obviously, this requires exposure of their “secret” ballot (to the Election Board only).

At least one month must be allowed to challenge voters, vote recording and vote counts. The election cannot be certified until all challenges are resolved.

This system eliminates the need for actual voting precincts and all their associated costs and controversy. No more turned away voters, long lines, faulty equipment and corrupt ballot handling. According to Oregon, their Vote By Mail system saves 75% of their election costs. Currently, Oregon is the only State to use a Vote By Mail System.

This voting system is transparent and allows all citizens and citizen groups to verify that all voters are legally registered and that all votes are recorded and counted correctly. This is the responsibility of citizens in a Democratic society and must not be passed off to government officials, committees or elected officials. 

Ray Padgett         

5580 Co Hwy 185

Ponce de Leon, FL 32455

850 859-2257

Ray88Padgett@earthlink.net