If we are talking about online voting and that sort of thing, the procedure for that goes WAY beyond the ‘burden’ of getting an ID card from the local dmv. If the lowest common denominator on this is ‘having ID’, we’ll never get online voting.

Is there any doubt this is more a ‘political’ discussion than it is a ‘practical’ one?

Citizen’s ID, anyone?

Our forefathers said they didn’t want a two party system, but the way they designed the electoral college *favors* a two party system. If no candidates receive 270 out of 538 electoral votes, then congress choses the next president - regardless of the number of popular votes. So, unless the field is narrowed down to only two candidates, American voters will not be guaranteed their votes even count towards choosing the president. Of course, 4 of our 43 presidents (J.Q. Adams, Hayes, Harrison, and Bush) actually LOST the popular election, but won due to the electoral college so the 2-party system still doesn’t guarantee a democratic election.

With our 2 party system, you rarely find a candidate that aligns entirely with your views. How many democrats are pro-life? How many republicans are environmentally friendly? How many democrats admit that religious and privatized social programs are way more effective than wasting tax dollars on the equivalent government sponsored programs? How many republicans would lobby for a progressive tax? It’s not likely in a 2-party system you’d ever find someone who aligns with your views unless you are a cookie-cutter conservative or liberal. So, middle America is just as likely to vote against a candidate than vote for one. Or, just not vote. Why cast an affirmative vote for someone you wouldn’t want to affirm?

If I had my pick, I’d go for one of the ranking systems: Range Voting, Instant Runoff Voting, or Preferential Voting. Australia is there already. Of course, this won’t ever happen b/c the change requires people other than the typical republican or democrat to sit in the chairs.

I don’t support political apathy, but I don’t really blame people for feeling like it doesn’t make a difference, especially when the electoral college, whoever they are, actually makes the decision. That’s how a president can win the popular vote but still not be voted into the office. You know who I’m talking about. I’m not saying that Al Gore would have been a great choice either — I’d just like to feel like my vote matters. Clearly with the current system, it doesn’t, and I’m sure that the government wants to keep it that way.

At least they have moved to all computer voting! No more papers and punching holes.

Are people’s fears, and rants, about the safety of online voting founded in something or is it an opinion from ignorance and fear?

In my opinion, one of the great things about America is that things like this can be changed instead of ignored … and I believe that pointing out the problems and voicing my opinions are two of the most patriotic things I can do.

I don’t understand why America is so interested in promoting “democracy” in foreign countries, especially those on the other side of the globe,…

Because it’s better than dictatorships where the dictator murders it’s citizens at his whim.

…when our form of democracy is so incredibly ineffective and stagnant.

Not sure who you’ve been reading, but this is a VERY pessimistic way of looking at America.

For me, after 7 years of living in a one party, communist system - I love the American system more than ever (flaws and all). With all of it’s faults, at least none of my friends have been murdered by the local officials because of their faith in Jesus Christ!

Freedom is so valuable to me, I’m willing to jump through the ‘hoops of democracy’ to vote. Maybe I’m silly or naive, but I still believe my vote counts…