Lots can be done to strengthen our elections and voting

James Madison believed that self-government demands a higher degree of morals than any other political system. And he said, ‘There is a degree of depravity in mankind which requires a certain degree of circumspection and distrust.’

I have always believed that ‘degree’ is around 10%. Ten percent of us are simply no good… cheats, liars, thieves and worse. Which is why we have laws and police to protect us. It’s why we need regulations.

And we desperately need to reform and regulate our most cherished right, the right to vote. None of it will be quick or easy, but will definitely take us toward a more perfect union.

There are five areas that need attention: (1) Money (2) Gerrymandering (3) Lobbyists (4) Term limits (5) Voters Rights.

But the first thing that needs to happen is for Election Day to be a national holiday, a legal public holiday.

Ten states as well as some territories already make it a holiday. Several attempts have been made in recent years in Congress. All have failed.

Money is the biggest problem. In 2022, the 100 biggest donors gave 60 percent more than all the millions of small donors combined. One person alone gave a quarter of a billion dollars toward one candidate in 2024. In 2010, the Supreme Court let corporations and groups spend unlimited money on elections in the Citizens United ruling. It’s been all downhill since then.

Solutions? Key proposals include public financing of elections, strict donor disclosure laws, overturning judicial rulings like Citizens United, and banning stock trading by lawmakers.

Gerrymandering has become a huge issue. Gerrymandering was first done in 1812 by Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts who drew a district to favor his own political party that looked like a salamander. Critics called it the “Gerry-mander.”

Solution? This one is easy. Remove map-drawing power from self-interested state politicians and give it to neutral citizen panels.

Lobbyists have undue access and influence on our elected folks. Bills have been introduced to ban lawmakers from serving as lobbyists. All have failed.

Solutions? To serve the public in Congress, one can never trade in stocks while in office nor work as a lobbyist ever. There are many other ideas to curb lobbyists, but curtailing lawmakers would be a big beginning.

Term limits would finally cease ‘career’ politicians. Despite having widespread, bipartisan support from a substantial majority of Americans, Congress has not seriously considered a term limits amendment proposal since the early 1990s.

Solution? This one is tougher and will need an amendment to the Constitution, but some have been working toward this goal for years.

Voters rights is the primary reason I thought to produce this. The US Supreme Court has gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 while the current President is doing his best to disenfranchise millions of Americans. In the most recent travesty, the Court’s conservative majority used outdated examples to say the racial gap in voter turnout has closed, but in reality, the gap is growing.

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (introduced as H.R. 14) is still waiting.

Solution? VOTE! While we still can. If the Democrats take the House, the madness will end. If the Senate follows as well, we can end the attempted disenfranchisement as well.

VOTE.

Van Carter of Sioux Falls is a retired broadcast journalist and environmentalist who published a green website for 15 years.

Photo: public domain, wikimedia commons

The South Dakota Standard is offered freely and is supported by our readers. We have no political or commercial sponsorship. If you'd like to help us continue our mission to advance independent political and social commentary, you can do so by clicking on the "Donate" button that's on the sidebar to your right.