The Founders made a serious mistake by leaving to the States the right to set the ground rules for elections. (Example: what would those hammering out The Constitution have said if you had introduced them to the concept of "ranked choice voting"???)
And their mistake is currently in the process of destroying the integrity of the election system in the country.
Which is why a few years' back I proposed the following:
(I've posted this a few times, but no one ever comments on it... why is that?)
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This Constitution prescribes that only citizens may vote in all elections conducted within the United States. This includes elections for federal offices of The United States, elections for State offices in the Several States, and all municipal and local elections conducted within the borders of The United States.
Elections will be conducted only on Election Day as prescribed by this Constitution.
All ballots in all elections will be paper ballots cast by individual voters at their respective polling locations. Electronic means may be used to tabulate vote counts at the local level.
Provisional ballots of any kind are prohibited by this Constitution.
Ranked Choice Voting of any kind is prohibited by this Constitution.
On Election Day votes will be tabulated immediately after the polls close. Tabulation and counting of votes will proceed continuously until a final tally is reached.
There shall be a demand right of registered voters to witness the tabulation and counting of votes. Any attempt to deny such right will be deemed unconstitutional. This right shall not be modified by any Court of the United States. The Several States may however limit the total number of election observers as is practicable for reasons of safety.
An election shall not be considered to be won unless the winning candidate receives a majority of the votes cast. If no candidate receives a majority, a runoff election must be held within 35 days to determine the winner. This shall not apply to the elections for President and Vice President, which are to be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral College, as enumerated in this Constitution.
The use of the United States Mail shall not be permitted for the collection of ballots, with the exception of absentee ballots.
There shall be no use of absentee ballots without the presentation of individual need, subject to strict scrutiny by the registrar of voters.
Absentee ballots must be received by the close of voting on Election Day. Any ballots received via mail after the polls close will be immediately destroyed and will not be entered into the voting tabulation.
All citizens of the United States will be required to produce identification before voting.
All citizens of the United States who desire to vote will be required to register at least six months in advance of election day, unless they have previously done so. All citizens requesting registration will be properly vetted by the registrar of voters.
No person will be registered to vote unless that person has attained his or her twenty-first birthday.
