JUSTIFICATION: Greater democratic participation is required to overcome the political power of special interests in American government. While most decisions should be made by the representative political process, direct popular elections requiring a supermajority vote provide the American people with the ability to circumvent special interests on issues that have the overwhelming support of the American people.

Negative Voting Option - For every candidate the voters could choose to vote FOR or to vote LESSER EVIL. For every office the voters could also vote NONE OF THE ABOVE. Lesser evil votes would still count for that candidate, but would inform the candidate of his real level of voter support. NONE OF THE ABOVE would be throw away votes, but would provide us all with a better picture of voter sentiment.

JUSTIFICATION: Voters feel with some legitimacy that politicians neither want to follow the people's wishes nor even know what those wishes are. Expanded voting options allow the voice of the people to be much more clearly heard. Negative votes allow voters to express their displeasure with the candidates through participation in the election process.

AUTHOR: UWSA SANTA CLARA CO EMAIL:humphrey@aimnet.com

JUSTIFICATION: If "none of the above" wins ,then the people have decided that none of the candidates are suitable. More often than not, we as voters are left voting for the lesser of evils. More people will vote if they are able to force a better selection of candidates by voting for "None of the Above".

Author: G. Stanley Norred EMAIL: wndstlkr@phoenix.net

Partical Funding - All financial proposals sent to the voters shall allow the option for partial funding. The voters shall be given the options of:

1) Full approval of the amount requested by government 2) 50% of the amount 3) 10% of the amount and 4) NONE of the amount. Whatever vote is required for passage (e.g. majority, 2/3 etc) shall be cummulative. For example if a majority is required and 25% of those voting vote for full funding, 20% for 50% funding and 30% for 10% funding then 75% of the voters (i.e. 25% +20% +30%) support at least 10% funding and that amount is approved.

JUSTIFICATION: Voters feel with some legitimacy that politicians neither want to follow the people's wishes nor even know what those wishes are. Expanded voting options allow the voice of the people to be much more clearly heard. Partial funding approval gives voters better control over government spending than the current all or nothing approach.

AUTHOR: UWSA SANTA CLARA CO EMAIL:humphrey@aimnet.com

Expanded Voting Methods - Voting at ATM machines and via phone shall be allowed for elections where there are only a few topics on the ballot. ATM voting would have the same high level of security as present ATM financial transactions. Phone voting would require a specific phone number (verified by caller ID at the time of voting) and a password or even voice recognition to ensure security.

JUSTIFICATION: Voters feel with some legitimacy that politicians neither want to follow the people's wishes nor even know what those wishes are. Expanded voting options allow the voice of the people to be much more clearly heard. Allowing ATM or phone voting for short ballot elections will encourage more citizens to vote.

AUTHOR: UWSA SANTA CLARA CO EMAIL:humphrey@aimnet.com

Official Voter Opinion Polls - The President, 25% of the members of the House or Senate, each Governor, 25% of the members of either house in state legislatures, Mayors and 25% of local governing bodies shall each be able to place questions before their constituents for their non-binding opinion. All registered voters in the affected district shall receive a description of the proposal and a mail in ballot to be returned within a week. The results of the poll shall be publically announced.

JUSTIFICATION: Voters feel with some legitimacy that politicians neither want to follow the people's wishes nor even know what those wishes are. Expanded voting options allow the voice of the people to be much more clearly heard. The media presently conduct unofficial polls, but they determine what to ask and when and consequently we are never sure of the validity of their results. An official voter poll from a large number of registered voters provides an much more detailed and believable expression of public sentiment.

AUTHOR: UWSA SANTA CLARA CO EMAIL:humphrey@aimnet.com

Weekend Voting - All elections shall be held on weekends with the polls open on both Saturday and Sunday. The polls shall close at 6 PM local time on Sunday and the available results can be announced starting at that time.

JUSTIFICATION: Voters feel with some legitimacy that politicians neither want to follow the people's wishes nor even know what those wishes are. The traditional "Tuesday" voting forces most citizens to try to vote in a narrow time window before or after work at their voting location usually near their homes. Ross Perot and others have suggested a two day weekend voting period to make voting much more convenient for more citizens.

Watching the voting returns is the greatest drama of a democratic society. With a two day weekend voting period there will be many fewer last minute voters. The public's right to watch the evolving election returns on Sunday night outweighs any injustice to last minute voters on the West coast who feel knowledge of partial East coast vote results affects their vote.

AUTHOR: UWSA SANTA CLARA CO EMAIL:humphrey@aimnet.com

JUSTIFICATION: The Internet offers citizens the privacy of the ballot box and the convenience of their own home or office for exercising their civic responsibilities to vote. The result should be both greater participation and more informed votes.

Author: G.Stanley Norred EMAIL: wndstlkr@phoenix.net

JUSTIFICATION: We now have over 10 holidays to allow citizens to celebrate a variety of patriotic and religious events. Certainly our national elections which preserve our most precious right to vote deserve the status of a national holiday. With most businesses closed or operating on very limited staff and reduced hours, citizens would both have more opportuity and more inclination to exercise their civic duty to vote.

Author: Alexander Mackenzie EMAIL: almknz@bluefin.net