How the system might work.

How the system might work.

 

The voter registration system maintained by local units of government would remain in place. The only new information required would be a box to mark for direct deposit, an account number and financial institution’s routing number if the voter wishes direct deposit. If the voter does not wish direct deposit, then the voter’s address, already on file will be used for mailing a check to the voter for his or her participation.

 

The local election authority already keep account of voter’s participation. Participation, banking and address data will be forwarded to the regional Federal Reserve Bank which will route money to the voter’s account in a financial institution or send a check to the voter’s home.

 

This will be done on a bi-weekly or monthly basis (weekly would be fine too, as long as the payments are equal and regular).

 

The dollar bill along with higher denomination notes would not have to be modified in anyway shape or form.

 

Initially one would expect a run on voter registration sites as citizens who have not participated (lack a current voter registration) hurry out to register. After the initial rush only newly eligible voters will constitute the traffic at voter registration sites.

 

Ballots will not have to change either. Presently, depending upon one’s state, one can physically go to the polls or mail in a ballot without actually voting in any given contest. Such votes are “votes for none of the above” in every contest unmarked/selected. That feature is essential to maintain freedom of choice.

 

In jurisdictions that require more than a simple plurality of votes to determine a win there may need to be some “rules of the game” modifications to account for large numbers of “votes for none of the above.” As disaffected as large numbers of citizens become from time to time jurisdictions might want to consider if they really want to operate without a judge, sheriff or treasurer (they pay bills). If not some decision rules may need to be changed.

 

As local voting authorities report votes by jurisdiction (polling places), the Feds can determine how much base money to deposit into government accounts on a monthly basis (governments need a regular cash flow, but will not need weekly or bi-weekly cash infusions) based upon the number of voters in each type jurisdiction and the amount allotted for each type of jurisdiction. Supposedly, governments are used to a longer interval between cash receipts. Obviously, local units of government will need to share account numbers and routing numbers with the regional Feds.

 

Under the Constitution individual revenue from voting would not be taxable. Taxing such payments would constitute a poll tax. This is not to prohibit governmental units from taxation altogether. However, it is conceivable that taxes as a source of governmental revenue would become the exception rather than the rule. However, that is an entirely separate issue.