The Big Ideas Project

Criminalize media lies in political commercials, news casting and punditry. Put strong teeth in the system with stiff fines and mandatory prison time of the producers, editors, anchors, pundits and candidates or issue sponsors.

Submitted by Robert E. Sojka in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 2 p.m.

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#952

172 votes

Voting Record Disclosure: Constituents deserve and legislators should embrace the basic responsibility of providing a written summary-explanation, clearly posted on the legislator’s official website, every time any vote is cast or legislation is introduced on behalf of constituents, along with a place for constituent comments.

Submitted by GoodThoughts.us in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 7:33 p.m.

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#952

172 votes

We should take one long weekend with extended hours for voting. Thus, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, would be designated for voting so people couldn't claim "had to work" as a reason for not voting.

Submitted by West Winds in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 1:40 p.m.

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#956

171 votes

Make voting mandatory, as is the case in Australia, and levy fines on people who fail to vote. With the money from the fines, establish a fund to pay for political campaigns.

Submitted by oudiva in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 9:25 a.m.

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#960

170 votes

Forget contribution limits. Get contributions out of running for office altogether. Everyone running gets the same small amount of public funds and free air time. No private, personal funding. No paid-for-by ads. No ads. Just information for true representation.

Submitted by Just Sayin' in Government & Elections Dec. 11, 2014, 7 p.m. 1

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#960

170 votes

Create a voting system based on the system used in Venezuela which has some of the most advanced and voter-friendly security features in modern elections. Voters use a touch-sensitive electronic pad to make and confirm their choices. Voters audit their own vote by reviewing a printed receipt that they then place into a physical ballot box. Random ballot boxes (53% of them) are checked to make sure electronic results match the ballots. Other safeguards are built into the system.

Submitted by bigb in Government & Elections Jan. 5, 2015, 1:20 p.m.

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#966

168 votes

Constitutional Amendment reserving citizenship, voting, and campaign contributions to living human beings.

Submitted by Susan in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 4:43 p.m.

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#970

167 votes

Merged Idea

Make the house of representatives a large-district proportional representation system to make gerrymandering impossible. Attached is a study about proportional representation.

Submitted by Sarah Fellman in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 11:58 p.m.

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#975

166 votes

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT: The passage of a Legislative Recusal Amendment that constitutionally prohibits legislators from casting any vote(s) or participating in any legislative processes where they have accepted directly or indirectly campaign contributions from persons or entities who seek to benefit from a legislator(s) vote.

Submitted by Mike A. in Government & Elections Dec. 11, 2014, 10:53 a.m.

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#975

166 votes

automatically register all citizens with a social security number to vote. no requirements other than citizenship.

Submitted by lexout in Government & Elections Dec. 11, 2014, 7:11 p.m.

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#983

163 votes

All records kept by any branch of government (local, state, and national), that is not related to national security, should be available online for public review.

Submitted by cameron in Government & Elections Jan. 10, 2015, 5:02 p.m.

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#988

162 votes

Every third year, the citizens can vote a supreme court justice out of office. As it is now they are the modern day version of the "Untouchables"! Make them accountable to the people.

Submitted by koolnightes in Government & Elections Jan. 13, 2015, 1:37 a.m.

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#991

161 votes

Require House, senate, and presidential candidates have a minimum of 3 debates. Bar (for life) any person from running for office who has been convicted of a felony. Immediate resignation should be required of any convicted politician.

Submitted by S. M. in Government & Elections Dec. 9, 2014, 8:41 p.m.

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#991

161 votes

Repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision to stop our government robbing civil servants of the benefits they worked hard to earn. We paid into the retirement program and, like everyone else - even the rich like Warren Buffett, should be entitled to our benefit on the same basis. Shameful action taken on those who serve our society and their families should be corrected. Marfa Levine, Corvallis, OR

Submitted by Marfa Levine in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 2:30 p.m.

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#991

161 votes

We should be able to send ballets to all citizens by mail, instead of standing in long lines on election day.

Submitted by Toby in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 1:17 p.m.

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#1003

159 votes

The "Independent Party" members outnumber both the Republicans and Democrats combined in the United States, yet they are deprived the "right" to vote in our State's Primary and mid-term Elections because only the Republican and Democratic candidates can be on the ballots. That needs to change nationally to include all voters in EVERY election. The present system is totally Non-Democratic! The Republicans love it!

Submitted by thecatlady in Government & Elections Jan. 6, 2015, 10:35 p.m.

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#1008

158 votes

Mandate that any Congressperson facing or convicted of legal charges loses their seat to the other party IMMEDIATELY.This would prevent any more Mike Grim scenarios.

Submitted by Jim B. from ME in Government & Elections Jan. 4, 2015, 2:08 p.m.

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#1008

158 votes

Intensive campaign to overturn Citizens United. Almost everyone (even most Republicans) should be outraged by the way a small number of corporate CEOs and zillionaires bought the 2014 elections for their own interests -- which are against just about everyone else's. Push _all_ voters to call their legislators and say "unless you show concern for my interests by making every effort to pass a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, I will vote against you in every future election".

Submitted by Dave Anderson in Government & Elections Jan. 2, 2015, 10:48 a.m.

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#1016

156 votes

Campaign Finance Reform 1. Campaigns be publicly funded at a tiny fraction of their current costs. 2. Candidates' campaigns have three month maximum length. (This would cut costs & invigorate the electorate as the current model of campaigning for two years creates apathy and inertia.) 3. Serious penalties for violating rules including prison sentencing.

Submitted by ChardoMuntz in Government & Elections Dec. 12, 2014, 12:44 p.m.

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#1019

155 votes

Change the House of Representative terms to three years. Have one third of the congress up for election each year in a geographically balanced scatter, so that the congress has a rolling barometer of public opinion and so that congressmen are not constantly campaigning.

Submitted by Robert E. Sojka in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 2:04 p.m.

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#1030

153 votes

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