NationStates Jolt Archive

Name:
Long Lines at Election Time

Description:
Long lines caused by a limited number of polling places and slow volunteer poll workers have helped contribute to a record low voter turnout. “What good is a democracy if you have to wait in line for 4 hours to vote!”

Options:
[option] “You get what you pay for. Since our poll workers are all volunteers (most of whom are retired), they don’t feel the need to move along quickly,” argued @@RANDOMNAME@@ of the @@NAME@@ Citizen’s League of Voters. “Let’s pay people to work the polls. That would encourage more people to volunteer and would shorten the wait time.”
[effect] ballots are frequently misplaced each election by 10-year old poll workers,
[stats] political freedoms increase slightly, voter apathy decreases slightly, tax rate increases slightly

[option] “Good things come to those who wait,” answered volunteer poll worker @@RANDOMNAME@@. “A democracy is not a fast food restaurant! It takes time to check to make sure people haven’t voted twice. Voting is a responsibility, so if people aren’t happy with long lines, they should just stay at home.”
[effect] polling place lines wrap around buildings as voters wait for hours to cast their ballots,
[stats] voter apathy increases significantly, political freedoms decrease slightly, civil freedoms increase slightly

[option] “Why do we even need polling places? Why not simply allow us to mail our ballots,” asked voter @@RANDOMNAME@@. “Naturally to be fair to the poor, the government should pay the cost of postage.”
[effect] mail-in ballots are often misplaced with junk mail,
[stats] tax rate increases slightly, voter apathy increases slightly, political freedoms increase slightly

[option] Local judge @@RANDOMNAME@@ suggested, “We require people to serve on jury duty. If it were up to me, I would make a lottery where people are randomly selected and required to serve election duty.”
[effect] poll workers often show up late to election duty,
[stats] civil freedoms decrease slightly, voter apathy decreases slightly, political freedoms increase slightly

Summary of Proposed Impacts:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c111/mcalamari/NationStates/Election-Options.gif

Comments / Discussion welcomed. :)

Some basic thoughts ... I tried to keep the idea relatively short, but wanted to include an option that resulted in a real-life trade-off between Political and Civil Freedoms. I don't think there is any one "best" alternative here, and could see players exploring different options at different times.

And as a poll-worker, I can testify to the fact that voters HATE delays in the polling place. They get very touchy about that. ;)

I like it.

Thanks!

Should I reorder the stats so that they match the order of the table I've created or should it be fine as is? I know that ultimately these things get tweaked in order to surprise us all. :)

Your [effect] lines could use a little punching up, for that proper sardonic NS feel ...

1) [effect] ballots are frequently misplaced each election by 10-year old poll workers,
1) [effect] homeless people have been found with bedding stuffed with carelessly discarded ballots

2) [effect] polling place lines wrap around buildings as voters wait for hours to cast their ballots,
2) [effect] avid voters often camp out at the polls for days to reserve an early place in line,

3) [effect] mail-in ballots are often misplaced with junk mail,
3) [effect] ad-supported mail-in ballots in a local race resulted in the write-in election of 'Mattress World' as Mayor,

4) [effect] poll workers often show up late to election duty,
4) [effect] demonstrating conscripted poll workers closed several polling stations, chanting "No to polling! We'd rather be bowling!"

You're welcome to supply your own, of course.

I agree with Fris about the [effect] lines, though you should mind that [effect] lines shouldn't have any punctuation marks like commas or full stops. I do like the issue idea and I don't think it'll require much editing on the text front. Don't worry about stats too much, I can take care of that later. What really matters in an issue submission is the idea and the quality and relevance of the options.

Thanks guys, here is a second crack of the effects ... (I kept one of Fris's effects):

Option 1: Paid Poll Workers
[effect] paid poll workers regularly accept bribes to issue out extra ballots,

Option 2: Volunteer Poll Workers
[effect] avid voters often camp out at the polls for days to reserve an early place in line,

Option 3: Mail-In Ballots
[effect] missing children are elected to public office whenever mail-in ballots are mixed up with junk mail,

Option 4: Mandatory Election Duty
[effect] conscripted poll workers try to get out of election duty by claiming they have jury duty,


I tried to keep this fairly short still too as the 5 issues I've most recently responded to each have 11 words for the effect (I know that is just a coincidence -- but it sounds like a noble goal). ;)

I can still throw Fris's ideas in there, but I'd love to get this submitted. Thanks!

FYI: Just a follow up on those have been reading this thread. I did submit a version of this issue this week. :)