I don't see this as a bad thing, per se, but I'm also not sure how it improves anything.

Besides which, since it is common to add state plebescite initiatives onto the ballot, it would would create potential difficulties.

While the standards of what an eligible voter is, and what constitutes a valid ballot should be standardized, standardizing the ballot is not necessary.

If you're having a hard time filling out a ballot, do us all a favor...stay home.

Something needs to be done.

I don't think we need to standardize across the country. Standardized procedures perhaps, and standardized criteria for voting. But different communities have different needs.

Better yet, let's hold classes to educate the typical emerging voter. "OK ladies and gentleman, please open your voting books. Please read with me. 'See Dick. See Jane. See Spot. Run, Spot, Run. Run! Run! Run!'"

Standardizing the ballots is simply impossible (absent an agreement among the states or constitutional amendment), unnecessary, and possible inadvisable. First, it's impossible because there are no federal elections. The states vote separately for electors, who in turn vote for the President. Second, it's unnecessary because many types and forms of ballots have worked fine for generations. Finally, it's probably unadvisable because states and localities must be allowed to allocate their resources as they see fit to best serve their citizens. One size simply does not fit nor should the lowest common denominator control for all. The bottom line is that not only is ballot standardization a bad idea, there are much better ways to improve the election process in the U.S. and on which to spend resources.

How can any one say this is not a good idea. You set a standard and everyone goes by that standard. Think of the money that could be saved in equipment purchases. The biggest positive is that there would be no crying about haning chads or other voting problems in areas that have out dated equipment.

sounds good in theory, but practically,how could you? different states have diff issues to vote on on each election day. each state just needs to make the ballots as simple as they can be.

All candiates must declare by 06/01 of the election year. Each canditate will be provided $1Million dollars for his/her campain. Any donations will result in automatic disqualification. Monies to be paid by federal government.

There are some problems with this one. Elections in this country are primarily a local matter with the state coordinating activities. When you vote, you are not just voting in federal elections like House, Senate and Presidential races, you're voting on state and local issues as well. This is a federal system; government is divided into local, state and federal subunits. To standardize the ballot would mean that you would have the federal government interfering in local matters. Too much centralization in election issues is not a good thing. A standard ballot isn't going to help solve the problem with bad votes. When you vote for President, everyone else is voting for the same group of candidates throughout the country. The ballot could be spoiled if it's standardized or not, it makes little difference in reality if its the same ballot that everyone is using throughout the country. One way or another, it won't prevent what happened in 2000. That was a perfect storm situation where the vote was very close, so close that little indiscrepancies in the ballot would have given Gore the election in Florida. Having a standardized ballot wouldn't have changed the outcome or even the potential for voter error either way. The rest of the down ballot elections concern state and local matters, why should the federal government get involved here by controlling elections at that level.

Any moron who can't even figure out how to fill out a ballot shouldn't be voting anyway.

Abso-frickin-lutely! Maybe then mongoloids in Florida wouldn't screw up an otherwise predictable election year.

It's a shame that there are enough ignorant people to cause the need for something like this.

Duh, the whole chad thing was soooo stupid. Where I voted (Oregon) all we did was fill in a little circle with a pencil, plain and clear

An excellent idea. Then, when people go to vote, they won't have an excuse if they mark the wrong one. And the election will end when it is supposed to.

If this is done, then everyone is looking at the same ballots nationwide and any type of confusion would be obviated.

As much as I believe, the “ballot confusion” is just another excuse. If the election is going to be an equal opportunity for all candidates, the federal section of the ballot should look the same in every state. Of course, this would require uniform voting machines as well.

Standardizing the voting ballots is a "nice" thought. The thought of a standard ballot is one thing, the reality is another. There is a way to "certify" the voting process that will assure voters and election official that their voting process is. The root cause of "bad" ballots may not be the ballots themselves, it may be the vagueness of the voting instructions, or an equipment failure, or even a voter changing their mind. The business world has a "standard" certification audit process that can be modified for the voting system. See below:VS 2001 (Voting System Certification) Purpose: To assure that votes will be counted accurately, securely, and efficiently of every American Citizen. People run the government, by the people who elected them, for these same people to be governed by. What is government, but a reflection of the people who voted them into office? At least, they are a reflection of those votes that were counted.  The business world has recognized a need for standards and for a certification for the various processes. The automotive industry has QS 9000 (Quality System Certification) and non-automotive industries, including; the Medical Industry, the Appliance Industry, the Steel Mills, etc…, all use ISO 9000 (an international standards certification). It is time for that the precious commodity, such as the vote of the American Citizen, be treated with the great respect that it deserves. This is so fundamental to our Constitutional rights, and yet it has been ignored. No one realized how bad the system has gotten. Now is the time to find out, to ask questions, to develop standards that will assure the people that voting will not be taken from those whom have performed their duty as an American Citizen. Just ask yourself, “What would you do, if your right to vote was take from you?” Basic Questions to ask, in order to understand the depth of the violation of the Constitution that we have drug ourselves. “One man, One vote” or “One man, Sometimes vote”.  Does any one know, really know, how accurate votes have been counted?  Poll-to-poll, district-to-district, and nation-wide?  Does any one know, really know, how much votes cost? Including;  Recounts (Attorney’s fees, Election official’s overtime, etc?)?  Equipment repair?  Taxpayer Dollars included as a percentage of the overall Budget?  Is there any Preventive Maintenance costs?  Has there been a comparison done between voting areas?  Using similar equipment?  Using different equipment?  Certification of the voting process, no matter what the process,  will be less expensive,  will lead to better efficiency,  can be secure,  will make the process reliable.  All these points can be measured and reported to the voters, with the use of a voter certification process developed by a quality engineer that has reviewed many processes. I would like to have the privilege of initiating this process and will need support. Can you help me to generate support for this concept? Ann Corbett (757) 875-7446 wk (804) 693-7746 hm ann.corbett@at.siemens.com

I BELIEVE THAT THE PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT SHOULD BE STANDARDISED.THIS WOULD REQUIRE A SEPERATE BALLOT FOR LOCAL CANDIDATES AND ISSUES BUT WOULD ENSURE A UNIFORM RESULT,ONLY IF DESIGNED, MONITORED AND COUNTED BY AN INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL BODY.

Seems to work in Canada. Don't see why it couldn't work here, unless there's a constitutional issue.

A standard ballot and voting machines--A pre scanning machine that would tell the voter that they didn't vote right so they could go back and change it.

WE SHOULD ALL HAVE THE SAME WAY OF VOTING

Ballots should definitely be standardized throughout the country. If we as a nation have the same rules for voting (i.e. voter must be 18 years of age, a citizen, etc.), and if we plan to share the same elected President, our voting ballots should be the same. There is no room in the democratic election process for different and/or difficult voting ballots.

States rights vs. federal control is the primary contention between Republican and Democrat philosophical platforms. Standardizing the ballot across the country in federal elections while providing outlines for ballot format in state and local elections appears only logical. I fail to see how this abridges any persons individual rights in any state. What happened to unity between the states? I also would recommend that we study the election methods used in other countries to see if we might improve our own. One way coalitions can develop is by allowing individuals to have a second choice in their selection of a candidate. That way your vote is not summarily thrown away if your first choice doesn't win. At least you still have some influence over the outcome.

Clearly, states and local units of government could use some help in providing ballots that effectively and correctly record each person's vote. Of lesser importance, but still of great importance, are the costs to local government of using the balloting system chosen. Another factor is the need of local and state government to include local candidates and local referenda on their ballots. Imposing a standardized formant may limit local governments' ability to tailor their ballots to their own needs and/or to seek equally effective but more cost-effective balloting systems. The federal government's role should be to research and impose standards and guidelines designed to limit inaccuracies. It might also provide financial assistance to local governments that can demonstrate that the federal standards inflict undue financial hardship. I would also like to see a quality control system used in every precinct that can measure the percent of error, possibly through computer analysis of the counting of dummy ballots (similar to the quality control samples used alongside patient blood samples in medical laboratories). QC results would form a far more scientific and impartial basis for ordering recounts. BTW, do we have a rate-it-all discussion about voting over the Internet yet?

We always rep what we sew, God's word is always right. Now we can see how with out God the world will and is failing. When men in high places think they can do it with out God this is what happens. Watch and see.

I think it would be a good idea if all ballots were standardized. I also think it is nothing but politics to tell the American people that a bunch of old people in Florida, that can handle 10 Bingo Cards at one time, can't figure out a simple "follow the arrows" ballot. The media should report the news and not make the news. No more predictions to sway the population.

A Standard Ballot for the Presidential Candidate, as one respondant said is a no brainer. The Presidential Candidates (with the Vice Presidential candidate) should be listed alphabetically no exceptions, period. These should be identical in every State. However, to avoid the unfair practices of the "media", the Vote should be held on one day, counted the second day, reported on the third day. No exceptions, except where a State decision, due to close vote, is too close to call. What happened in Florida with the prediction being withdrawn is criminal.

I think this is something we may see in the future--because of what happened in this election!! I have voted in three elections in two different states--the first time, I used a machine with pull-levers, the second time, punch holes, and this time, I was handed the ballot with a #2 pencil and filled in the dots. I'm surprised that we are a nation that has a universal census questionnaire, but voting ballots may vary considerably. Of course, I'm not above asking for help if I need it!

I'm giving this a "3" not because I don't think it is a great idea - because I do - but because I think it's a relatively minor in the scheme of things. Clearly the 2000 election has become a total fiasco, in part because of the puzzling lack of standardization between ballots. However, it is extremely unlikely that the series of circumstances which led up to this being a factor will ever happen again.

Standardizing the ballot seems like a no-brainer to me. However, I have been told that the Constitution states that this is a decision made by individual states and not a nationwide decision. I am not sure why that is or if it is true. It seems to me that it would eliminate such confusion. Obviously, the confusion in our most recent election and the controversey over the "butterfly ballot" proves that we need a change. I can admit that I am sometimes a bit anal and I do research what the ballot looks like that I will be voting on..I want to be sure that I know exactly who I am voting for and that I do it correctly. However, I am NOT above asking for help. I understand the controversey over the above mentioned ballot in Fla. is more about the fact that Gore was the 3rd hole punch rather than the 2nd..Apparently this was to allow for larger print. Whatever the cause of the confusion, it is clear to me that a standardized ballot would clear up all of this confusion. You can never assume what the ballot will look like..simple, standard format across the entire nation is essential.