Excellent post on Center State Politics on how the MCDCC and others can increase voter knowledge and turnout

There is an excellent posting today on Center State Politics at http://centerstatepolitics.blogspot.com/2014/07/how-mcdcc-can-help-to-raise-voter.html

Hamza Khan presents very good ideas that deserve to be discussed and considered, and implemented. Most importantly, this whole subject --- how the MCDCC and others can increase voter knowledge and turnout --- is one of the most important ones we can be considering.

There are other good ideas that can be considered on this subject too, and our County Council is working on this. Just yesterday they heard a report from their Right to Vote Task Force and there will be a public hearing and further action on this subject.

Additional ideas to consider including the possibility of following Oregon's lead (they've done it for about 15 years) in having every registered voter receive an official ballot in the mail two weeks before election day, which they can return by mail or drop in ballot boxes. There are no voting machines or polling locations on election day. This saves a lot of money but more importantly results in turnouts that sometimes hit 70% or higher for voter turnout.

Another idea --- a massive future-voter education project in MoCo high schools. We should teach those who will be voters in a few years what government does and how it affects them in every aspect of their lives, how our government is structured, and how and why to vote and that it's actually a fun thing to do. This education program can be done by our school system together with our government officials and others. It could be great fun for elected officials, but should also include those who have run and lost and those who are just interested in politics, so it won't be seen as something to just help incumbents get publicity.

There are other things to consider, including of course public financing of elections in MoCo. It's a great topic, and a very important one.