Whatever happens, they say, a new voting holiday should not be set on Friday or Monday, which would tempt voters to leave town for a three-day weekend. On the plus side, a day off or Sunday voting could increase turnout and likely would make it easier to find poll workers. High-school students could be tapped for poll work, especially those who need to perform community service to graduate. Not in all eyes. They suggest instant runoff voting, as is done in Ireland, Australia and some British elections.
Voters pick a first, second and third choice.
If no candidate wins a majority, second choices come into play. Such a system would have allowed Ralph Nader's voters to vote their conscience this year and still make a second choice, possibly tilting the election to Gore. The biggest fairness issue hanging over the election is the Electoral College. The result this year is that a few hundred votes might determine which candidate wins Florida's 25 electoral votes and the presidency. Most voters react viscerally to such notions and say the Electoral College should go.