Election Goals

Written by Wes Upchurch, Candidate

Monday, 31 March 2008 12:57

What can you expect from me, if elected Secretary of State?

I believe it is important to have free and open elections and will work to ensure that elections remain easily accessible to all of Missouri's citizens. I believe that the best way to insure that elections are fair, strict, and traceable is to ensure that there is always a voter verifiable paper trail. I will fight for fair elections, free of fraud.

Reduction of Signatures Required for Ballot Initiatives

Because all of the governments power comes from the people, it is important for the people to have a check against the abuse of their government. This comes through the petioning for ballot iniatives. To prevent government abuse of power and put the laws of the land into the hands of the people, I support reduction of signatures required for ballot initiative.

Fair Ballot Access

To insure the integrity of the democratic process I believe that there needs to be a change to allow the voices of the citizens to be heard, not just the voices of the major parties. In an attempt to deter independent and smaller third parties from running for office the two major parties have created laws that set the required number of signatories on their petition unrealistically high. As Secretary of State, I will support fair ballot access for candidates and a reduction of signatures required to qualify for office. Citizens have a right to hear from all the candidates, not just the major parties.

Support for Proportional Representation

In presidential elections I am in support proportional representation of popular vote for electors in presidential elections. This would allow for our awarding of electors to closely resemble the actual breakdown of peoples voices, thus preventing minority groups from being silenced by the majority.

"None of the Above" Voting Option

We shouldn't have to pick from the lessor of two evils. That is what I support legislation requiring a "none of the above" option to appear below the candidates on all election ballots for public officials. Having a "none of the above" option can also prevent candidates in disagreement with their parties beliefs that are running unopposed in party primaries from receiving the automatic nomination of their party. The point of parties is that they represent (not misrepresent) a particular view and segment of the population.

Continue to Support a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail.

We are one of the few states requiring that all electronic voting equipment use a paper audit trail and an audited paper ballot system, let's keep it this way.

Prevent Gerrymandering

I support legislation requiring the use of an objective scientific metric when comparing alternatives for district boundaries to eliminate gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is a form of redistricting in which electoral district or constituency boundaries are manipulated for an electoral advantage, often used by those in power to keep them in power.

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