Better Information at the Polling Station
We are living in an era of unprecedented information flow, yet when we vote, we are poorly informed. Most voters have little to no information on the candidates they are selecting other than quick-hit propaganda and exaggerated anecdotal stories they have seen on TV, internet or social media. Imagine an election booth that would enable candidates to provide a one minute video of their background and what they hope to achieve while in office. For ballot initiatives or laws that are put up for a vote, a one-minute video could be posted that would highlight the pros and cons of the initiative.
We have the technology to help voters make informed decisions at the election booth. Voting by political party letter (e.g. “R” or “D”) next to a name, or from a sign a voter has seen on their neighbor’s lawn is suboptimal. The Nation-state regime should be facilitating a continuous process to enhance the infrastructure of democracy, yet the election process continues to decline. Access to information has revolutionized many other areas of civilization; selection of representatives should be next.