One result of last year's presidential election is heightened
interest in voting systems and political reform. Media coverage
of the tight race between Al Gore and George W. Bush publicized
weaknesses in American election practices: confusing ballots,
outmoded voting equipment, and poorly funded election offices.
As Scott Harshbarger of Common Cause said in a statement posted
on the Common Cause Website shortly after the election, "Our
newfound awareness of the fragility of the election process
should help us tackle these challenges and make our democracy
stronger and more vibrant." The election controversy spawned a
range of reform proposals, everything from abolishing the
electoral college to implementing a uniform election system
throughout the country. In fact, a poll taken by the Washington
Post shortly after the 2000 election found that a majority of
Americans wanted to "strip authority for setting election rules
from local and state officials" and give it to the federal
government. Nationalizing the el