September 16, 2024
The United States, long regarded as a beacon of democracy, faces significant challenges in ensuring that its electoral system truly reflects the will of the citizens. Structural issues such as the disproportionate influence of wealth, gerrymandering, and voter suppression have undermined trust in the democratic process. To restore the integrity of U.S. elections and ensure that only American citizens participate, we must implement a series of comprehensive reforms aimed at levelling the playing field and making elections more representative, transparent, and fair.
The following is a unified vision for addressing these challenges and reestablishing democracy’s core principles:
1. Capping Campaign Donations Based on Income Taxes
One of the primary drivers of inequity in U.S. elections is the vast financial influence exerted by wealthy individuals and special interest groups. To reduce this, we propose capping all political donations—whether by individuals, corporations, unions, or interest groups—at 2% of the donor’s paid federal and state income taxes from the previous year. This ensures that political contributions are proportional to the donor’s financial capacity, preventing an elite few from exerting undue influence.
2. Uniform Donation Restrictions
Applying the same 2% donation cap to all types of donors—whether individuals, corporations, or special interest groups—ensures a level playing field. This prevents any group from finding loopholes or exploiting their wealth to circumvent campaign finance rules. By holding all donors to the same standards, we reduce the influence of money in politics and ensure that candidates are accountable to voters, not special interests.
3. Spending Limits for Candidates
To further prevent the distortion of democracy by wealth, we propose that no candidate may spend more than two years’ worth of the base annual salary for the office they are seeking. This spending limit includes personal funds and all donations combined. By tying campaign spending to the salary of the office, this reform discourages excessive expenditures and encourages candidates to focus on grassroots support rather than financial clout.
4. Gerrymandering and Redistricting Reform
Gerrymandering—manipulating district boundaries to favour certain political parties—has distorted democratic representation. To fix this, we propose the creation of independent, non-partisan redistricting commissions that would draw electoral districts based on impartial criteria. This would ensure that district lines are fair and that elections reflect the true preferences of the electorate.
5. Public Financing Options
Public financing of elections would further level the playing field by reducing candidates' reliance on private donations. Publicly funded campaign options would allow qualified candidates to receive government funds, reducing their dependence on wealthy donors and allowing them to focus on policy and voter engagement.
6. Real-Time Disclosure
Transparency is a critical aspect of any functioning democracy. To enhance public trust, we recommend real-time online disclosure of all political donations and campaign expenditures. This would allow the public to monitor contributions as they happen, increasing accountability and reducing the influence of dark money in politics.
7. Strengthening Voter Access
Voter suppression remains a significant barrier to fair elections in many states. To combat this, we propose the adoption of universal voting rights protections, including:
- Automatic voter registration for all eligible citizens.
- Election Day as a national holiday, allowing everyone to vote without work conflicts.
- Expanded early voting and mail-in voting options to ensure all citizens can participate without unnecessary barriers.
8. Citizenship Verification and Protection Against Foreign Interference
To ensure that only American citizens participate in U.S. elections, we recommend the implementation of automatic citizenship verification using secure government databases. This would protect the integrity of the voting process while ensuring that no eligible citizen is wrongfully excluded. Additionally, we propose stronger cybersecurity measures and public education efforts to combat foreign interference and disinformation campaigns, ensuring that elections are free from external manipulation.
9. Enforcement and Penalties
Finally, to ensure the success of these reforms, we must create robust enforcement mechanisms with clear penalties for non-compliance. This could include fines, disqualification from office, or criminal charges for those who violate campaign finance laws, voter suppression rules, or election integrity measures. A central regulatory body should oversee these reforms, with the authority to investigate and enforce violations swiftly.
Conclusion
By addressing the deep-rooted structural issues in U.S. elections, these reforms would make the system more democratic, transparent, and fair for all American citizens. With a focus on curbing financial influence, strengthening voting rights for citizens, and ensuring transparency, these proposals aim to restore faith in the democratic process.
It's time for a government that truly reflects the will of the people, where every citizen's voice is equal, and elections are won on ideas and merit—not on money or manipulation.
