Iraqi Election offers lessons for US officials: Purple Middle Fingers!
Following what many believe to be highly successful Iraqi elections, US election officials have begun to brainstorm ways to increase voter turnout here at home
The first is a visible sign that the participant voted. While Iraqis had their purple index fingers, election officials believe that special voting tattoos could even more greatly spark US voter turnout. "The purple finger is a nice idea, but I think most young people would see it like wearing a sticker after giving blood: kind of dorky. A tattoo, on the other hand, is permanent and rebellious, exactly the kind of people we are hoping to reach," said Jim Mason, US Director of Election Policy.
Mason is even considering a rise in the security threat level on Election Day. "Just tell people there is a possibility they will be shot at for voting, and people will come out chests a thumpin' in order to defend their freedom." To raise the security level, Mason would have to petition the Department of Homeland Security. Mason plans to convince the Department of Homeland Security that under voting presents a severe threat to democracy everywhere. "If we do raise the Security threat, we may even get away with marking the middle fingers of voters purple, and save money on the voter tattoo project," says Mason.
Perhaps the greatest lesson learned from the Iraqi election is to not know who the candidates are for office. The "Blind Ballot" as Mason calls it would force voters to make a quick decision without having to muddle through months of political advertisements. Candidates could also save money on expensive political ads and find more creative uses of the funds they raise.
Election officials are currently not exploring the possibility of halting vehicular traffic on election day citing economic consequences far greater than "not one damn dime day."
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The first is a visible sign that the participant voted. While Iraqis had their purple index fingers, election officials believe that special voting tattoos could even more greatly spark US voter turnout. "The purple finger is a nice idea, but I think most young people would see it like wearing a sticker after giving blood: kind of dorky. A tattoo, on the other hand, is permanent and rebellious, exactly the kind of people we are hoping to reach," said Jim Mason, US Director of Election Policy.
Mason is even considering a rise in the security threat level on Election Day. "Just tell people there is a possibility they will be shot at for voting, and people will come out chests a thumpin' in order to defend their freedom." To raise the security level, Mason would have to petition the Department of Homeland Security. Mason plans to convince the Department of Homeland Security that under voting presents a severe threat to democracy everywhere. "If we do raise the Security threat, we may even get away with marking the middle fingers of voters purple, and save money on the voter tattoo project," says Mason.
Perhaps the greatest lesson learned from the Iraqi election is to not know who the candidates are for office. The "Blind Ballot" as Mason calls it would force voters to make a quick decision without having to muddle through months of political advertisements. Candidates could also save money on expensive political ads and find more creative uses of the funds they raise.
Election officials are currently not exploring the possibility of halting vehicular traffic on election day citing economic consequences far greater than "not one damn dime day."
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