Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

jaywan1991 t1_j13xzfs wrote

Reply to comment by oldguy_on_the_wire in Shoutout to this lady with her friendly reminder by MartianCleric

I was trying to explore it more and talk about it more. I was getting ready to concede because it was looking like I was going to be 100% wrong

You wouldn't be calling it easier if you saw the lines to park and get to the voting stations, vote and get out of there. It took me more than an hour to get that all done and that's not even taking into account my commute there and I went outside peak hours. Plus i was lucky and had a car, could you imagine those who had to take the bus, or request off work, or those who couldn't get off work and had to go during peak times and wait in those lines, or those with kids?

I read up on every candidate before I go vote. Most read very very similarly.

1

oldguy_on_the_wire t1_j140wdt wrote

> You wouldn't be calling it easier if you saw the lines to park and get to the voting stations, vote and get out of there.

Yes I would.

A normal election involves closing schools and government offices to serve as polling places. While it may make it easier for an individual to vote if all those spots are open, it makes it vastly harder on the general public. With schools closed parents now have to cover child care or miss work to watch the kids that can't go to school during the election.

> I read up on every candidate before I go vote. Most read very very similarly.

And yet you seemed to have missed the differences between McClellan and Morrissey on the topic of abortion for instance.....

2

jaywan1991 t1_j143ocn wrote

Which is why I think a deputy representative or vice representative would alleviate those issues. Or online voting but sadly that won't happen in my time on earth

I did say everyone but the person this main post was about. So I'm not counting Morrissey. He's the reason I went to vote, I wanted anyone but him to be the nominee.

1

oldguy_on_the_wire t1_j157558 wrote

> Which is why I think a deputy representative or vice representative would alleviate those issues.

It has that potential, but it is intensely more complex, thus more expensive and confusing. It also does not address the issue of if both the elected representative are incapacitated simultaneously, leaving us in the same position we are in currently.

As far as online voting.. nah, folks freak out too much over mail in ballots, online would cause them to clutch their pearls so hard they would choke themselves.

1

jaywan1991 t1_j157hx2 wrote

Maybe a succession thing like the president has. At least until an election can be planned at a minimum. I mean does district 4 even have a representative come January?

Yeah i know they'll freak out but a guy can dream. We were able to do the 2020 census over the internet so I hope one day we can do this the same. It's crazy this is still a pen and paper operation.

1

oldguy_on_the_wire t1_j15akhn wrote

> Maybe a succession thing like the president has.

How would you decide who is to succeed when necessary? The only process that makes sense to make that decision is the same one we previously discussed... elect multiple people in priority order.

> I mean does district 4 even have a representative come January?

It does not have representation beyond the two statewide senators until McEachin is replaced.

1

jaywan1991 t1_j15b0jy wrote

Maybe have their lead aid run the ship until elections Happen or people in charge of various departments in the state like we do with the presidency. I dunno, I'm not a policy maker

Yeah no representation for a month-ish kinda sucks. I wonder if we should be taxed for that time period on a state level because of the whole taxation without representation (that last sentence was a joke and should not be taken seriously).

1

oldguy_on_the_wire t1_j15eflo wrote

This still ignores the fundamental fact that the people elected a particular person. The didn't elect an aid. They didn't elect the representative's wife or child or parent.

A line of succession scheme can work well when there is a hierarchy to hang it on, as with the US Presidency, or with state governorships. A representative to Congress or to a state legislature is a single power point, not a hierarchy.

The most effective, fair way to replace a lost one is with a special election rapidly conducted.

I slightly misstated things earlier in this thread when I said the fourth district is unrepresented until the seat is filled. It is more accurate to note that if an important enough issue were to arise then it very probably would be picked up by other members of the Virginia delegation.

1

jaywan1991 t1_j15jcxx wrote

Eh you're probably right there. Still, I do think we need an interim rep until the election. Someone to bring our local concerns to the federal level.

I just hope what you say is true that an important enough issue will be picked up. Heck a nice rule would be any other Virginia rep can help you out until you have a rep again. I think most do out of kindness but still something on paper would be nice

1