Nothing I propose (call it “pie in the sky dreamin'”) will ever likely come to pass, but if it were to come about. . .
How about these proposals to fix elections for public office:
Each candidate must put forth a platform as a proposed contract with the electorate. If elected, the candidate must make a good faith effort to effect the platform or be removed from office, possibly with prison and fines. Mechanisms for punishment would be tricky details, but could be worked out.
NO elective position should have the names of the candidates or their party affiliations listed on the ballot. Only the platform the candidate is committed to would be listed.
ALL voters would be required to complete a short, easy-peasy civics quiz like this one. A passing grade of better than 70% and their vote counts. I’d prefer better than 90%, but yeh, OK, since I’m dreaming anyway. . . *heh*
All ballot positions would be required to also list None of the Above as a legitimate ballot choice. If NOTA received a plurality of votes, the slate for that position would be wiped and another election held for that position.
All voters be required to produce valid photo identification.
All-in-all, these are quite modest proposals, don’t you think? *heh*
Actually rather than fines and simple jail/prison time, methinks it would be better to punish faithless officeholders with flogging them through the streets naked, tarring and feathering and being placed on chain gangs making little rocks out of big ones for a time period equal to what their terms of office would have been.