The 2016 general election has made it clear that our electoral process is plagued by systemic corruption. This corruption skews the election process in favor of the few rather than the vast majority of the American people, and it unduly denies voting rights to our minority communities. It is time for our elected officials to get behind an aggressive comprehensive campaign finance and election reform effort.

This reform will not only seek to take corporate and lobbyist influence (read: money) out of the election process, but also seek to reform the election process itself, including the validity of information presented to the public.

The ultimate goal is to guarantee the integrity of each and every election beyond a shadow of a doubt.

In discussion with several people, the issue of candidate vetting is proving to be a prime concern. There is no question that this is a very different, more complicated world than it once was. However, this is a very large topic, and a subjective qualifier, that will require discussions involving many people, including the American public. Until those discussions can take place, this issue will be tabled.

In summary, we seek these reforms:

• Enact comprehensive finance reform that bans political donations from corporations, lobbyists, and other special interest groups, and allows donations only from the public (to a maximum of $5,000).
• Enact comprehensive finance reform that prevents a candidate from using more than $100,000 in personal money to finance an election.
• Enact comprehensive finance reform that prevents foreign citizens and foreign governments from donating to U.S. elections.
• The federal government will provide “block grants” to each candidate.
• Require a return to paper ballots and hand counting, effectively eliminating machines that can be hacked.
• Require that all voting and counting procedures be monitored by representatives of the United Nations.
• Require the use of independent audits during the election process and the use of independent exit polls to verify results.
• Investigate election irregularities for potential election fraud if exit polls vary by more than two percent.
• Prosecute all election fraud cases without exception.
• Eliminate the electoral college in favor of one person, one vote.
• Eliminate super delegates.
• Eliminate gerrymandering through redistricting.
• Limit all elected officials to a maximum of two terms.
• Require all elected and appointed officials to wait five (5) years before accepting lobbyist positions.
• Disband the Commission on Presidential Debates and charge the League of Women Voters with debate oversight, including oversight of debate topics and questions.
• Require the inclusion of third-party candidates in all debates and town halls.
• Provide all candidates, including third party candidates, with federal matching funds.
• For every campaign “promise” made to the American public, the candidate must present his or her detailed plan to deliver on that promise.