In 1988 on my cable TV program “A Look Forward” which I do for Cablevision in Peekskill, New York, I talked about a voting system that would allow average citizens to vote on bills that are voted on in Congress and the Senate.  At the time, I thought the citizen vote might be allowed to be counted.  But since only elected officials can cast votes, the system might be used as a form of polling.  It would be a system sponsored by C-Span and C-Span 2. 

Here’s how the system would work:  Those who are interested in the way Congress and the Senate work would be able to contact C-Span and C-Span 2 to rent voting boxes.  They could be connected to people’s computers so that they could submit comments too while they watch debate on bills.  When it comes time to vote, the person will be able to cast either a yes or no vote.  He will use his box in the same way people in Congress use their voting boxes.  There just wouldn’t be a way to vote present because that would be rather meaningless.  As the vote tally is recorded on the screen, the citizen vote tally would also be recorded.  Congressmen would watch both tallies to help them decide how to vote.  If a Congressman was for something but the citizen vote was 95% against it, the overwhelming disapproval by the citizens might be able to sway his vote.  There would be one box for Congress and another for the Senate.  Each might be rented for $30 a month while Congress is in session. 

Those who have boxes might have access to their Congressman and Senators normal citizens don’t have.  Since the people who have boxes are concerned about what is done in Congress, their elected officials may be interested in their views.  For an extra $10 a month, a committee voting box might be issued to citizens so that they can vote on bills that are in committee.  If an issue concerns someone enough, he may want to be a part of the discussion.  He would be able to send e-mails to the committee members and maybe even the people who appear before the committee.  Those with committee voting boxes would be paid attention to more.  The citizen vote might be taken first to try and sway the committee members one way or another.  Since our elected officials are supposed to represent us, the voting box system might help them make up their mind. 

C-Span and C-Span 2 might have a special service for box renters so that they can vote on things the cable networks bring up.   The service would also record e-mails of box renters and post them on their web sites, if the submitters give their permission for public view.  E-mail addresses would be shown if the submitters permit it.  That way, people could come in contact with others via the Internet. 

Citizen Congressmen and Senators might not be satisfied to electronically vote on bills.  They may want to do it for real.  There is no telling how many political careers might be launched because the citizen voting systems inspire them to run for office.  A future President might originally be a citizen voter.  If the systems become popular with millions of people voting on bills and voicing their opinions, maybe Congress will become more responsive to the citizens.