Oregon is seen as a trendsetter for environmental movements from urban growth policy to organic food to re-use culture. But have we also found the solution to the problems plagueing polling places today? Sen. Ron Wyden thinks so:

For more than a decade Oregonians have been successfully voting by mail. Up to three weeks before Election Day, ballots are sent to all registered voters, giving busy families time to research their votes and carefully mark their ballots, which are then either dropped in the mailbox or delivered to secure drop boxes at libraries, county offices and other convenient locations. Trained election officials then match the signature on each ballot against the signature on each voter's registration card, before processing the vote.

The transparency of Vote by Mail eliminates virtually all fraud, while addressing many traditional voting challenges.

Read Wyden's statement here.

Voting is not a partisan issue, and fair elections are crucial for an open democracy. WorldChanging frequently champions technological solutions to problems, but sometimes good design is knowing how to simplifiy to the point of not needing technology.