Getting Voters to the Polls

Your Oct. 27 editorial, “Reform Can Boost Voting,” stimulated me to come up with an idea that I think might quickly and easily boost voting turnout to the levels enjoyed by many foreign nations. What about declaring some present holiday such as Columbus Day as election day, and make it a legal but conditional national holiday. Voters being paid for this holiday would be conditional on voters furnishing employers with the receipt card given at the polls. No re-ceipt--and you would be docked a day’s pay.

For those who are retired--if they don’t show up at the polls to vote, the Social Security Administration would be notified, and they would be docked for 1/30th of their pension payment. Think about it! It seems to me we could boost voter turnout to stratospheric highs, while at the same time causing our entire population to take a greater interest in political issues.

MONROE MENDELSOHN

Sherman Oaks

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Perhaps the problem is not with the campaign laws but with the electorate. Let’s face it, the preponderance of money--hard, soft or mushy--goes to television. Voters who decide based on the distortions, half-truths and lies contained in 30-second campaign commercials deserve whatever government they get.

When we learn to pay attention to candidates’ records, take the trouble to understand the issues and are wise enough to resist the blandishment of slick advertising, it won’t matter how much money is spent or by whom. As long as we are too lazy to do the work needed to vote intelligently, and insist on making our political choices the way we decide about cars or soap, no laws will protect us.

ROBERT L. SACHS

Newport Beach

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I am very disappointed with your coverage of candidates and parties other than the usual donkeys and elephants. There are five other parties with gubernatorial candidates, yet as far as I can tell The Times has written only one article, covering them all as if they belonged to a pack (Oct. 20). The fact is that thousands of Californians will vote for these candidates, hence they merit more than a single token story.

RICHARD KOFFLER

Pacific Palisades