By Jason Sattler

Unprecedented Election Day turnout could leave voters waiting hours to cast their ballots – some have called the situation a new poll tax. Others say it's simply a colossal pain in the ass and an excuse to skip the electoral process. If the system is maxed out by voter turnout approaching 60 percent, what will happen if 80 percent of the electorate shows up at the polls, as is expected in some states?

Chaos, that's what. Election officials worry about technology breakdowns, flawed voter lists and other problems. Early voting and absentee ballots help ease the crush, but it's time to seriously consider an idea that has emerged this year – drive-through voting.

The idea has caught on in places like California's El Doradoand Sonoma counties and Douglas County, Oregon. It's cheap, it's easy and it should be replicated everywhere.

It's a simple idea and an alternative to voting by mail. Voters leave their absentee ballots in a drop-box at designated locations. Some places allow drop-offs 24/7. El Dorado County officials say more than 500 people have taken advantage of the box and saved a bit of change on their postage.

The downside is the boxes encourage driving when polling places are supposed to be close enough to walk. All those cars heading off to cast a ballot will create more greenhouse gas. And of course there needs to be some way of preventing fraud and the minimizing the risk that someone will vandalize the boxes – and their contents.

What do you think? Do you have a practical suggestion to make it easier, faster or more commuter-friendly to vote? Or are long lines just a consequence of representative democracy that we have to live with?

Photo by Flickr user cafemama.