Apr. 4, Feature - Florida has been through some tough elections in recent years. With hanging chads in 2000 which took the election to the Supreme Court, the plague of problematic electronic voting machines, and now orphaned delegates because a state legislature decision to move up the state's primary. Disheartened and frustrated, Florida Senator, Democrat Bill Nelson, offered a sweeping reform package that he says covers the entire gamut of the electoral process.

"This legislation is going to suggest we abolish the Electoral College and suggest we give citizens direct election of their president by popular vote. And those six inter-rotating regional primaries will give both large and small states a fair say in the nomination process. The legislation will establish early voting for every state and will eliminate machines that don't produce a paper trail and it will allow every voter in every state cast an absentee ballot and it will give grants to each state to run a pilot program to secure internet voting on a trial basis."

Senator Nelson's comprehensive proposal offers changes to the voting process, the primary system and the general election. He's not alone in offering a reform agenda, dozens of members of Congress have their own proposals. All three Presidential Candidates also support electoral reform. Senator Obama lectured about election reform as a law professor at the University of Chicago, Senator Hillary Clinton has ideas for comprehensive election reform, and Senator John McCain has also been an advocate of changing the system.

But election reform is not easy, and never has been. Senator Nelson addresses historical challenges.

"Let's don't forget it was 230 years ago the founding fathers declared that all men are created equal but the country still had to wait 87 years until President Lincoln signed the Proclamation freeing the slaves. Then it took another 57 years before women in America were allowed to vote. Even though she tried in 1872, Susan B Anthony, she was arrested for trying to vote, the ballot she said is the only means in securing the blessings of liberty, even still it took another 93 years our nation belatedly enacted a law securing every citizen an equal right to vote, the voting rights act of 1965. This country can't afford to wait another 93 years before we fix the flaws we still see in our election system because the blessings of liberty can not wait."

Unsatisfied with the primary process, the Republican Party is hoping to change it. At a Republican National Committee meeting in New Mexico, members agreed on the so called Ohio plan, allowing Ohio to vote first then holding four major primary contests, rotating states that fall first. The Republican party is expected to vote on it at their party convention in September.

A spokesperson for the Democratic Party says they are trying to get through this primary season before they focus on the next one.

Any change to the general election, like getting rid of the electoral college, must amend the Constitution.