The national election process, so vital in America’s democratic society, has shown signs of deterioration in the past few decades. It needs a shot in the arm maybe some overhauling. Voter turnout has declined in every presidential election since 1960. That year 62.8 percent went to the po s – not exactly impressive even then. In 1964, 61.9 Eercent V Q 1968, 60.9 percent; 197 55.5; 1976, 54.5; 1980, 53.95 percent; The picture is worse in non- residential election gears. For example, o y 0.3 percent of the voting age population balloted in the 1982 n tional elections. The Reagan-C ter contest in 1980 ramatized a facto which could signifi ntly and permanentl influence late hour b loting in the western egions unless somet ‘ g is done to correc an existing problem. en early returns a news media project’ons showed Carter eing decisively defeated, the President went on radio and TV and conceded, long before the polls were closed in the West. Many westerners didn’t j bother to vote after that. A comprehensive study released in Octo/ber in 1981 by the University of Michigan and funded in part by ABC News, concluded that over-all, voter turnout declined by 6 to 11 percent as a result of Carter’s action and the forecast based on early returns. So what can be done to shore up the voting and eliminate the lag because of election projections? Several bills conceming the issue were offered in the 97th Congress. The issue should be on the agenda in the present Congress. One measure which addressed both the longterm decline in voting and the projection-re lated drop-off would: 1. Move presidential elections to Sunday for a six-year trial period, taking a leaf from certain European countries; and 2. Open and close all polling places across the country at the same hour irrespective of time belts. The bil1’s sponsor, Rep. Mario Biaggi, New York Democrat, says a U. S. Census Bureau survey two years ago revealed that 48 percent of all registered nonvoters did not cast ballots because of factors related to the inconvenience of votingcouldn’t get off work, no transportation availble, discouragement with long lines, etc. Biaggi believes Sunday voting partially would overcome the inconvenience factor. Further, he backs his claim that non-workday voting would boost the turnout by citing Sweden, Austria, West Germany, ltaly, and France which conducted their most recent elections on Sunday, with voter participation of 86 to 90 percent. For uniform voting hours, the congressman suggests noon to 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time during presidential elections. For a country built on the cornerstones of freedom, democracy, justice and opportunity, America has a poor citizen turnout record on most election days. We can do better. This newspaper would like to see a test made of public opinion on Sunday voting with all national polls focusing on the subject. It would be healthy and helpful also if the proposal were debated and discussed by local civic groups as well as in Congress. Apathy is a serious threat to the democratic I process. Whether it’s “same-time Sunday voting” or some other effective plan, we need to act promptly and responsibly to reverse the trend of sagging interest on election day.