Perhaps the most intriguing idea came from Stephen Rust of Centerville. He suggested a series of "blind" votes in each state, beginning in the East and working its way across the country. The official results would be kept secret until all 50 states had voted. "That way," he wrote, "no state's vote has any undue influence on the others ..."

Because the state elections would progress geographically, candidates could manage their travel expenses easier than in a same-day nationwide primary.

Rust admits there would be no way to keep the media from conducting exit polls to predict how the vote was going, but the outcome would remain largely in doubt until the momentous day when everything was tallied in public.

I would add that it would require some sort of fool-proof security system to keep anyone from tampering with ballots until the final day. In addition, such a system would keep little-known candidates from waging inexpensive campaigns in Iowa and New Hampshire, hoping to gain enough grass-roots support to blossom into something big.

No plan would be perfect, but I'm impressed with the thoughtful ideas. Please send me more.

And remember, try not to take every early basket too seriously.

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Jay Evensen is editor of the Deseret Morning News editorial page. E-mail: even@desnews.com