Thirty years ago, in 1964, State Senator Bobby Rowan of Georgia rose to his feet to make a motion before the state assembly. "Mr. President," Senator Rowan began, "I move that the proposed Georgia election code be amended as follows: No person may vote, either in the Democratic primary or in the general election in the State of Georgia, who has been deceased more than three years."

The amendment was completely serious. A lively debate followed. On the floor of the state senate legislators argued over the exact time between death and the loss of voting privileges. They assessed how long the spirit and the political orientation of dead citizens might still be remembered when applied to current circumstances. The issue was how they might have voted if they had lived to election day. Could re…