Our Democracy Needs Work

All across the country there are reports of displeased voters. A poor black neighborhood in Virginia had but one working voting machine (out of seven). In my office, two out of three registrants were forced to use provisional ballots because they weren't on "the list" even when they were brandishing their Acknowledgment Notices.

And to add insult to injury, the polling representative at one such place was being played by Hank Azaria (in the Bird Cage) only with a thicker neck and more body glitter. Wagging finger, lisping, and all, (s)he refused to call the county clerk to verify a voter's status (which upon later clarification, turns out to be an active registration).

What is going on?

Why can't we all just get along? Why can't we all just carry out our god-given (or constitutional) right to vote, have it count, have the number totaled and have that number decide our president? I realize I'm skipping some electoral college intricacies, but you get my drift.

It's hard for me, the aforementioned marginalized voter, to swallow that these things happen. Instead I switch into paranoia that something corrupt is going on. That we, the young, new, and often colored, registrants are slipping through cracks. And in such a bright blue state as New York, one would assume that these things are handled the best way possible.

I guess I'm just rambling at this point and am not sure where to go with this. I just find it suspicious.

Here's a map of callers to the CNN voter helpline. The darker the color, the more complaints.

Things that make ya go hm, indeed.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/voter.hotline/