As far as I can tell, while I watch election results dribble in on Disney owned ABC news, this year’s election seems to be brought to us by murderers, liars, and bounty hunters…seems appropriate. That’s just based on commercials for current and future tv shows – I miss Green Acres. Though, this particular crew of pundits could easily be used to recast a reboot with George Stephanopoulos taking over for Eddie Albert and Chris Christie as Arnold the pig. Unfortunately, there’s no Eva Gabor, it’s mostly middle aged white dudes, so we’re lacking in charm, grace, and common sense.

Where are we at, Milwaukee? As I write this, the vote is still coming, but by the time you read this, we’ll be moving into the next phase of whatever. I say whatever because it’s still 2020 and looks to be for at least another year. So, really, anything can happen.

The unpredictability of this year has become our normal. We all wanted to get back to normal, well we can’t go back, so this is it, this is normal. Time moves in one direction, McFly, things change. So grab your mask and hand sanitizer and stay the hell away from each other. Everything is unpredictable, we’re gonna build this plane and fly it all at once. Holy mixed metaphors, if only we had one constant to depend on, like a uniform process and system in which to vote for our elected representatives.

Seriously, why is voting so hard. This election is showing record number of voters, but we are going to still fall way short when compared to other developed countries. Our best year was 2008 when 58% of voting-age citizens cast a ballot. Compare that to Australia a country with voter turnout of over 90%. An actual democracy depends on the action of its citizens and we are failing our democracy.

Part of the problem, is every state has a different system to not only cast votes, but then also how they’re counted. Depending on where you are in the country, you’ll face different rules and restrictions to register to vote and even more to cast your ballot. And this year, all of those rules are being rewritten in response to the pandemic. It’s confusing at best and discouraging to the point of apathy at worst.

There are, however, solutions. There are states in our union that have simplified the process, made it more accessible to eligible voters, have significantly higher turnout, no instances of fraud, and efficient methods of tabulation and results reporting.

During the last two Presidential Elections, I was a resident of the state of Washington. I received my ballot in the mail a month before election day, it was accompanied every time with an election booklet that not only explained the process on how to vote, but had pages of information from the candidates explaining their positions so voters could make informed choices. The information provided came directly from the campaigns and people who wanted your vote. From there voters could go on to do more of their own research or choose to be content with what was provided. After filling out my ballot, I could drop it in the mail or any number of official ballot boxes. That was it, no lines, no wondering where to go to cast my vote, and no wondering if my vote was counted. In 2016, Washington recorded a voter turnout of 78%, Wisconsin came in at 48%. Clearly, we are doing something wrong.

No matter the results of this election and despite the record turnout, one of the real challenges facing us is a challenge that has faced us in election after election – participation. There are loudmouths and pundits that run our country and decide our elections. It’s the quiet voices, the calloused hands, and the bent backs that actually make this country work and give it value. It’s, more often than not, these voices that are under represented, frustrated, and fed up with the process.

Make voting uniform, accessible, and inclusive for all voting age citizens. This election, an election, every election is our opportunity to affect change.

Change is needed.

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