New Phoenix Election Chief Says 'Nearly 91,000' Citizens Left Off Voter Rolls

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. I often wonder how other countries manage their voting rolls.

Surely there is an easier way than our system.

I did not vote in the first election for which I was eligible. It was partly indifference, but mostly I hadn't a clue how to go about getting registered. And keep in mind I'm white (meaning plenty of privilege), reasonably well educated, and was living in a strong middle-class environment at the time. Perhaps it mattered that I was living a very long way from family, and I felt too shy to ask those around me how to go about getting registered.

It simply shouldn't be that hard. Any citizen ought to be able to show up and vote.

Where I currently live, during early voting and during certain regular local elections, you just show up at one of the several polling places, state your name, date of birth, and address. The clerk now knows who you are and what specific district or precinct you are in, and prints up the appropriate ballot. What an excellent system. Best of all, during early voting, whenever there's a first time voter that's loudly announced and all present cheer.