EB, unfortunately it's not the US voting system - each State is responsible for passing voting laws and setting up the electoral machinery. In fact, different laws can be found at the local level within States. Republican states have been very active in passing laws that make it more difficult for the poor, the working class and minorities to vote. The Republicans are well aware that their heartland is shrinking and their only chance to compete is by stopping the Democratic-friendly groups from voting. In particular those States love banning those who've ever been in jail and sometimes those who've been on probation - as black Americans are over-represented before the courts, that works in favour of the Republicans. The election is held on the first Tuesday in November so that workers find it difficult to vote. Voters are often confronted by ridiculously long queues that send a message that it's not worth joining the queue. Staff at voting stations sometimes try to persuade voters to go home without voting. Voter registration requirements hit the poor or low-wage workers harder as do the complications of re-registration requirements when voters change address. By requiring voters to pay for photo IDs and provide extensive proof of residence, the homeless and the poor often give up. Immigrants who sometimes have to wait for 8-10 years for citizenship are barred from voting.
Then you have the fiasco of the stupid hole-punch machines used by Florida which enabled Jeb Bush to give his brother his first term in office by discounting hanging chads and the like.
It's not a system which encourages universal suffrage.
Then you have the fiasco of the stupid hole-punch machines used by Florida which enabled Jeb Bush to give his brother his first term in office by discounting hanging chads and the like.
It's not a system which encourages universal suffrage.