Before the Polls Close

Before the polls close and there are frantic predictions and even wilder accusations or demands, let's pause in Virginia and ask:

• Why everyone responsible for meeting a postmark deadline for ballots to be mailed to those serving overseas was missed back in September (allowing an 11th hour challenge for these to be counted "if necessary") haven't already been relieved of their duties.
• Why our State Board of Election laws are so broadly written and/or even more loosely interpreted, registrars can personally choose how to apply them differently throughout the Commonwealth.
• Why requests for extending poll hours at under resourced precincts were fought over in some areas of Virginia.
• Why, after spending billions of dollars to update voting machines across the US after the 2000 Florida hanging chad debacle, Virginia will be ditching its new system after this election.  
• Why Virginia voters were seen as so malleable, political clothing and accessories were banned (yet former Gov. Gilmore was wearing his campaign button when casting his ballot today).  Seems lots of people protested this. 

A lot of air time and ink will address these issues, and others, over the next 48 hours.  What is more interesting is to imagine how people reading about it 48 years from now will interpret it all.