Democracy Gone Wild

Early voters aren’t counted

In 28 states, an estimated 26 million voters turning out to vote before Nov. 2 faced long lines and a brewing legal brawl over “provisional ballots,” used by voters who don’t show up on official rolls. The earliest bird: Idaho opened voting Sept. 14. Sources: The Times, CNN

Eligible felons are locked out

Maine and Vermont are the only states that let prisoners vote. Most of the nearly 1.5 million adults behind bars nationwide can’t. The real action is in Florida, where purges of felon voters brought hurricane-force lawsuits. Sources: Sentencing Project, The Times

DeLay tactics reign

Outgunned Democrats fled Texas in September to stall a redistricting plan pushed by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. They failed. But the Supreme Court has questioned the “most blatantly partisan gerrymander ever,” in the words of Loyola Marymount’s Richard Hasen. Source: The Times

Lawyers sue

In Florida, 27 major lawsuits brought the system to its knees in 2000. This year, two dozen lawsuits are already pending nationwide. Leading contender to become this year’s Florida: Colorado, where a ballot initiative to divide electoral votes could bring unfrivolous lawsuits. Sources: Moritz College of Law, The Times

Nader spoils

The ghost of 2000 is still rattling his chains: Ralph Nader is on the ballot in 35 states, including Florida, where he won 2% of the vote last time, and Minnesota, where he took 5%. “We’re going to litigate this way past the election,” he told The Times in July. Source: Nader campaign

Immigrants are intimidated

Rights groups allege that charges of voter fraud unfairly target immigrants. One of their big concerns: an Arizona measure that would require proof of citizenship at registration. Source: The Times

New voters are carded

As many as 100,000 young people have registered to vote in both Michigan and Wisconsin. But ID requirements for first-time voters and registration fraud may really rock the vote. Source: CNN

Schwarzenegger triumphs

No, not this time, unless he does the impossible and swings California Republican. But Arnold’s political muscle could pump up a ballot proposition that would remake the state’s primary system, shaking up future elections. Source: The Times

Soldiers are left out

Military personnel plan to vote overwhelmingly for President Bush, 4 to 1 in an informal poll. But computer security fears have hampered online voting. And what about the 3.4 million Americans overseas who rely on the same systems? Sources: Army Times, Washington Post

Voting machines melt down

Chad’s back. In 2004, 22 million voters in 19 states, including Ilinois, will vote on punch-card systems, which are less accurate than other systems. But do computers keep votes safe? “We’ve got this terrible trade-off between accuracy and security,” said UC Berkeley political scientist Henry Brady. Sources: Election Data Services, UC Data

Voters stampede

High turnout and poor preparation could cause system overload. Top turnout in 2000: Minnesota, where 67% of eligible voters showed up on election day. Lowest: West Virginia, at 36.9%. Top excuse: 21% of nonvoters said they were too busy in 2000; 4% forgot. Sources: Census Bureau

Campaign ads baffle

At 14,000 ads and counting, Toledo, Ohio, is ground zero for campaign advertisers. “I don’t know what’s coming from who,” one resident said. Sources: TNSI/Campaign Media Analysis Group, Washington Post