The day the music stops

In case you haven't noticed, today's Election Day in America.

You knew that? Okay, good. Just checking.

But let's do a little compare and contrast between elections here and elections on Clove Island.

Timeframe: Clove Island-- Candidates aren't allowed to start campaigning until a certain date, normally about a month before the ballots are cast. You know when the campaign has started by the deafening noise around town. You know when the campaign has ended (a day before the vote) by the deafening silence and the fact that you can hear other things again.

Timeframe: America-- you think the election's over? Just kidding, let's start the next one!

The sounds: Clove Island-- music in the streets.
Candidates pay songwriters to put new words to old music and support their party. These songs are then blasted from loudspeakers. And where are the loudspeakers? EVERYWHERE. Empty storefronts become campaign headquarters and blast their music any time the power is on. Loudspeakers are mounted on top of taxi vans and blast their music as they roll slowly through town. Rallies are held, blocking neighborhood streets for hours and driving out the neighbors with the incredibly loud music and speeches.

The sounds: America-- the phone rings, it's your alma mater telling you who to vote for, or the political party du jour, or the firemen, or your enthusiastic neighbor. Then again, the phone rings and you quit answering. Who calls landlines in this day and age anyway?

Registering to vote: Clove Island-- visit your neighborhood polling location, get your picture taken, give all your personal information to them and they'll post it on the wall with everyone else who's registered to vote there.

Registering to vote: America-- go online and it's done.

And finally, election day on Clove Island: it's the day the music stops. Quiet. No vehicles are allowed on the roads other than official election vehicles (to prevent people from visiting more than one polling station). People stay home, other than going out to vote. Around 10 at night the noise level rises with various parties declaring their victory.

Election day in America: do what you want, visit the polls when you want, go to work, check results online or on the TV after it's all over.

Yay, democracy!