Thread by @Yascha_Mounk

It's amazing how needlessly hard it is to vote in America.

[A short thread.]

I live in Washington, DC.

But because of COVID-19, it has been virtually impossible to formally register as a resident in the district.

Every time I try to make an appointment with the DMV for the first available time, I get this message.

So here's the question:

Am I eligible to vote in Washington, DC, if I do in fact live there but have not been able to formally change my residence?

After many attempts, I finally reached someone at the local Board of Elections.

Their answer: yes.

So I fill out the online voter registration form.

It keeps rejecting my submission because I haven't formatted my phone number in the exact way it likes.

When I pass that hurdle, the standard menu asks that I type my signature. But if I did that.. my application would be void.

So now I have to hope that my ballot actually arrives in the mail.

And that the friendly lady from the Board of Elections was right in assuring me that I'm not about to commit accidental voter fraud.

Now let me be clear:

I'm not complaining on my own behalf. I'm a big boy. I can figure this out. And there are many, many Americans who have less time or education--and live in states that, unlike DC, actively try to discourage them from voting.

But just think:

* I have a PhD
* In political science
* I write about politics
* And live in a place that tries to make this easy

If I found the process of registering to vote bewildering and anxiety-inducing, how bad must things be for those who are less fortunate?

[End]