by Kevin Bonsor

About the author: Kevin Bonsor is a writer for HowStuffWorks, an online educational magazine.

Editor’s Note: The following viewpoint was written in November 2000, just after the U.S. presidential election. The election was held on November 7, but for weeks after the initial voting the nation’s attention was focused on a recount of Florida’s ballots, the results of which would ultimately decide the election. During the recount process, it became apparent that there were many problems with the punch-card ballots used in some Florida counties: Often the holes in the ballot card did not punch through completely, so many of them had to be disqualified. The Florida recount prompted many calls for nationwide election reform.

Can you believe all of the confusion and controversy surrounding [the 2000] U.S...