“We’re getting calls about polls being closed,” Kentucky’s secretary of state posted online last Tuesday. “They are closed because we do not have elections today. Kentucky votes next year. You cannot vote today in Kentucky for the mayor of New York City or the governor of Virginia. Sorry.” Michael Adams’ tweet, while laughable and indeed met with widespread laughter, said something about the general craving for democratic participation in America this past week — despite these being local, “off-year” elections. Gubernatorial and state-level legislative races that ordinarily come and go were suffused with outsize significance; buzz over the likes of…

Want to continue reading?

Introductory offer: Sign up today and pay €200 for an annual membership, a saving of €50.

Subscribe

Cancel at any time.

Are you already a member? .