Okay, this is REALLY pointless and mundane.
Watching all those news reports with the (by now) stock footage of volunteers carefully inspecting each and every ballot, it occurred to me that you could make a really good TV commercial for the U.S. Presidency along the lines of those Juan Valdez coffee ads:
“Here in the United States we take great pride in our Presidency. Unlike other countries, we hand-pick our candidates, and when the votes have ripened we spare no expense.”
(shot of volunteer holding ballot up to the light, while three others carefully look at the ballot)
“We inspect each and every ballot carefully, looking at it from every side. No unsightly hanging chads or incomplete punches to muddy the waters and spoil the flavor. We discard all the questionable ballots so that you only get the full, rich flavor of a certified election. The U.S. Presidency – The Best Money Can Buy.”