Vote By Donkey (aka - What the Afghans Can Teach Us)

» NY Times: Afghan Election Rests on the Backs of Donkeys (Sabrina Tavernise)

In more ways than one, I suppose ...

Aside from one short paved strip in the center of Faizabad, the provincial capital, the roads are dirt, with ruts and slants that make any car ride feel like a voyage at sea during a storm. Six districts have no roads that connect to the rest of the province, and ballots for those areas will be taken by helicopter, Mr. Masood said.

But even in areas with roads, many villages can be reached only by footpaths. Those ballots will be delivered by brigades of donkeys, which election officials rent from local farmers. At the price of $60 per donkey -- the monthly salary for a night watchman at a public school -- there are many willing participants.

...

The donkeys may present the biggest challenge in what lies ahead. Some of the mountain trails are so narrow that the slightest step can become treacherous, particularly with giant loads on a donkey's backs. In the previous round of voting in August, several empty ballot boxes were lost over the side of a cliff.

Let it be known that donkeys are ideally suited for navigating treacherous terrain while being able to carry a lot on their backs.