Voter registration and turnout are up. If the Democratic Primary is an indication of what’s to come, we can expect big numbers in November. But the long shadow of 2000 and 2004 still looms. Will voting be fair and will everyone registered to vote be able to do so without standing on line for six hours or battling with poll workers? And will new technology make voting easier and more accessible?

Here to discuss the new voter turnout, a recent decision by the Veterans Administration to bar voter registration drives at VA Health Care Facilities, and organizing beyond any single election are Henry Serrano, Senior Organizer and Coordinator of the Voter Engagement Project and Community Voices Heard, Brian Lee of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), Steven Carbo, Senior Program Director of the Democracy Project Demos, and Susan Lerner Executive Director of Common Cause.

There are a number of challenges. In some communities registration is low and turnout high. In others, registration is high and turnout low. According to Serrano, “People don’t always see the value in voting.” But when they see how elected officials can affect their lives, particularly at the local level, they are often moved to vote. There are obstacles and opportunities in the ’08 election. And many ways to get involved. Volunteer to be a poll worker or an election monitor. Join the conversation.