ballot bailout?

South Africa has just had an election. In spite of voting being a secret, many people feared that their votes might connect them to a party opposed to the ruling party and that they would lose their jobs. An irrational fear, but possibly not. One never knows. To many voting was about survival and a job. As they slipped their voter slip into the mysterious slot of the ballot box, how could they know what result might be waiting inside the darkness?

I was looking for a dramatic moment and hadn't quite nailed down how I was going to achieve it in what I thought was a rather simple concept. It was only when I added the dark wash that the piece began to feel stronger

the final version...after some wringing of hands (how appropriate?) and drinking of tea.

So...this is the final...less rich and sweet. I prefer it to the more saturated version.