At the time, the vast majority of cases concerned the provision of ballot access to black voters in Southern states.

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If the ballot is inconclusive, black smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel.

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Nicholas Schofield said that in the event of an inconclusive ballot, wet straw had traditionally been added to the fire to make the smoke black.

CNN: March 12, 2013 -- Updated 1404 GMT (2204 HKT)

Black, brown or white, rich or poor, we all have an equal say in the ballot box.

CNN: Don't gut the Voting Rights Act