The Gatekeepers of Democracy is the story of an election. But unlike most works of political fiction which concentrate on the candidates and their campaigns, Gatekeepers sees events through the eyes of the unsung heroes of the American political process: the women and men who volunteer to serve as election officers.

The holiday season has come to a close and politics could not be further from people's minds. However the citizens of Virginia's 48th state senate district are in for rare treat. A recent resignation has thrown open a state senate seat, a seat that so happens will determine...