Vote

[stealth6]

All the votes are in! Voting was smooth, quick, and easy, with no complications. All ballots have been counted and verified as legitimate. Interestingly, one candidate received 100% of the votes, and has officially been declared as the winner.

(.......in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, the first township in the country to complete voting and counting, and to announce the results. Population = 5)

ssixsixsix

 

[dr wogz]

it says something when stores are boarding up in fear of riots & looting, and a fence is erected around the white house..

 

[KennB]

Mailed in my ballot a week-and-a-half ago. It wasn't showing up on the state's tracking website so I called my City Clerk's office this morning. It has been received and will be counted.

 

[MALBAR 70]

On my way out the door in a few to do my civic duty....

 

[Jeff Lassahn]

I'm trying to decide whether to spend tonight getting drunk and yelling at the TV or going into complete media blackout mode for 24 hours and checking the results sometime tomorrow evening.

My ballot is already in, so it's not like I can actually do anything more to control the outcome...

 

[boatgeek]

Scary that at least of the people running for Supreme Court Justice (might have been a local judge, I can't remember now) in WA have law degree but have never practiced law.

State Supreme Court. He got his law license after retiring as a school district superintendent. Based on the newspaper articles, it sounded like he was basically running so his opponent wouldn't be unopposed, not because he thought he had a chance of winning. That's not totally unreasonable. He's definitely a step above perennial candidate Goodspaceguy* and he's definitely not a crazy person like Alex Tsimerman. If you're not from Washington, seriously read the Alex Tsimerman voter's pamphlet statement. From personal experience, he is perhaps even more crazy in person than he sounds in his statement.

* Goodspaceguy is his legal name--he changed it years ago. Full disclosure: I voted for him once. In my defense, it was a primary, he was one of two candidates running against a Congressman For Life, and he was way more into space colonization and less into libertarianism at the time.

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

I'm trying to decide whether to spend tonight getting drunk and yelling at the TV or going into complete media blackout mode for 24 hours and checking the results sometime tomorrow evening.

My ballot is already in, so it's not like I can actually do anything more to control the outcome...

I had a shot of whiskey in my coffee before 7am this morning, which is something I never do, but depending on how things go, it might become a regular thing.

So I vote for getting drunk and yelling at the TV! But if you decide to vote for media blackout instead, I will not hold it against you, and in the spirit of bipartisanship, I invite you to reach across the aisle for a beer at any point in the evening.

 

[Buckeye]

Vote. It's your right and your civic duty.

People who need constant reminders to vote probably should not be voting.

 

[Jeff Lassahn]

He's definitely a step above perennial candidate Goodspaceguy* and he's definitely not a crazy person like Alex Tsimerman.

I tried to follow these links to see what's up with these guys, but the server was acting really slow, so I figure since I'm not from there I should quit out and leave the server bandwidth to people who actually need to use those websites for real voting related stuff.

Now I'm wondering how much of the weirdness over the next couple of days will actually be the fault of badly scaled computer tech.

 

[Sandy H.]

My wife and I voted this morning, quite easily. We had done our homework, made our own decisions (she and I don't even compare notes, we research individually and decide individually), and filled out the sample ballots for our area.

The voting facility had 2 tents out front, one for each major party who politely and quietly asked if we needed any material to review prior to voting. We politely said no and both said 'thank you for voting today.' In the past, it had been a little more aggressive than that, so I appreciate both tents respect for the voters.

Inside, things ran very efficiently, although my personal preference would have been to show valid photo ID vs just giving our name. This might have actually been more efficient and even more private, as the masks and plexiglass dividers made me have to say my name 3 times and eventually spell it. Same with address. I don't blame the person on the other side of the plexiglass either, as I had trouble hearing him and the person at next station I had to go to as well.

I watched multiple people in orange vests constantly cleaning the booths and when one opened up, it was clearly freshly wiped down. My wife and I were wearing masks and gloves and using our own pens, but I still felt good that they were cleaning every single time someone finished.

The final step was to scan the ballot in a scanner and after 10-15 seconds of noise, it said the ballot was accepted. I was offered a sticker either put directly on my shirt or taken from a pile of pre-cut stickers on backing.

The whole process took about 10 minutes.

I know she and I are blessed to live in an area that is much more rural than urban and therefore our facility will never be overrun with long lines, but things went smoothly, efficiently and I believe was more clean than ever before.

We are all blessed to live in a country where we have the right to vote.

Sandy.

 

[boatgeek]

I tried to follow these links to see what's up with these guys, but the server was acting really slow, so I figure since I'm not from there I should quit out and leave the server bandwidth to people who actually need to use those websites for real voting related stuff.

Now I'm wondering how much of the weirdness over the next couple of days will actually be the fault of badly scaled computer tech.

This is the first paragraph of Tsimerman's statement so you can get the flavor:

I, Alex Tsimerman, speak to you Seattle emerald degenerate super smart freaking idiot, who bring Seattle to number one fascist city in America with Nazi−socialist−Gestapo principle. That always choose dirty garbage rats that drink from fat cat toilet and who make your life miserable and brought us to total collapse. Enough is enough it cannot go forever.

 

[Jeff Lassahn]

Isn't he worried he's going to lose the Dirty Garbage Rat vote?

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

It’s mind boggling to me that before the polls opened today (Election Day) over 100 million people had already voted early. That’s nuts! That is about 3/4 the total of 138 million votes in 2016.

Texas, Washington, Montana, and Hawaii had already recorded MORE votes than their total of all votes in 2016.

And Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina were very close to their 2016 totals.

This is headed for a massive turnout.

 

[boatgeek]

It’s mind boggling to me that before the polls opened today (Election Day) over 100 million people had already voted early. That’s nuts! That is about 3/4 the total of 138 million votes in 2016.

Texas, Washington, Montana, and Hawaii had already recorded MORE votes than their total of all votes in 2016.

And Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina were very close to their 2016 totals.

This is headed for a massive turnout.

My state legislative district is over 80% turnout yesterday evening, even without the ballots that were turned in yesterday. I'm sure our district will hit 90% turnout, and the entire county might as well.

 

[Rocket501]

I'm honestly happy that so many people are getting out to vote. Also, keep in mind, that even if you dislike both of the candidates (and I think a strong argument can be made for picking the lesser of two evils if that's what you believe), that's not the only thing you are voting on and the local measures will affect you daily life. I'm a strong believer that everyone who can vote, should.

Edit: Also, I'll be staying up to watch the election with some of my friends in my rocketry club. However, it's certain that the complete election results will not be finalized tonight, but the overall numbers may be clear enough to get a good idea who has won.

 

[SecondRow]

It’s mind boggling to me that before the polls opened today (Election Day) over 100 million people had already voted early. That’s nuts! That is about 3/4 the total of 138 million votes in 2016.

Texas, Washington, Montana, and Hawaii had already recorded MORE votes than their total of all votes in 2016.

And Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina were very close to their 2016 totals.

This is headed for a massive turnout.

If only there’d be this same turnout for midterm elections and other off-year elections.

 

[NateB]

If only there’d be this same turnout for midterm elections and other off-year elections.

Exactly, members of county council, school board, and Sherrif have a far greater impact on each of us than whoever is in the Oval Office.

 

[dr wogz]

I think, once this is over, both sides need to take a day or two, and hammer out the "what happens if" we've all seen this year / month!

take the time, set the precedence for the next 100 years..

 

[cerving]

What annoys me personally is that gridlock in Congress prevents them from being able to do their administrative duties, like passing a budget. It's not a matter of changing public policies... yeah, that's tough (look at how long it took for ANY health care bill to get passed), but they should just friggin be able to pay the bills without it devolving into a partisan shouting match. I like the idea of a line-item veto... but I think it will take a constitutional amendment to do it, and that's not very likely to happen.

 

[Sooner Boomer]

I always want to vote in person. I drive right by the county election office on the way to IV clinic. There was a line around the block most days last week. I was concerned when I dropped by my local polling station. Short line, in and out in less than 20 minutes. Looks like there was a high turnout here in central Okla.

 

[jsdemar]

No line at 3pm today. 5 minutes.

 

[dhbarr]

I always want to vote in person. I drive right by the county election office on the way to IV clinic. There was a line around the block most days last week. I was concerned when I dropped by my local polling station. Short line, in and out in less than 20 minutes. Looks like there was a high turnout here in central Okla.

Took about an hour for me from 07:30, and the line was about as long when I left as when I went in.

 

[PXR5]

Yawn ...
Been up since 4:15, working as the non-partisan judge in my precinct.

I get home and wifey tries to tell me what's happening... LOL shut the stupid TV off, we have NOT counted the ballots in one of the largest county in the state, heck, I just unloaded my car of 1200 ballots.
Everyone is unloading their trunks as we speak, give them several hours to unpack.

 

[BABAR]

Wife and I both voted, while we receive mail in/absentee ballots (everyone in this county does afaik, maybe even all of WA state) our ballots were taken to a ballot drop box nearby and hand delivered by me to a drop off location where they are not dependant on the US Mail for any reason. Just check and my ballots status is ACCEPTED!

There are some great things about Tennessee, but absentee balloting unfortunately isn’t one of them. We are pretty strict about who can and can’t vote by absentee ballot, if you don’t have a “good” reason for not showing up in person, you can’t vote absentee.

I voted in person today, in and out in 15 minutes. The only challenging thing was I was in such a hurry I came in wearing my prescription driving sunglasses (set for distant vision). So was a little hard to read. But I voted for Reagan anyway.

 

[Zeus-cat]

Yawn ...
Been up since 4:15, working as the non-partisan judge in my precinct.

I get home and wifey tries to tell me what's happening... LOL shut the stupid TV off, we have NOT counted the ballots in one of the largest county in the state, heck, I just unloaded my car of 1200 ballots.
Everyone is unloading their trunks as we speak, give them several hours to unpack.

How do you count the votes? We just personally put our ballot in a scanner after we mark it.

 

[rharshberger]

There are some great things about Tennessee, but absentee balloting unfortunately isn’t one of them. We are pretty strict about who can and can’t vote by absentee ballot, if you don’t have a “good” reason for not showing up in person, you can’t vote absentee.

I voted in person today, in and out in 15 minutes. The only challenging thing was I was in such a hurry I came in wearing my prescription driving sunglasses (set for distant vision). So was a little hard to read. But I voted for Reagan anyway.

Personally I am all for in person voting. BTW Tennessee is my home state, born in Chattanooga, raised outside Cleveland near the TN GA stateline (almost closer to Dalton), went to High School at Lebanon High, and lived my summers between H.S. years working for my uncles excavation company in Knoxville. I like TN and will probably retire there if I can convince the wife.

 

[James Duffy]

A non-partisan observation based on the experience of this election cycle...

Between the impact of COVID 19 and the massive turnout, the concept of a single "election day" is a thing of the past. The new reality is an "election season" of varying lengths and policies in the states, with election day simply signifying the point at which vote reporting begins. In person, online, mail-in, it's all good, take your pick.

With that new reality in mind, there are a handful of states that really need to get it together in order to refine their policies with regard to speed and accuracy of vote tabulation. (I'm looking at you, Rust Belt!)

James

 

[BABAR]

Personally I am all for in person voting. BTW Tennessee is my home state, born in Chattanooga, raised outside Cleveland near the TN GA stateline (almost closer to Dalton), went to High School at Lebanon High, and lived my summers between H.S. years working for my uncles excavation company in Knoxville. I like TN and will probably retire there if I can convince the wife.

Respect your point of view. My polling place was nearly empty, no waiting, staff mostly wore masks, had shields, and were presumably cleaning the machines. Took my temperature at the door before I came in——I wished I had asked what happens if you have a fever? Do you not get admitted and denied chance to vote?

Still, given Covid has been going on for months now, I would have expected not only allowing but encouraging as much absentee voting as possible. My feeling is that anybody that WANTS to vote absentee should be allowed to.

Tennessee voter turnout may be low since it is so strongly conservative that many people may decide not to vote because they “think” they already know the outcome. Not condoning it.

 

[cwbullet]

Respect your point of view. My polling place was nearly empty, no waiting, staff mostly wore masks, had shields, and were presumably cleaning the machines. Took my temperature at the door before I came in——I wished I had asked what happens if you have a fever? Do you not get admitted and denied chance to vote?

Still, given Covid has been going on for months now, I would have expected not only allowing but encouraging as much absentee voting as possible. My feeling is that anybody that WANTS to vote absentee should be allowed to.

Tennessee voter turnout may be low since it is so strongly conservative that many people may decide not to vote because they “think” they already know the outcome. Not condoning it.

In many states, turnout (mail + in-person) was high and higher in new voter participation. I can't wait to see the true numbers. It will be days until we know who won.

 

[PXR5]

How do you count the votes? We just personally put our ballot in a scanner after we mark it.

The scanner, called a tabulator is not normally connected to anything.
It prints out a paper strip which is signed by the chief judge and two party judges.

Then there is also a USB drive that is handled by all three judges.
Then there is also all the paper ballots that are locked under the machine.

The tabulator is a really good system with several checks and balances.