Called a Lyft to take me to my polling place. I got an email a month ago from the Board of Elections that from then on I could vote by mail, but I never did get a ballot in the mail (a poll worker asked me if I had received an absentee ballot, so THEY know I was supposed to get one) and so for some unexplained reason I had to fill out a "provisional ballot", which makes me anxious. When I left, the line at the door ended out on the sidewalk.
Yeah, if you're on the mailed ballot list and you go to the poll instead of returning your mailed ballot, you'll get a provisional one.
I learned that the hard way too, when I waited too long to return my mailed ballot and ended up having to go to the poll. Not this time though, that was many years ago. It was also California, not sure where you are but it sounds like the same thing. I do remember that they assured me it would count though, FWIW.
Thanks, you have reassured me. Probably my mail carrier just dropped off my ballot at somebody else's house, I get a couple of mis-delivered pieces of mail every month.
Yup, provisional ballots go into a separate basket until they've checked to make sure that you actually are registered and didn't already vote, and then they get counted, so you're good. And even if someone got your mailed ballot and was stupid enough to use it, they'd have to verify the signature - and you'd be notified if they got two ballots returned from "you."
Last election, my condo's mailbox got broken into and mailed ballots were stolen. It was a PITA but it was early enough that Los Angeles County mailed me a new one. Stuff happens.
Louisiana - we had at least 4 people show up who were not registered, one of whom didn’t know you had to be registered. Poor voter education, yes, but it occurred to me that something had motivated these people recently to come out - the polling place is clearly signed - despite their lack of knowledge. Workers helped guide them to websites to register for next time, and hope they will show up. Also had several voters show up who needed to complete the address confirmation form. Which means they haven’t voted in a long time, but that something motivated them to come this time.
Thanks, Robyn, for that Pizza to the Polls reference, above. I just sent them a few dineroi, just for fun. They're nonpartisan, but everyone knows, only Democrats stand in line hungry to vote!
Ta, Robyn. I early voted eight days ago with no line at all; the I Voted Early 2024 sticker is on my phone case. The only time I ever had to wait on a long line was for Obama's second term; long before NY instituted early voting. Carolyn Maloney, peace be upon her, came to visit us on the line; I believe she went to every polling place in her district. In a perfect world (which it is not), my current rep, Dan Goldman, would be tapped for Attorney General and Hochul would replace him with Maloney.
Been checking AP votecast which is a changing 4-way video feed of various polling locations in PA, Brooklyn, Black Mountain NC, West Palm, FLA, Milwaukee, Atlanta and possibly others. Shows you what's going on and does exit poll interviews with people who agree to it. Black Mountain is the one I'm watching as a rural town outside of Asheville. It's obvious from the participants in the exit surveys that this is Trump country. I've not seen anyone who declared they did NOT vote for Trump, though some declined to say and you could kinda tell they voted for Harris. Not sure what this station is usually like, but it's certainly not busy (was raining most of the morning). Of those who said they voted for Trump, I heard echos of the economy and fear of foreign conflicts. Haven't seen anyone who voted against their stereo type (Old dudes in overalls and more country-sounding white women all saying Trump.). The other polling sites are bustling.
As someone who was able to early vote and whose polling place was a few minute drive away from my house, I very much know that not everyone has that privilege/luck. So for all who are staying in very long lines to vote, and for those who are poll workers, or ensuring that every vote is counted -I'm sending you a virtual slice of pizza (or steak! or pho! or whatever you want!).
U.S. Capitol Police say the man was stopped Tuesday during a security screening at the Capitol Visitor Center. Authorities say he smelled of fuel and was carrying the flare gun and torch.
Officials have canceled public tours of the Capitol for the remainder of the day.
Police say they are still investigating.
The arrest comes as authorities are on heightened alert for security issues around the nation’s capital and have increased patrols in areas downtown and near the White House around Election Day. Nearly four years ago, a mob of Donald Trump’s supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Checking in with the news from Massachusetts: power is still on, water is still running, cell phone has service. Seems like civilization as-per-normal so far. Stocked up on eggs, milk, bread and bourbon yesterday so we're ready for a blizzard too. No armed gangs roaming the streets. My son says the line at our precinct voting location (back of the neighborhood school's gym) has no line and lots of room in the parking lot.
This is why I now vote by mail. No lines.
Called a Lyft to take me to my polling place. I got an email a month ago from the Board of Elections that from then on I could vote by mail, but I never did get a ballot in the mail (a poll worker asked me if I had received an absentee ballot, so THEY know I was supposed to get one) and so for some unexplained reason I had to fill out a "provisional ballot", which makes me anxious. When I left, the line at the door ended out on the sidewalk.
Yeah, if you're on the mailed ballot list and you go to the poll instead of returning your mailed ballot, you'll get a provisional one.
I learned that the hard way too, when I waited too long to return my mailed ballot and ended up having to go to the poll. Not this time though, that was many years ago. It was also California, not sure where you are but it sounds like the same thing. I do remember that they assured me it would count though, FWIW.
Thanks, you have reassured me. Probably my mail carrier just dropped off my ballot at somebody else's house, I get a couple of mis-delivered pieces of mail every month.
Yup, provisional ballots go into a separate basket until they've checked to make sure that you actually are registered and didn't already vote, and then they get counted, so you're good. And even if someone got your mailed ballot and was stupid enough to use it, they'd have to verify the signature - and you'd be notified if they got two ballots returned from "you."
Last election, my condo's mailbox got broken into and mailed ballots were stolen. It was a PITA but it was early enough that Los Angeles County mailed me a new one. Stuff happens.
Louisiana - we had at least 4 people show up who were not registered, one of whom didn’t know you had to be registered. Poor voter education, yes, but it occurred to me that something had motivated these people recently to come out - the polling place is clearly signed - despite their lack of knowledge. Workers helped guide them to websites to register for next time, and hope they will show up. Also had several voters show up who needed to complete the address confirmation form. Which means they haven’t voted in a long time, but that something motivated them to come this time.
It's been raining here in North Carolina off-and-on today, and I really hope it's not affecting voter turnout.
There are so many countries in this world where people have to duck gunfire and worry about bombings just so they can vote in a fair election.
In America, some people won't bother to vote if it's raining out.
Yeah, that's my worry.
Well, I would think people who just went through a hurricane wouldn't let a little rain stop them.
Those are the mountain people. The city people.... aren't so rugged.
Thanks, Robyn, for that Pizza to the Polls reference, above. I just sent them a few dineroi, just for fun. They're nonpartisan, but everyone knows, only Democrats stand in line hungry to vote!
Here in France, people complain if they have to wait more than 3-5 minutes to get into the booth.
Communism!!!
Ta, Robyn. I early voted eight days ago with no line at all; the I Voted Early 2024 sticker is on my phone case. The only time I ever had to wait on a long line was for Obama's second term; long before NY instituted early voting. Carolyn Maloney, peace be upon her, came to visit us on the line; I believe she went to every polling place in her district. In a perfect world (which it is not), my current rep, Dan Goldman, would be tapped for Attorney General and Hochul would replace him with Maloney.
Been checking AP votecast which is a changing 4-way video feed of various polling locations in PA, Brooklyn, Black Mountain NC, West Palm, FLA, Milwaukee, Atlanta and possibly others. Shows you what's going on and does exit poll interviews with people who agree to it. Black Mountain is the one I'm watching as a rural town outside of Asheville. It's obvious from the participants in the exit surveys that this is Trump country. I've not seen anyone who declared they did NOT vote for Trump, though some declined to say and you could kinda tell they voted for Harris. Not sure what this station is usually like, but it's certainly not busy (was raining most of the morning). Of those who said they voted for Trump, I heard echos of the economy and fear of foreign conflicts. Haven't seen anyone who voted against their stereo type (Old dudes in overalls and more country-sounding white women all saying Trump.). The other polling sites are bustling.
As someone who was able to early vote and whose polling place was a few minute drive away from my house, I very much know that not everyone has that privilege/luck. So for all who are staying in very long lines to vote, and for those who are poll workers, or ensuring that every vote is counted -I'm sending you a virtual slice of pizza (or steak! or pho! or whatever you want!).
This from the AP live updates:
U.S. Capitol Police say the man was stopped Tuesday during a security screening at the Capitol Visitor Center. Authorities say he smelled of fuel and was carrying the flare gun and torch.
Officials have canceled public tours of the Capitol for the remainder of the day.
Police say they are still investigating.
The arrest comes as authorities are on heightened alert for security issues around the nation’s capital and have increased patrols in areas downtown and near the White House around Election Day. Nearly four years ago, a mob of Donald Trump’s supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Y'all, I'm not even high yet (gotta take Lily for her 1 y/o jabs at 4PM), but I'm feeling pretty mellow about things today.
I never feel mellow about things, so I hope it's not something bad I ate...
Lily says "snort snort fart snort *lick your glasses* snort" to all of you, so she thinks Kamala has it as well.
Is it too late to call my state's voter protection hotline to report that there's an indicted election saboteur on the ballot?
Checking in with the news from Massachusetts: power is still on, water is still running, cell phone has service. Seems like civilization as-per-normal so far. Stocked up on eggs, milk, bread and bourbon yesterday so we're ready for a blizzard too. No armed gangs roaming the streets. My son says the line at our precinct voting location (back of the neighborhood school's gym) has no line and lots of room in the parking lot.
Beautiful!
Did we already talk about Georgia's supreme court absentee vote decision?
https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/georgia-supreme-court-overturns-relief-for-cobb-county-voters
I do believe that the topic has come up. This is a fucking electoral travesty.
OT but probably OT: I thought felons couldn't vote in Florida, yet Trump voted. Is this that voter fraud the GOP has been screaming about.
(OT is Off Topic, whereas OT is On Topic. I hope I cleared that up for everyone)
I've read that FL follows the laws of the state you were convicted in, and NY allows felons to vote.
Felonies in NY don't count I guess.
I think fellow fascist DeathSentence granted him a special dispensation or something to allow convicted felon to vote.
He hasn't been sentenced yet, is what I've read, repeatedly. So, maybe his last vote :-D
This is how they're planning to win AZ.
https://www.rawstory.com/adrian-fontes/?
Fontes is a good guy.
Yup.
I fear for some of those people.
[pours goblet of absinthe for the good lady]
[imbibes gratefully]