Election Day on Metafilter November 2, 2020 10:15 AM Subscribe
The US election was November 3rd. It’s a tense, fraught time, and we want to help everyone have the healthiest and safest time possible. (We're updating this post with a link to the current thread)
Mefi thread on the blue
Current thread: Biden is projected winner
General election thread 4 on the blue. Local elections thread.
(The earlier general threads: Thread 1, Thread 2, Thread 3.) Some guidance for these threads:
Do:
Mefi Chat
The Chat is open and has a whole room for election-specific discussion. In general, please come to Chat if you want to talk back and forth, vent, be with other people while waiting, say “I’m freaking out”, etc.
Visit the FAQ for information on how to log in to Chat!
Do:
Other Posts
Mefi thread on the blue
Current thread: Biden is projected winner
General election thread 4 on the blue. Local elections thread.
(The earlier general threads: Thread 1, Thread 2, Thread 3.) Some guidance for these threads:
Do:
- Keep in mind that you’re here, talking to these people about this subject, of your own choice.
- Share substantive, well-sourced links or info
- Give others some grace and latitude; everyone is anxious
- Speak for yourself, not others
- Take a break if you need a break
- If you have questions about moderation or policy, please contact us directly
- Post random twitter rumors
- Yell at other Mefites as if they were the political actors responsible for your anger
- Share speculative horrible scenarios
- Flag more than two comments in a row. Hit the Contact Form if it's more than that that needs addressing; we're in triage mode.
Mefi Chat
The Chat is open and has a whole room for election-specific discussion. In general, please come to Chat if you want to talk back and forth, vent, be with other people while waiting, say “I’m freaking out”, etc.
Visit the FAQ for information on how to log in to Chat!
Do:
- Pay attention to which room you’re in
- Be kind and respectful
- Alert the moderators via the Contact Form if there are any issues
- Post random twitter rumors
- Yell at other Mefites as if they were the political actors responsible for your anger
- Share speculative horrible scenarios
Other Posts
- Want to talk activism? NotLost has a thread for you
- Talk about your experience voting here
- If you need a break from Election Day chatter, Kitchen Witch’s Break Room thread is for you
- JHarris and the MST Club are hosting a Watch Party all day
- Want to clean house literally, as well as metaphorically? Snerson has a thread for that
- Mizu invites you to chill with lowkey company on the MetaCrafts discord server
- Need a place for formless screaming? The Fucking Fuck thread is here for you
If only Lenny Kravitz was here to sooth me.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:38 AM on November 2, 2020 [15 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:38 AM on November 2, 2020 [15 favorites]
If only Cinna wasn't beaten to death by the police for a small, peaceful protest.
posted by i used to be someone else at 10:51 AM on November 2, 2020 [12 favorites]
posted by i used to be someone else at 10:51 AM on November 2, 2020 [12 favorites]
We're going to need a montage of the mods preparing....
posted by inflatablekiwi at 10:53 AM on November 2, 2020 [13 favorites]
posted by inflatablekiwi at 10:53 AM on November 2, 2020 [13 favorites]
Metafilter: I've had strong tube feels all day.
posted by lalochezia at 11:06 AM on November 2, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by lalochezia at 11:06 AM on November 2, 2020 [3 favorites]
Just wanted to say that I really appreciate this post and the fact that it's up ahead of time. Both for the expectations setting as a general thing, and specifically in this case because it's surprisingly helpful emotionally to at least know one thing for certain about tomorrow.
posted by trig at 11:09 AM on November 2, 2020 [61 favorites]
posted by trig at 11:09 AM on November 2, 2020 [61 favorites]
Guys guys, I don’t know how much I will be able to read. My BF and I are hoping to go for a hike and try to be off our phones.
I wanted to let you know, good luck, we’re all counting on you.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 11:58 AM on November 2, 2020 [12 favorites]
I wanted to let you know, good luck, we’re all counting on you.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 11:58 AM on November 2, 2020 [12 favorites]
I took today and tomorrow off work to do GOTV text banking, mainly because I knew I'd be useless at work and figured I could channel some of my obsessive energy into something moderately useful. If a few people vote who wouldn't have, that's a win. I'm glad we have plenty of cats and doggos around to hug tomorrow. (Well, I'm glad for that every day, but I'm sure our critters are going to wonder why the hell they're getting so much attention tomorrow.)
For those of us in the U.S., here's hoping turnout is strong and problems are few. Be kind to yourselves and be well, all.
posted by jzb at 12:25 PM on November 2, 2020 [6 favorites]
For those of us in the U.S., here's hoping turnout is strong and problems are few. Be kind to yourselves and be well, all.
posted by jzb at 12:25 PM on November 2, 2020 [6 favorites]
Charlie Warzel in The New York Times: “You’re Waiting for Election Results. It’s Agony. Here’s What to Do.”
Any activity that can provide a sense of control or agency will feel like a balm in this moment. Dr. Ranney suggested staying busy. “Volunteer, start a craft project, cook, do something that reminds you that life will go on.”posted by Going To Maine at 2:05 PM on November 2, 2020 [3 favorites]
We'll add the links to tomorrow's threads to this post as we have them!
"We're going to need a montage of the mods preparing...."
*Cues up Gonna Fly Now*
*Paints watercolors to control anxiety*
*Takes extra naps*
*Gets pre-drunk on Saturday since she can't drink again until Wednesday* (working every night)
*Nurses Sunday morning hangover*
*Cuddles new niece*
*Collects anti-Trump memes*
*Takes more naps*
*Eats comfort food*
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 2:20 PM on November 2, 2020 [13 favorites]
"We're going to need a montage of the mods preparing...."
*Cues up Gonna Fly Now*
*Paints watercolors to control anxiety*
*Takes extra naps*
*Gets pre-drunk on Saturday since she can't drink again until Wednesday* (working every night)
*Nurses Sunday morning hangover*
*Cuddles new niece*
*Collects anti-Trump memes*
*Takes more naps*
*Eats comfort food*
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 2:20 PM on November 2, 2020 [13 favorites]
a request: please make a separate thread if we know that Biden wins tomorrow
with the title "surely this"
posted by Merus at 2:24 PM on November 2, 2020 [12 favorites]
with the title "surely this"
posted by Merus at 2:24 PM on November 2, 2020 [12 favorites]
If Lenny Kravitz was a Mefite, I might ask him if he is going to go my way, and yell at him, if not.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 2:26 PM on November 2, 2020
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 2:26 PM on November 2, 2020
Love and admiration for you, dear hearts. Affection and respect for you, dear hearts. No horror, no despair, no hate will ever take away my praise for you, for the glory that you are, for the wealth of your humanity, and for the joys of your existence that have pleasured the world. Hope for you, dear hearts, because you are worth the happiness of hope. Courage for you, dear hearts. Because all the troubles that you battle show the world what courage is. And good luck, dear hearts. Because you are good luck. And dear hearts.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 4:20 PM on November 2, 2020 [81 favorites]
posted by the quidnunc kid at 4:20 PM on November 2, 2020 [81 favorites]
I’m sorry, the quidnunc kid, but I’ve already turned in my ballot. If we had ranked choice in NC, you know I’d vote you #1.
posted by sara is disenchanted at 4:40 PM on November 2, 2020 [28 favorites]
posted by sara is disenchanted at 4:40 PM on November 2, 2020 [28 favorites]
#1 in our hearts, yet not listed on my ballot, Vote Quidnunc Kid #1 (preferable down ballot, maybe for Comptroller?)
posted by Ghidorah at 4:55 PM on November 2, 2020 [11 favorites]
posted by Ghidorah at 4:55 PM on November 2, 2020 [11 favorites]
Elections are temporary, the dear heart of the quidnunc kid is forever!
posted by hungrytiger at 5:08 PM on November 2, 2020 [8 favorites]
posted by hungrytiger at 5:08 PM on November 2, 2020 [8 favorites]
If you want to come hang, click this invite to the MetaCrafts discord server. I made it because of this thread, and so far it has been very low key and pleasant. I plan on hanging out crocheting a pikmin tomorrow at some point.
You don't have to be doing a craft to be on the server or in the video chat, just be generally supportive. In the thread someone mentioned they might do a manicure while chilling on video chat - I might be folding laundry... Just come on by if you're looking for lowkey company and say hi. I don't think it will be a no politics zone but it'll be a low politics zone.
posted by Mizu at 5:52 PM on November 2, 2020 [13 favorites]
You don't have to be doing a craft to be on the server or in the video chat, just be generally supportive. In the thread someone mentioned they might do a manicure while chilling on video chat - I might be folding laundry... Just come on by if you're looking for lowkey company and say hi. I don't think it will be a no politics zone but it'll be a low politics zone.
posted by Mizu at 5:52 PM on November 2, 2020 [13 favorites]
Ugh, now I am busy regretting eating too much comfort food, bleh. Add that to my montage.
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 6:03 PM on November 2, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 6:03 PM on November 2, 2020 [5 favorites]
I am making pickles from multi-colored carrots, red pearl onions, slices of tumeric root, mini cukes, and other stuff, like dill, green onions, random few beans from my trellis, spices and pickle syrup I already made. Yes, I have to keep busy or lose my mind with worry. Trying to shut it all down, and wait. I have a ratty old dog in this fight and so curious...
posted by Oyéah at 6:34 PM on November 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Oyéah at 6:34 PM on November 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
Eternally voting #1 quidnunc kid, with all my heart.
posted by Pallas Athena at 6:50 PM on November 2, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by Pallas Athena at 6:50 PM on November 2, 2020 [6 favorites]
I am making huli huli chicken on election night for the following reasons:
1. It's actually kind of nice here in Florida (meaning in the 70s rather than the brutal "feels like 95 degrees!" kind of miasma that we've been suffering through for as long as the virus has been here) and good to be out grilling
2. The recipe requires you to frequently fiddle with the meat to avoid the sugar in the marinade from turning into a hideous bitter black shell, thus requiring me to pay constant attention to the grill and preventing me from fretting and constantly checking the polls
3. It's delicious
I have come to realize over the last few months that my coping mechanism for crippling existential anxiety is the execution of increasingly elaborate and time-consuming recipes (though I'm no good at baking due to a chariness toward all manner of flours). If the world ends soon, I'll be in my kitchen trying to somehow make a bison rendang work.
posted by lorddimwit at 7:08 PM on November 2, 2020 [3 favorites]
1. It's actually kind of nice here in Florida (meaning in the 70s rather than the brutal "feels like 95 degrees!" kind of miasma that we've been suffering through for as long as the virus has been here) and good to be out grilling
2. The recipe requires you to frequently fiddle with the meat to avoid the sugar in the marinade from turning into a hideous bitter black shell, thus requiring me to pay constant attention to the grill and preventing me from fretting and constantly checking the polls
3. It's delicious
I have come to realize over the last few months that my coping mechanism for crippling existential anxiety is the execution of increasingly elaborate and time-consuming recipes (though I'm no good at baking due to a chariness toward all manner of flours). If the world ends soon, I'll be in my kitchen trying to somehow make a bison rendang work.
posted by lorddimwit at 7:08 PM on November 2, 2020 [3 favorites]
I got the best news this afternoon. Because early voting ended on the 30th in Texas and my registration became valid on the 31st, I have to vote on Election Day in one of the most hotly contested and COVID-ridden states in the country. Context: one of my earliest memories is five days in an oxygen tent trying not to suffocate from asthma at age five, and I’ve had hospitalizations as an adult. Every single year since 2009, flu shot or no, I get the flu and then bronchitis. If I don’t go to Urgent Care and get a Z-pack, I develop life-threatening pneumonia (3 for 3 attempts at toughing it out).
Given all that my plan for voting had been to queue up at 3 or 4AM with Skyrim on the Switch + my half-mask P100 respirator and just be first in line, but a couple days ago a friend clued me in to curbside voting. So this afternoon I called the Elections office of Collin County, somehow had zero wait time and spoke to a dude who told me I was, in fact, eligible to use curbside voting and his location had three curbside slots. So now instead of waking up at 2AM and getting in line while terrified out of my mind I’ll just be doing the equivalent of a no-contact Walmart run at 6AM. Today is the first time I have felt even slightly good about any aspect of this shitshow in the past six months.
posted by Ryvar at 7:15 PM on November 2, 2020 [69 favorites]
Given all that my plan for voting had been to queue up at 3 or 4AM with Skyrim on the Switch + my half-mask P100 respirator and just be first in line, but a couple days ago a friend clued me in to curbside voting. So this afternoon I called the Elections office of Collin County, somehow had zero wait time and spoke to a dude who told me I was, in fact, eligible to use curbside voting and his location had three curbside slots. So now instead of waking up at 2AM and getting in line while terrified out of my mind I’ll just be doing the equivalent of a no-contact Walmart run at 6AM. Today is the first time I have felt even slightly good about any aspect of this shitshow in the past six months.
posted by Ryvar at 7:15 PM on November 2, 2020 [69 favorites]
Metafilter: The Fucking Fuck thread is here for you.
posted by calgirl at 7:15 PM on November 2, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by calgirl at 7:15 PM on November 2, 2020 [5 favorites]
I was going to work the polls tomorrow but they didn't need me. So instead I will use my day off to get my oil changed and make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. And hang out with my kid without a work headset on.
I cannot top quidnuc kid's eloquence but I love you all and you have kept me sane.
posted by emjaybee at 8:02 PM on November 2, 2020 [5 favorites]
I cannot top quidnuc kid's eloquence but I love you all and you have kept me sane.
posted by emjaybee at 8:02 PM on November 2, 2020 [5 favorites]
Merus: a request: please make a separate thread if we know that Biden wins tomorrow
with the title "surely this"
Thank you for the first laugh I have had in literally weeks.
posted by tzikeh at 10:16 PM on November 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
with the title "surely this"
Thank you for the first laugh I have had in literally weeks.
posted by tzikeh at 10:16 PM on November 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
First votes in: Dixville Notch (NH) goes to Biden in a landslide, 5-0
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:23 PM on November 2, 2020 [9 favorites]
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:23 PM on November 2, 2020 [9 favorites]
Please, let real life just once be like The West Wing. I know their fictional first town to vote, Hart’s Landing (I think?) called every presidential race correctly.
From your mouth to god’s ears, Dixville Notch.
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 10:40 PM on November 2, 2020 [8 favorites]
From your mouth to god’s ears, Dixville Notch.
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 10:40 PM on November 2, 2020 [8 favorites]
I have never been truly angry at the popular vote / electoral college split until this year. Annoyed, yes. Mad about the unfairness of 2016, yes. But the sheer ludicrousness that a possible 10 point disparity will come down to a few crucial states is just absolutely crazy making. I hope and pray that this next four years is the four years of the national popular vote compact, I really, truly do.
posted by Going To Maine at 11:36 PM on November 2, 2020 [15 favorites]
posted by Going To Maine at 11:36 PM on November 2, 2020 [15 favorites]
Congrats for getting out Ryvar, I hope there are no problems.
I mailed my ballot out 3 weeks ago. I'm a little depressed, despite having 16 positions open, only four were contested: President, Congressman, State Senator and State Assemblyman. The rest were Judges, 8 state supreme court, the other 4 were family court. 12 people running, all nominated by the four major partys (Repub, Dem, Ind, and Conserv.) New York State.We didn't even have primarys this year, maybe they just picked the 12 folks out of a hat.
posted by Marky at 12:37 AM on November 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
I mailed my ballot out 3 weeks ago. I'm a little depressed, despite having 16 positions open, only four were contested: President, Congressman, State Senator and State Assemblyman. The rest were Judges, 8 state supreme court, the other 4 were family court. 12 people running, all nominated by the four major partys (Repub, Dem, Ind, and Conserv.) New York State.We didn't even have primarys this year, maybe they just picked the 12 folks out of a hat.
posted by Marky at 12:37 AM on November 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
Please, let real life just once be like The West Wing. I know their fictional first town to vote, Hart’s Landing (I think?) called every presidential race correctly.
Hart's Location isn't fictional, but it did decide to suspend midnight voting this year due to the pandemic. (Also, historically speaking, the votes in Dixville Notch and Hart's Location have not been particularly predictive of even the New Hampshire result, let alone the national one.)
posted by firechicago at 2:27 AM on November 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
Hart's Location isn't fictional, but it did decide to suspend midnight voting this year due to the pandemic. (Also, historically speaking, the votes in Dixville Notch and Hart's Location have not been particularly predictive of even the New Hampshire result, let alone the national one.)
posted by firechicago at 2:27 AM on November 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
the thorn bushes have roses is thinking of Hartsfield's Landing, and I'll join in that sentiment: "From your mouth to god’s ears, Dixville Notch."
posted by taz (staff) at 2:36 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by taz (staff) at 2:36 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
I just want to tell you all good luck. We're all counting on you.
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:01 AM on November 3, 2020 [16 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:01 AM on November 3, 2020 [16 favorites]
I’m about to go to bed, and with any luck I’ll have a deep and dreamless sleep. In the morning, I’ll have to go and teach a bunch of bright young junior high kids. The 2016 election killed my ability to stand in the classroom and provide any sense of hopefulness about the future for my students, leading to a two year break from teaching. I don’t think I’ll be able to get away with that this time, so, uh, if you guys could have everything all wrapped up (Biden win, flip the Senate, etc) in the next 8 hours or so, I’d really, really appreciate it.
(Hamburger, obviously, but it’s a nicer dream than I’m likely to have if I get any sleep at all)
posted by Ghidorah at 4:05 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
(Hamburger, obviously, but it’s a nicer dream than I’m likely to have if I get any sleep at all)
posted by Ghidorah at 4:05 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
google tells me the one district that has always voted with the winner of the Pres election is Vigo County, Indiana
go figger.
(Almost hysterical with worry - I'm 6+ hours ahead of the east coast and so short of staying up until three or so there's no way we will know anything until tomorrow am and... man 2016 haunts us. We even debated staying up all night, if just to avoid the shock, should the incumbent prevail.)(And then everything after - god I hope this goes easy. God I hope the legal firepower is lined up against shenanigans: read a report about the slow-down in the mail delivery in swing states and if the President gets Justice Kegstand to swing his way again and stop counting votes that are received after today (though postmarked before)... god, its also keeping from letting this kind of crazy overwhelm you. Here we go! See you one the other side!)
posted by From Bklyn at 4:09 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
go figger.
(Almost hysterical with worry - I'm 6+ hours ahead of the east coast and so short of staying up until three or so there's no way we will know anything until tomorrow am and... man 2016 haunts us. We even debated staying up all night, if just to avoid the shock, should the incumbent prevail.)(And then everything after - god I hope this goes easy. God I hope the legal firepower is lined up against shenanigans: read a report about the slow-down in the mail delivery in swing states and if the President gets Justice Kegstand to swing his way again and stop counting votes that are received after today (though postmarked before)... god, its also keeping from letting this kind of crazy overwhelm you. Here we go! See you one the other side!)
posted by From Bklyn at 4:09 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
I'm doing election work again this cycle, which among other things has meant being at my desk watching graphs from 6a on Sunday and 5a yesterday and this morning. It's very nice to have non-doomscrolling spaces to surf while the graphs are quiet and it's too early to textbank, so thank y'all for being one of those spaces (and of course thank you to everyone up thread who has voted or volunteered or donated or etc etc this cycle) :)
posted by jdherg at 4:11 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by jdherg at 4:11 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
Fun fact, Dixville Notch had to rustle up a fifth resident this year to even have an election. The whole voter fraud commission thing digged up that several people who had voted in Dixville Notch in 2016 did not, in fact, live there, and they were left with only 4 eligible voters; you need 5 to have an election due to the roles that need to get filled by state law.
posted by damayanti at 4:32 AM on November 3, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by damayanti at 4:32 AM on November 3, 2020 [6 favorites]
Huh! Interesting Dixville trivia, thanks.
I have downloaded a bunch of entertainment to my tablet and am prepared to hunker down with all devices in airplane mode if I need to get away from doomscrolling and/or people texting me election panic/elation updates.
posted by rmd1023 at 5:08 AM on November 3, 2020
I have downloaded a bunch of entertainment to my tablet and am prepared to hunker down with all devices in airplane mode if I need to get away from doomscrolling and/or people texting me election panic/elation updates.
posted by rmd1023 at 5:08 AM on November 3, 2020
Elsewherians, if we can help our US friends get through this by posting some high-quality links to non-political content, for those that need some pleasant distraction... that would probably be cool. If you (as I did) have a link or two handy that you were going to post once you got around to it, now might be the time.
posted by Too-Ticky at 5:09 AM on November 3, 2020 [8 favorites]
posted by Too-Ticky at 5:09 AM on November 3, 2020 [8 favorites]
I work in news and am putting in a 15-hour day today that will stretch into tomorrow. Pray for me...
posted by AJaffe at 5:16 AM on November 3, 2020 [19 favorites]
posted by AJaffe at 5:16 AM on November 3, 2020 [19 favorites]
I have to be online with middle school students in a few hours and one of the social studies teachers is cheerfully planning an election for each class. I just can’t. I remember the chilling screams of joy from the kids when 45 was inaugurated and I just can’t do this again. The families in this neighborhood are incredibly wealthy and overwhelmingly white and it’s killing me that they’re teaching their children to embrace fascism.
posted by corey flood at 5:21 AM on November 3, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by corey flood at 5:21 AM on November 3, 2020 [5 favorites]
I voted via county drop box two weeks ago.
Today is my regular day off work. I’m getting my oil changed, getting my car’s emissions check, and then I’m going to make homemade meatballs and spaghetti sauce. It takes all afternoon to simmer, so the house will smell wonderful and comforting. I may make a peanut butter chocolate pie as well, because why not at this point.
I‘ll turn on the tv about 6pm to start watching results and at least I’ll have a lovely dinner no matter what else happens. Probably will be texting with a few friends through the evening.
Take care of yourselves, everybody.
posted by bookmammal at 5:38 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
Today is my regular day off work. I’m getting my oil changed, getting my car’s emissions check, and then I’m going to make homemade meatballs and spaghetti sauce. It takes all afternoon to simmer, so the house will smell wonderful and comforting. I may make a peanut butter chocolate pie as well, because why not at this point.
I‘ll turn on the tv about 6pm to start watching results and at least I’ll have a lovely dinner no matter what else happens. Probably will be texting with a few friends through the evening.
Take care of yourselves, everybody.
posted by bookmammal at 5:38 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
Just yesterday I started a full watch of Samurai Jack. I've seen a good number of the episodes from the original 2001-2004 run but far from all of them, and I haven't seen any of the S5 (2017) episodes. I lack the discipline to completely disengage from news and social media, but I'm hoping it will be sufficient to distract me a lot of the time over the next 2-4 days.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 5:40 AM on November 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 5:40 AM on November 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
My wife and I cast our ballots here in NC this morning - it felt good to vote Democrat all the way down from President to circuit judges. I'm debating between watching election coverage tonight and binge watching Schitt's Creek.
posted by Roger Pittman at 5:42 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Roger Pittman at 5:42 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
For reasons already articulated by others I am intensely grateful for Metafilter on this most stressful of days. THANKS to everyone—hardworking mods and gentle Mefites alike—for providing a space for those of us too terrified to come out of our hidey-holes.
My kitchen is full of autumn deliciousness so I’ll spend my day roasting and baking and trying to avoid hearing my SO’s loud reactions to the news in the next room.
Hugs to all those unable to avoid the emotional intensity of this point in history. It helps knowing this thread already exists. We’ll get through this together.
posted by kinnakeet at 5:42 AM on November 3, 2020 [5 favorites]
My kitchen is full of autumn deliciousness so I’ll spend my day roasting and baking and trying to avoid hearing my SO’s loud reactions to the news in the next room.
Hugs to all those unable to avoid the emotional intensity of this point in history. It helps knowing this thread already exists. We’ll get through this together.
posted by kinnakeet at 5:42 AM on November 3, 2020 [5 favorites]
I work in news and am putting in a 15-hour day today that will stretch into tomorrow. Pray for me...
posted by AJaffe at 8:16 AM on November 3
I bet you can turn out a lot of snappy answers to stupid questions in that time!
(Hi, I'm a million years old)
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:43 AM on November 3, 2020 [9 favorites]
posted by AJaffe at 8:16 AM on November 3
I bet you can turn out a lot of snappy answers to stupid questions in that time!
(Hi, I'm a million years old)
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:43 AM on November 3, 2020 [9 favorites]
I hope and pray that this next four years is the four years of the national popular vote compact, I really, truly do.
If Trump wins, I would not be at all surprised to see this gain momentum, although I would be surprised to see it happen. If Biden wins I don't think anyone will bother.
posted by The Absolute Victory Unlosing Ranger at 5:46 AM on November 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
If Trump wins, I would not be at all surprised to see this gain momentum, although I would be surprised to see it happen. If Biden wins I don't think anyone will bother.
posted by The Absolute Victory Unlosing Ranger at 5:46 AM on November 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
I went to vote a little before 0800. There was hardly anyone there, so I just walked in, voted, and got my sticker. I figure it's because we had early voting here in New York state for the first time, and everyone went early.
I waited until the actual day because I was kinda hoping to see some Trump Bros in pick-up trucks with AR-15s in the parking lot so I could thumb my nose at them, but this is a sleepy little village upstate, so no such luck. Just old people with Kleenex and masks below their noses.
Now I'm just waiting patiently before I join the MST3 club Electron Night.
posted by valkane at 5:52 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
I waited until the actual day because I was kinda hoping to see some Trump Bros in pick-up trucks with AR-15s in the parking lot so I could thumb my nose at them, but this is a sleepy little village upstate, so no such luck. Just old people with Kleenex and masks below their noses.
Now I'm just waiting patiently before I join the MST3 club Electron Night.
posted by valkane at 5:52 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
Tried to vote as the polls open, the parking lot was already jammed at 6:56, line at the door stretching around 150 yards, snaking through the parking lot. Had to leave because it was impossible to park, will try again mid-morning. I live in a deep red state with no early voting, so not terribly surprising.
posted by skewed at 5:56 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by skewed at 5:56 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
One hour in, 84 voters. My precinct has about 1200 registered and over half have already voted early/absentee, so we're not expecting huge crowds.
posted by Gray Duck at 6:00 AM on November 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by Gray Duck at 6:00 AM on November 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
In my school yesterday, we had a student mock election in which every student present, K-5, got to vote for president, governor, and a local race. Biden won, 212-34 votes. The other two races were very close, but went to the popular Republican incumbents (this is small-town VT, where GOP officials still tend toward reason). Every kid got a cute little sticker saying "I Voted".
This morning I keenly felt the lack of a sticker myself, having dropped my mail-in ballot off weeks ago. So I grabbed an image of the 'net, "I Voted By Mail", printed them out on Avery labels, and distributed them to all the faculty. All were glad to receive them, with the common sentiment being we missed getting these little tokens ourselves.
It's a little thing, probably, but when you're surrounded by kids who are absorbing all this around them, the symbolism is still an important little thing.
posted by The Nutmeg of Consolation at 6:01 AM on November 3, 2020 [14 favorites]
This morning I keenly felt the lack of a sticker myself, having dropped my mail-in ballot off weeks ago. So I grabbed an image of the 'net, "I Voted By Mail", printed them out on Avery labels, and distributed them to all the faculty. All were glad to receive them, with the common sentiment being we missed getting these little tokens ourselves.
It's a little thing, probably, but when you're surrounded by kids who are absorbing all this around them, the symbolism is still an important little thing.
posted by The Nutmeg of Consolation at 6:01 AM on November 3, 2020 [14 favorites]
Dropped off our ballots a couple of weeks ago, and wearing the "I VOTED by mail" sticker right now. This is a blue state, but Trump signs have been cropping up in town the last few weeks, and I make it a point to give the finger to the one in my neighborhood whenever the dog & I walk past -- even if I have to take of my mitten.
A MeFite from my New England town is working the polls today, and I wish her well -- and also that she has a very boring shift, because no one needs Voting Drama.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:07 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
A MeFite from my New England town is working the polls today, and I wish her well -- and also that she has a very boring shift, because no one needs Voting Drama.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:07 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
Got there 15 minutes after the polls opened. No line but the joint was hopping and will get busier throughout the day. It looked like they had plenty of stations and plenty of staff to keep things running.
I can’t decide if I want to be really drunk or really sober tonight. We have a zoom drunk brunch date with friends tomorrow morning. All appendages crossed it will be a happy drunk brunch.
There was a less-than-stellar uncontested judge on the ballot, so I took the opportunity to write in #1 quidnunc kid.
((((MeFites ❤️))))
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 6:17 AM on November 3, 2020 [13 favorites]
I can’t decide if I want to be really drunk or really sober tonight. We have a zoom drunk brunch date with friends tomorrow morning. All appendages crossed it will be a happy drunk brunch.
There was a less-than-stellar uncontested judge on the ballot, so I took the opportunity to write in #1 quidnunc kid.
((((MeFites ❤️))))
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 6:17 AM on November 3, 2020 [13 favorites]
Report: Nothing Could Go Wrong On A Day As Beautiful As This.
posted by jedicus at 6:58 AM on November 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by jedicus at 6:58 AM on November 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
For whoever writes the post on the blue: The New York Times put up an Election Distractor page on Friday, providing a constant feed of nice things that are nothing to do with the election, such as these two adorable bunnies eating a carrot.
posted by automatronic at 7:11 AM on November 3, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by automatronic at 7:11 AM on November 3, 2020 [4 favorites]
OK I just want to say that the extreme HQ closeup of two adorable bunnies eating a carrot from the POV of the carrot is... not as calming as NYT might think.
(the maw on that one on the right is like a fleshy woodchipper)
posted by invincible summer at 7:23 AM on November 3, 2020 [4 favorites]
(the maw on that one on the right is like a fleshy woodchipper)
posted by invincible summer at 7:23 AM on November 3, 2020 [4 favorites]
I'm just mad they added music to the bunny clip. The little munchy sounds they covered over are the best part!
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 7:56 AM on November 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 7:56 AM on November 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
after giving up at 7am, I tried again at 10, took right about one hour.
posted by skewed at 9:13 AM on November 3, 2020
posted by skewed at 9:13 AM on November 3, 2020
If Trump wins, I would not be at all surprised to see this gain momentum, although I would be surprised to see it happen. If Biden wins I don't think anyone will bother.
You may be right, but if Biden wins and the senate flips, the abolition of the Electoral College should be the second thing they do after abolishing the also-racist and anti-democracy filibuster.
Then, statehood for DC and PR if they want it...
...a new voting rights act and/or amendment for universal registration and standards for voting.
A whole democracy agenda needs to be cued up, really.
posted by Mngo at 9:20 AM on November 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
You may be right, but if Biden wins and the senate flips, the abolition of the Electoral College should be the second thing they do after abolishing the also-racist and anti-democracy filibuster.
Then, statehood for DC and PR if they want it...
...a new voting rights act and/or amendment for universal registration and standards for voting.
A whole democracy agenda needs to be cued up, really.
posted by Mngo at 9:20 AM on November 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
Pretty sure that if Kerry had won Ohio (and thus the election, despite losing the national popular vote) in 2004, something like the national popular vote compact would have been rammed through a couple of dozen Republican-controlled state legislatures before the Electoral College voted in mid-December, and would have been upheld by the same Supremes who gave you Bush v. Gore. Best wishes for an emphatically clear result that not even the Gorsuch-Kavanaugh-Barrett court can be allowed to screw up.
posted by hangashore at 12:22 PM on November 3, 2020
posted by hangashore at 12:22 PM on November 3, 2020
I just left that bunny one up on the computer all day.
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:35 PM on November 3, 2020
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:35 PM on November 3, 2020
Just for a bit of encouraging momentum, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd launched a parliamentary petition broadly around media but specifically pinpointing Rupert Murdoch, who he called "a cancer on society".
The petition closes tonight, but is nearing half a million signatures and is already the #1 petition in history, above the 2019 one calling for a declaration of a climate emergency.
And last week, the state of Queensland voted a Labor (read: roughly Democrat) premier into her third term...in the State where Murdoch owns literally every single newspaper and campaigns relentlessly against anything even remotely "left".
Former Prime Ministers Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull (Liberal Party, roughly Republican) urged the government that if the US has a disputed result, we as a long term ally should do whatever we can to insist that the rule of law be followed and a clean transition take place.
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:51 PM on November 3, 2020 [6 favorites]
The petition closes tonight, but is nearing half a million signatures and is already the #1 petition in history, above the 2019 one calling for a declaration of a climate emergency.
And last week, the state of Queensland voted a Labor (read: roughly Democrat) premier into her third term...in the State where Murdoch owns literally every single newspaper and campaigns relentlessly against anything even remotely "left".
Former Prime Ministers Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull (Liberal Party, roughly Republican) urged the government that if the US has a disputed result, we as a long term ally should do whatever we can to insist that the rule of law be followed and a clean transition take place.
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:51 PM on November 3, 2020 [6 favorites]
Extraordinary that such a statement should be thought necessary, or that senior politicians should say so.
posted by Joe in Australia at 1:08 PM on November 3, 2020
posted by Joe in Australia at 1:08 PM on November 3, 2020
Or that when it took a few reboots to finally get onto the net this morning, my first thought wasn't "stupid ISP" or "stupid hobbled national broadband network" but legitimately "Huh, I wonder if Trump has done something to restrict the interwebs...to 'prevent the spread of misinformation'?"
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:14 PM on November 3, 2020
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:14 PM on November 3, 2020
It begins...
Trump up by +23 in NH. Coincidence? Or Illuminati?
posted by Windopaene at 3:16 PM on November 3, 2020
Trump up by +23 in NH. Coincidence? Or Illuminati?
posted by Windopaene at 3:16 PM on November 3, 2020
This is maybe a bit weird, but has anyone found a YouTube stream that just displays a credible and regularly-updated results map, with no commentary? I sort of want the traditional "watching the results on TV" thing but without all the nonsense I'd have to put up with by actually putting on the news. (I say YouTube because I can play that on my TV, separate from whatever I'm doing on my laptop.)
posted by bixfrankonis at 3:30 PM on November 3, 2020
posted by bixfrankonis at 3:30 PM on November 3, 2020
This election feels weirdly portentious to me. I mean, it is probably the most important election of our lifetimes, but it seems to be symbolising a lot more in my head.
I've had a very rough few years. Marriage broke. I fell in love, and then it didn't work out in a really really painful way. I still love them and dealing with that is a constant ache. My mental health has been poor for a while. I live across the world from my family and it's looking unlikely I'll see them for a very, very long time. And that's not even mentioning all of the rest of everything in the world: Trump, the pandemic, job stress.
In the past few months I've seen a few glimmers of hope. I came out as trans and it went really well. After months of lockdown here in Melbourne, we've beaten the virus (so far) and things are getting a bit more normal. The weather is lovely. My kids are a huge bright spot. My friends are amazing.
And yet... I distrust hope so much. In the past few years, my experience of hope has been that it's an illusion; it just makes the inevitable disappointment hurt a thousand times more. Far better to just put your head down and trudge through each Sisyphean day, one step at a time, doing your best because what else is there to do? But whatever you do, don't hope. Hope is dangerous. Hope just brings more pain.
Despite that, I find myself looking at the election returns, and hoping. If Biden is elected, I know it is at best just a glimmer of a better world. There is still so much to do. But I want to see that glimmer.
posted by forza at 3:44 PM on November 3, 2020 [7 favorites]
I've had a very rough few years. Marriage broke. I fell in love, and then it didn't work out in a really really painful way. I still love them and dealing with that is a constant ache. My mental health has been poor for a while. I live across the world from my family and it's looking unlikely I'll see them for a very, very long time. And that's not even mentioning all of the rest of everything in the world: Trump, the pandemic, job stress.
In the past few months I've seen a few glimmers of hope. I came out as trans and it went really well. After months of lockdown here in Melbourne, we've beaten the virus (so far) and things are getting a bit more normal. The weather is lovely. My kids are a huge bright spot. My friends are amazing.
And yet... I distrust hope so much. In the past few years, my experience of hope has been that it's an illusion; it just makes the inevitable disappointment hurt a thousand times more. Far better to just put your head down and trudge through each Sisyphean day, one step at a time, doing your best because what else is there to do? But whatever you do, don't hope. Hope is dangerous. Hope just brings more pain.
Despite that, I find myself looking at the election returns, and hoping. If Biden is elected, I know it is at best just a glimmer of a better world. There is still so much to do. But I want to see that glimmer.
posted by forza at 3:44 PM on November 3, 2020 [7 favorites]
If Trump wins, I would not be at all surprised to see this gain momentum, although I would be surprised to see it happen. If Biden wins I don't think anyone will bother.
I don’t exactly get this. If the President wins, there might be spirit for the compact but it seems unlikely that the state legislatures would have the votes to do anything about it due to various down-ballot R victories. Depending on the size of a Biden victory, by contrast, the corresponding blue wave may generate the votes. If we have the votes, we should dang well make it happen. People will not forget this stupid, stupid, worsening minority rule situation if we keep them from forgetting it.
posted by Going To Maine at 3:53 PM on November 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
I don’t exactly get this. If the President wins, there might be spirit for the compact but it seems unlikely that the state legislatures would have the votes to do anything about it due to various down-ballot R victories. Depending on the size of a Biden victory, by contrast, the corresponding blue wave may generate the votes. If we have the votes, we should dang well make it happen. People will not forget this stupid, stupid, worsening minority rule situation if we keep them from forgetting it.
posted by Going To Maine at 3:53 PM on November 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
NYT map has VT going Biden, with no votes reported. Huehuehue
posted by Windopaene at 4:07 PM on November 3, 2020
posted by Windopaene at 4:07 PM on November 3, 2020
CNN needs more robust servers...
posted by Windopaene at 5:42 PM on November 3, 2020
posted by Windopaene at 5:42 PM on November 3, 2020
Evr'y four years we get a crockety bloat... I'M HERE TO HANGOUT WITH MY CAPSLOCK OUT! IT NEVER ENDED WHY SHOUOD IT STAAWWWWWPPPPP...
And a merry christmas to you and the Old Ones!
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:35 PM on November 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
And a merry christmas to you and the Old Ones!
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:35 PM on November 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
Oh god. What fresh hell have I awoken to today?
posted by From Bklyn at 10:34 PM on November 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by From Bklyn at 10:34 PM on November 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
Morning, all. Just woke to a stunning fall day - sunny and cool, a breezy through the last of the golden leaves.
At my polling site here in upstate New York near Albany, I worked an 18 hour day and saw record-high in-person turnout. It was a mob scene through late morning and then calmed considerably before a sedate close. Our last voter ambled through 15 minutes before the end of the day. There were a handful of flare-ups over voters displaying a candidate's name on a hat or shirt, and a few for whom we had to use the maskless-voter protocol. (Which was a complete pain-in-the-ass, logistically, though all involved proceeded calmly.) The other poll workers were, to a one, persnickety and thorough. One thing I found surprising was that only one of the local political parties sent any poll watchers - 3 at a time, on two hour shifts all day. Usually there's a vigorous showing by both in this area.
Emotionally, there were maybe a couple dozen voters I interacted with who were - how to put this - pre-emptively angry? Primed to fight? Mostly older men. I met these voters with genuine kindness, gentle dad jokes, and full-throated patriotism. My badge identified me as a Democratic Poll Inspecter (each poll job where I am is done by two people, one Dem. and one Rep.), and some people laughed at my joke or joined my cheering of a new voter with enthusiasm until they saw my badge and faltered. Others treated with me extra warmth - I could guess at the party affiliation breakdown of those reactions maybe 10% of the time.
It was one of the most exhausting days of my adult life.
Final tally at the end of the night was 2-1 Republican. With early and absentee ballots, though, my county overall was one of eight in New York State to break for Biden.
posted by minervous at 8:53 AM on November 4, 2020 [8 favorites]
At my polling site here in upstate New York near Albany, I worked an 18 hour day and saw record-high in-person turnout. It was a mob scene through late morning and then calmed considerably before a sedate close. Our last voter ambled through 15 minutes before the end of the day. There were a handful of flare-ups over voters displaying a candidate's name on a hat or shirt, and a few for whom we had to use the maskless-voter protocol. (Which was a complete pain-in-the-ass, logistically, though all involved proceeded calmly.) The other poll workers were, to a one, persnickety and thorough. One thing I found surprising was that only one of the local political parties sent any poll watchers - 3 at a time, on two hour shifts all day. Usually there's a vigorous showing by both in this area.
Emotionally, there were maybe a couple dozen voters I interacted with who were - how to put this - pre-emptively angry? Primed to fight? Mostly older men. I met these voters with genuine kindness, gentle dad jokes, and full-throated patriotism. My badge identified me as a Democratic Poll Inspecter (each poll job where I am is done by two people, one Dem. and one Rep.), and some people laughed at my joke or joined my cheering of a new voter with enthusiasm until they saw my badge and faltered. Others treated with me extra warmth - I could guess at the party affiliation breakdown of those reactions maybe 10% of the time.
It was one of the most exhausting days of my adult life.
Final tally at the end of the night was 2-1 Republican. With early and absentee ballots, though, my county overall was one of eight in New York State to break for Biden.
posted by minervous at 8:53 AM on November 4, 2020 [8 favorites]
NYT map has VT going Biden, with no votes reported.
Right? We were still counting write-ins when they made that announcement. I mean... kinda foregone conclusion but still!
posted by jessamyn (retired) at 4:33 PM on November 4, 2020
Right? We were still counting write-ins when they made that announcement. I mean... kinda foregone conclusion but still!
posted by jessamyn (retired) at 4:33 PM on November 4, 2020
As of now, with a lot of votes still to be counted, I got 33% of the vote in the race I ran. So 3,815 people voted for me. 6600 voted for my opponent. However there are a lot of votes still out there, a hundred thousand or so. No glimmers of hope here, but glimmers of reality for other candidates.
posted by Oyéah at 5:11 PM on November 4, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by Oyéah at 5:11 PM on November 4, 2020 [5 favorites]
So are their "DOOM" posts then? I just was reading the most recent and say "doom still not ok". What about those of us who need to do this? And with people who we trust to have thoughts on this site/as a site? I have a very small circle on FB, and I like the number and diversity of people on MeFi. I haven't been visiting as much due to my job these days, but I try to check in and this is the first I heard of this.
Based on this MeTa it sounds more like this is a general site rule for ALL election? What constitutes "speculative"? I over the top fearmongering is problematic, but ... there are clear issues right now that are happening, that before the election results were announced I did not think would be happening (even though, sure, I told myself, it's "possible" but not really, and yet... we're supposed to pretend? is there a space for Doomscroll at all? Can we have a thread specifically for that? Or is posting our fears and concerns now verboten?)
posted by symbioid at 12:05 PM on November 10, 2020
Based on this MeTa it sounds more like this is a general site rule for ALL election? What constitutes "speculative"? I over the top fearmongering is problematic, but ... there are clear issues right now that are happening, that before the election results were announced I did not think would be happening (even though, sure, I told myself, it's "possible" but not really, and yet... we're supposed to pretend? is there a space for Doomscroll at all? Can we have a thread specifically for that? Or is posting our fears and concerns now verboten?)
posted by symbioid at 12:05 PM on November 10, 2020
There is a Fucking Fuck thread in MetaTalk for general wailing. Keep doom predictions/talk out of the main parts of the site. Talking about factual things is fine and people are doing that. Saying "This is guaranteed to bring on $TERRIBLEOUTCOME" is less fine. Feel free to hit up the Contact Form if you have questions.
posted by jessamyn (retired) at 1:01 PM on November 10, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (retired) at 1:01 PM on November 10, 2020 [3 favorites]
Thanks jessamyn, I totally forgot those threads existed it's been so long. Cheers!
posted by symbioid at 9:14 AM on November 11, 2020
posted by symbioid at 9:14 AM on November 11, 2020
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posted by phunniemee at 10:34 AM on November 2, 2020 [31 favorites]