# Election Day Omnibus thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 4, 2024, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683 "2024-11-04T20:15:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/101 "2024-11-05T15:07:41Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Another intriguing fact is that presidential approval rating and state-of-the-nation doesn’t mean as much as it did before. The NYT/Siena poll reports that Biden’s approval rating is only 40% and that only 28% of voters think the nation is going in the right direction, and that no incumbent party has kept the White House with such low numbers. Indeed, it wasn’t long ago that approval ratings below 50% spelled serious trouble for an incumbent. Yet Harris is poised to win. > > That in turn is probably one reason why ditching Biden for Harris was so important - although Harris is his VP, she is still not Biden himself, and so she can escape some of the baggage/burden that come with his low presidential approval ratings and voter satisfaction. I don’t understand why the whole “voters who think the nation is going in the right direction” has any relevance. If a pollster were to ask me, I’d answer honesty that it isn’t, but it would be no reflection on Biden or his policies. It would be because Trump is more popular than he has any right to be, and because IMHO the MAGAs want to ruin the country. I’m sure I’m not the only person who thinks that way. How that would translate into someone interpreting that as saying anything about Biden or Harris makes no sense. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/102 "2024-11-05T15:08:30Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > What is the current idea as to when news orgs will report reults? Traditionally they call a state right as its polls close. One election a network messed up and called Florida as the polls in the Eastern Time Zone closed forgetting the panhandle is in the Central Time Zone and those polls close an hour later. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/103 "2024-11-05T15:13:21Z")
I’d like to see legislation passed that would prohibit calling a state until the outcome is mathematically impossible to change (that is, you don’t call a state for Trump until the number of votes remaining to be counted is less than the margin of victory for Trump.) Especially in swing states. It was ludicrous to call Florida early for Gore in 2000 when the state ended up being decided by 0.001%, for instance. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/104 "2024-11-05T15:15:23Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > that would prohibit calling a state Too bad about that whole First Amendment thing, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/105 "2024-11-05T15:17:48Z")
It would have to be a state law barring the state from releasing partially tabulated results. The networks can’t call anything if they don’t have the data. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/106 "2024-11-05T15:17:50Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Did you ever notice that–and it doesn’t matter which side of the aisle the person saying it is on–that every time someone says that they’re going to leave the country if the election doesn’t go the way they want they always name a whiter country than America? It’s where ever I speak the language, which limits me to Germany and Austria (sort of - it’s been a minute) and the Commonwealth. Mostly, it’s where ever **Mrs Magill** can get a job (Yes - she’s looking). > [@alphaboi867](#): > > My polling place had a therapy fog, so that was new. I just watched the history of cannabis on Eons last night, so… timely. I haven’t had a cigarette in over twenty years, but I would murder for one right now. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/107 "2024-11-05T15:17:51Z")
I’ve got a little bit of rye whiskey, a nearly full bottle of scotch, and an unopened bottle of bourbon, plus some sweet vermouth and bitters for making Manhattans, so I think I’m all set. (I feel like the guy in that old Ajax Liquor Store comedy bit, except trying to work up the nerve to watch election results.) I’ll probably stop on the way home and get some Bud Light for my wife since she doesn’t like whiskey. We mailed out 200 GOTV postcards in mid October to voters in Ohio, we’ve done our early voting, not much else to do now but wait for the returns to come rolling in after 7pm. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/108 "2024-11-05T15:20:47Z")
I’ve got yoga in two hours. Maybe I could talk **Mrs Magill** into ordering a couple of strombolis that I could pick up on the way home. Stress eating FTW(?) ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/109 "2024-11-05T15:21:22Z")
7:17 AM, Kern County, California. Just passed a polling place (not mine, besides, I mailed) in a red zone. No line. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/110 "2024-11-05T15:21:54Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Question: If it turns out to be 269 - 269, would a faithless elector vote for the popular vote winner thereby preventing the elction by Congress? Yes, and there would be enormous coercion, threats, intimidation on all 538 electors (should their identities leak) from bad actors trying to get one to defect, abstain, or vote for someone other than Harris/Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/111 "2024-11-05T15:24:12Z")
Welcome back! So there was an interesting bit of language on the ballot this year. In my state (Kentucky), there’s an amendment on the ballot about allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections. I’ve included a picture of the amendment [here](https://imgur.com/a/pqK8PXo). But, in chronicling the list of people who should or should not be allowed to vote in local elections, one of the groups of people that they’re wanting to exclude is listed under bullet point #3, which includes the group (I’ll include a picture of bullet point #3 [here](https://imgur.com/a/Eyd3T8w), and I’m quoting directly from the ballot, “idiots and insane persons.” And it’s an all-or-nothing amendment. If you opt to want to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, you’re also voting to allow idiots and insane persons to be able to vote in those same elections. My second thought (my first was, “wait, what? Did I read that right?”) was, “man, they really _are_ trying to prevent republicans from voting, if idiots and insane people are excluded.” I mean, that can’t be standard boilerplate language from amendments, right? They deliberately included that language in order to make sure that the amendment passed, right? Just poisoning the well at the onset so that no one would vote to actually _allow_ noncitizens to vote because that would also be a vote to allow “idiots and insane people” to vote, too? Has anyone ever seen language like this in an amendment before? Am I just naive, or is this a little too obvious about what they’re trying to do? (Mods, I didn’t include anything on the ballot pics that would have any identifiable information, but I’m not 100% sure on the legality of taking pictures of ballots - even blank ones - and posting them. If I’ve run afoul of any board rules, feel free to break the links) ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/112 "2024-11-05T15:24:39Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > That is, until I remember how low energy and small his rallies have been lately. I’m just not feeling the enthusiasm that would result in a pro-Trump surge of motivation to vote. Kamala being a first-time presidential candidate gives her a big advantage over Trump, who’s in his third race. There’s more excitement for a first-timer while even Trump’s diehard MAGAs have to be getting fatigued of watching the same movie for the third time in a row. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/113 "2024-11-05T15:25:47Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > If you opt to want to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, you’re also voting to allow idiots and insane persons to be able to vote in those same elections. SNL already covered this [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YT2IrgYlzU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YT2IrgYlzU) ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/114 "2024-11-05T15:31:52Z")
As a follow-up to this; the flooding seems to have concentrated in St. Louis, with several road closures, cancelled bus routes, and at least one polling place shut down. If it were the rural areas, our MAGA governor, legislature, and supreme court might extend voting times. Probably not now. Missouri was already going Trump, and Hawley was almost certainly beating Kunce, so my big worry is whether this will affect Amendment 3 (abortion access). ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/115 "2024-11-05T15:31:56Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Propositions that are interesting to watch due to the amount of misinformation and lies put out, Colorado culture and voter ignorance. Florida has both a pro-marijuana amendment (likely to pass) and a pro-abortion amendment (which I’m much less confident about). > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Like I’ve said before, if Trump wins it’s the Democrats who didn’t vote fault. No, it’s the fault of the Republicans who did. > [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > I don’t understand why the whole “voters who think the nation is going in the right direction” has any relevance. Indeed - a question whose response can be interpreted in two diametrically opposed ways is a useless question. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/116 "2024-11-05T15:38:46Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > “idiots and insane persons.” Curiously, today’s Chicago Trib ran an opinion contending [voting needed to be expanded to include individuals with developmental disabilities.](https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/11/05/opinion-voting-rights-americans-intellectual-developmental-disabilities/) (Apologies, I assume subscription is required.) Contends doctors who support guardianship ought to opine on an individual’s ability to meaningfully form and exercise political pinions, and that guardians ought to be allowed to accompany/assist the impaired person to vote. I’m not convinced. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/117 "2024-11-05T15:54:09Z")
I just got back from voting (south side of Chicago) and I had to listen to the guy in front of me sow doubt to everyone around him the entire time in line. They are doing the same playbook as 2020 already. We are not falling for this again. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/118 "2024-11-05T15:55:21Z")
More good news for our stress! > **[U.S. Releases Strategic Alcohol Reserve Before Election Night](https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/us-releases-strategic-alcohol-reserve?utm_campaign=email-half-post&r=ekl2j&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email)** > > Vodka dipped below three dollars a gallon and Biden’s approval rating surged to 94 percent. And yes, I know it’s satire. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/119 "2024-11-05T15:58:16Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > A good reason for everyone to vote early, either absentee or in-person; you just don’t know what’s going to happen on Election Day. Yup. For instance, I came down sick last night. This means that I get to stay home tonight and tomorrow, which is good (otherwise I had a meeting tonight and an appointment 2 hours driving time away tomorrow. Though I probably should check in at the meeting on Zoom; but I zoom on the ipad and can keep an eye on this thread, or news, on the computer.) But it also means I’m really glad I voted early; I could have managed voting in person today if I had to, but I’m not entirely sure what I’ve got, and I’d have been worried, even with a mask, about giving it to the poor poll workers and anybody else in line at the time. > [@Velocity](#): > > The NYT/Siena poll reports that Biden’s approval rating is only 40% and that only 28% of voters think the nation is going in the right direction I hate that polling line about ‘is the nation going in the right direction’. The MAGA people and I both think the country’s going in the wrong direction. But I think it’s going in the wrong direction because there are so many MAGA people, the racists are being more open about it, we’re in serious danger of having a vaccine denier in charge of national health programs, etc. People with entirely opposite politics, as well as people with sideways politics, are all likely to answer that question the same way. Or what @FlikTheBlue and @Gyrate said. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Traditionally they call a state right as its polls close. Not always if it’s very close. And less often these days, because some of the states that allow early or mail voting don’t allow those votes to be counted ahead of time, and so may not have enough of the results available to be able to report for several days. That’s what happened in 2020. I think some of that has been fixed, but not all of it. > [@Superdude](#): > > My second thought (my first was, “wait, what? Did I read that right?”) was, “man, they really _are_ trying to prevent republicans from voting, if idiots and insane people are excluded.” > > I mean, that can’t be standard boilerplate language from amendments, right? It probably was standard boilerplate language, a hundred years ago, or even fifty. They may need to, in writing the proposition, include the existing language they want to get rid of. And they might want to get rid of it because it’s been misused – there are lots of people with some mental disorders who are entirely fit to vote. Depends on what the disorder is. ---
**Author:** ![opiewan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/opiewan/32/3566_2.png) [@opiewan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/opiewan)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683/120 "2024-11-05T15:59:49Z")
I largely agree with your take. I think most of the ‘OMG! It’s SOO CLOSE!’ analysis we’ve been getting has either been relying on R-leaning pollsters, or your typical run-of-the-mill corporate media horserace journalism. I think the networks announce Harris as the winner before some of us go to bed tonight. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-omnibus-thread/1009683.md?page=7)