# Election Day \[Week\]\[Month\[s\]\] \[Year\] 2020 follow-along thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 3, 2020, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618 "2020-11-03T05:36:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 162
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3226 "2020-11-06T05:56:03Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Ok, I’m seeing on NPR/AP’s map that Biden is about [1,700 votes down in PA.](https://apps.npr.org/elections20-interactive/#/states/GA/P) That’s Georgia, sorry, and the gap there has been at that 1700 or so for an hour or two. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3227 "2020-11-06T05:56:45Z")
Yep, you’re right. Pass the wine. 🤦🏼‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3228 "2020-11-06T05:58:33Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > I have no idea how this constituency might vote. They are traditionally a conservative bunch but Trump was doing a lot to piss them off in the last few months so I have no idea either. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3229 "2020-11-06T06:00:19Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Right, military numbers: > > In 2016, 7,788 members of the military voted by mail in Pennsylvania, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. And PA are saying that 10,478 have been returned so far this year. > > In Georgia the number in 2016 was 5,203 but I cannot find anything for 2020. > > I have no idea how this constituency might vote. What’s in it for them? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3230 "2020-11-06T06:00:41Z")
It seems Graham has a net worth of around $3 million so, while not poor, a $500,000 check would definitely sting. I’d be surprised if he could actually write that check (guessing most of that $3 million is tied up in assets and he does not have $500,000 in cash on hand). ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3231 "2020-11-06T06:01:28Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > I’m glad the media have started calling Trump on his bullshit, don’t get me wrong. But I can’t help but wonder how different the past four years might have been if they had started doing it during the 2016 campaign. Yeah – I was a vocal advocate for this back then. People forget that Trump had to _pay_ people to be at his campaign opening announcement. If they had just staring cutting him off, and ignoring him–like they did today during his announcement–every time he went off on his bullshit back then, he might not have gotten anywhere in the first place. Instead, they just amplified him. They just focused on how mean he is, instead of how fake he is. All that did was to make him more appealing to the suckers who support him. Soon, they could make themselves believe anything he said. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3232 "2020-11-06T06:02:11Z")
Not being called “losers”. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3233 "2020-11-06T06:02:34Z")
Under 1,500 margin in Georgia now: > ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3234 "2020-11-06T06:04:05Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > nstead, they just amplified him. They just focused on how mean he is, instead of how fake he is. All that did was to make him more appealing to the suckers who support him. Soon, they could make themselves believe anything he said. > **[$2 Billion Worth of Free Media for Donald Trump (Published 2016)](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/16/upshot/measuring-donald-trumps-mammoth-advantage-in-free-media.html)** > > Mr. Trump is far better than any other candidate — maybe any candidate ever — at drawing attention without having to advertise for it. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3235 "2020-11-06T06:04:27Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > In 2016, 7,788 members of the military voted by mail in Pennsylvania, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. And PA are saying that 10,478 have been returned so far this year. How do they know it’s from the military? Do those guys use special ballots or do they come in special mailbags or something like that? Do they use APOs or what ever the special military post office thing is it’s obvious on the return address? ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3236 "2020-11-06T06:05:45Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Ok, I’m seeing on NPR/AP’s map that Biden is about [1,700 votes down in PA.](https://apps.npr.org/elections20-interactive/#/states/GA/P) > > It’s like I want to go to bed, but every time I think it’s time, numbers just get closer and then I realize my wine glass is empty and I’m like, “Ok, another half hour.” You might want to get some sleep. Your link is to Georgia. Biden is down 22K in PA. Maybe just a nap? [ninja’d by a lot. maybe I need that nap now] ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3237 "2020-11-06T06:07:57Z")
The military arranges it so the soldiers can vote (e.g. they setup a polling place in Afghanistan and on board a carrier and so on). Those votes are then shipped to the US and distributed to where they need to go. The election authorities know where those ballots came from (they have to, they can’t just accept any random ballots showing up). Thus it is easy to count how many came from the military. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3238 "2020-11-06T06:08:25Z")
Ah yes, my mind’s wear and tear is showing. Finish the glass and off to bed for me. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3239 "2020-11-06T06:09:33Z")
Same here. Without the wine. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3240 "2020-11-06T06:10:47Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > The election authorities know where those ballots came from (they have to, they can’t just accept any random ballots showing up). Thus it is easy to count how many came from the military. Ok. I see now. I wondered if maybe people were conflating “overseas votes” with “military votes”. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3241 "2020-11-06T06:15:19Z")
Military ballots are clearly identifiable because special rules apply to them. There’s an image of a NY one in this article: > **[Error Leaves Thousands in NYC With Flawed Absentee Ballots](https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york/articles/2020-09-29/some-in-nyc-get-absentee-ballots-with-wrong-return-address)** > > Nearly 100,000 New York City voters have received absentee ballots with the wrong names and addresses on the return envelopes. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3242 "2020-11-06T06:18:34Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > I wondered if maybe people were conflating “overseas votes” with “military votes”. In Georgia in 2016 there were 7,229 overseas ballots cast on top of the 5,203 military ballots. So 12,432 in total but you can bet that with the increased turnout this year (and looking at the uplift in PA) this number will be closer to 15,000. This is extremely tenuous but Biden’s on track to win GA by 3,500 votes so if there are 15000 overseas and military ballots then Trump needs to win 61.7% of them. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3243 "2020-11-06T06:22:55Z")
Interesting. In the handful of counties I looked at, Biden picked up more than Trump in at least one red county: Cumberland, at 77% counted, had Trump at 67021 and Biden at 40234. Now counting is essentially done there, the figures are 76149 and 61168. Trump got 9,000 more votes, Biden got nearly 21,000. In Delaware County, which was already blue, Trump got about 4,000 and Biden got 14,000 from a few hours back. Erie, Trump got another 1600 votes and Biden got about 3400, flipping it to blue. I think Centre County was red before, as I didn’t nab its numbers before (wasn’t getting all red, was trying to get all blue) and Biden now has a solid lead there. In Phildelphia, Trump picked up 4,000 and Biden picked up 25,000. The percent-complete I logged for them before was 92%, now the Times shows 91% - maybe that gets adjusted as they pull in more absentee ballots? At the moment, based on current statewide counts plus my crunched figures (for that list of counties, assumes the uncounted ballots skew the same as the uncounted ones) puts Biden ahead by 30K. Obviously my assumptions might be wrong, and I don’t know if the figures shown include those votes Chump is trying to suppress. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3244 "2020-11-06T06:30:27Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > The courts are following a trend that indicates they want _evidence_ of voter fraud before ruling that there is, you know, voter fraud That’s absurd. Trump’s entire presidency has been based on unfounded statements that have no basis or evidence whatsoever. He’s never been required to substantiate anything he says. Why on earth would that change now? 😃 (if he told me the sky was blue, I’d go outside, look up at the cloudless daytime sky, and I still wouldn’t believe it). ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/3245 "2020-11-06T06:35:24Z")
PA gap now down to less than 18,229 votes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618.md?page=161) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618.md?page=163)