# How do you plan to spend election night? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 11, 2020, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728 "2020-10-11T17:49:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [October 12, 2020, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/41 "2020-10-12T00:28:17Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > is there any chance we’ll know the result on November 3? Seems highly unlikely we’ll know the complete results, but as it’s very likely more Democrats than Republicans are voting by mail this year, if Biden’s leading in the results as far as they’re known by late on election night that would be a very encouraging sign. And it would make it difficult for Trump to try to have it called early. – also we might know some of the congressional races, as I believe some states register their mail-in votes on election day, having allowed starting the process of counting them earlier. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/42 "2020-10-12T00:39:09Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > – also we might know some of the congressional races, as I believe some states register their mail-in votes on election day, having allowed starting the process of counting them earlier. [Here’s the site I remembered about when states begin counting absentee ballots.](https://ballotpedia.org/When_states_can_begin_processing_and_counting_absentee/mail-in_ballots,_2020) | State | Absentee/mail-in ballot processing can begin | Absentee/mail-in ballot counting can begin | Statutory citation | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Alabama | 12:00 p.m., 11/3/2020 | After polls close | Code of Ala. §17-11-10 | | Alaska | 10/27/2020 | After polls close | Alaska Stat. §15.20.201 | | Arizona | 10/20/2020 | 10/20/2020 | Ariz. Stat. §16–550, §16-551 | | Arkansas | 10/27/2020 | 8:30 a.m., 11/3/2020 | A.C.A. § 7-5-416 | | California | 10/5/2020 | After polls close | Cal. Elec. Code § 15101 | | Colorado | Upon receipt | 10/19/2020 | C.R.S.A. § § 1-7.5-107.5 | | Connecticut | “At the discretion of the local registrar of voters” | “At the discretion of the local registrar of voters” | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-150a | | Delaware | 10/30/2020 | 10/30/2020 | 15 Del. C. § 5510 | | District of Columbia | Not specified | After polls close | D.C. Mun. Regs. Tit. 3, § 808 | | Florida | 10/12/2020 | 10/12/2020 | F.S.A. § 101.68 | | Georgia | Upon receipt | 7 a.m., 11/3/2020 | O.C.G.A. § 21-2-386 | | Hawaii | Upon receipt | Not specified (“counting may start before Election Day”) | HRS § 15-9, §11-152 | | Idaho | “Affidavit verified upon receipt. Ballots are not opened until they are delivered to the polls or central location for counting.” | After polls close | Idaho Code §34-1005, §34-1008 | | Illinois | “Signature verification must begin within two days of receipt.” | 7 p.m., 11/3/2020 | 10 ILCS 5/19-8 | | Indiana | Upon receipt | 12:00 p.m., 11/3/2020 (“no later than noon on Election Day, or immediately after the electronic poll books used at each polling place or vote center have been updated to indicate the county received the absentee ballot”) | IC 3-11.5-4-12, 3-11.5-5-3 | | Iowa | 10/31/2020[2] | 11/2/2020 (“at a time set by the election commissioner to allow a reasonable amount of time to complete the count of absentee ballots by 10 p.m. on Election Day”)[2] | Iowa Code §53.23 | | Kansas | Not specified | Not specified (“ballots may be counted prior to Election Day, but final tabulation shall not be completed until Election Day”} | K.S.A. § 25-1134 | | Kentucky | 8 a.m., 11/3/2020 | Not specified (“counting begins after all absentee ballots have been processed”) | KRS § 117.087 | | Louisiana | Not specified | Not specified (“counting may begin before Election Day but no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day”) | LSA-R.S. 18:1313 | | Maine | Not specified | After polls close | 21-A M.R.S.A. § 759 | | Maryland | Not specified | 10/1/2020 (by order of the state board of elections)[3] | State board of elections order | | Massachusetts | 11/3/2020 | After polls close | M.G.L.A. 54 § 95 | | Michigan | 11/2/2020 (in cities and townships with at least 25,000 people)[4] | 11/3/2020 (“on Election Day before the polls close at the jurisdiction’s discretion”) | MCLS §168.765 et seq. | | Minnesota | 10/27/2020 | After polls close | M.S.A. §203B.121 | | Mississippi | After polls close | After polls close | Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-639 | | Missouri | 10/29/2020 | 11/3/2020 (time not specified) | V.A.M.S. 115.300 | | Montana | “Signature verification conducted upon receipt. Three days before Election Day, election officials may open the secrecy envelope and place the ballot in a secured ballot box until tabulation occurs, but this process may not occur on a Saturday or Sunday.” | 11/2/2020 | Mont. Code Anno., § 13-13-241 | | Nebraska | 10/26/2020 | 11/2/2020 (“twenty-four hours before the opening of the polls”) | Neb. Rev. Stat. §32-1027 | | Nevada | 10/30/2020 | 11/3/2020 (time not specified) | Nev. Stat. §293.325, §293.333 | | New Hampshire | 1:00 p.m., 11/3/2020 | After polls close | N.H. Rev. Stat. § 659:49 | | New Jersey | “Signature verification conducted upon receipt” | 10/24/2020 (time not specified) | Assembly Bill 4475 | | New Mexico | 10/20/2020 or 10/30/2020 (“If more than 10,000 absentee ballots are sent, they may be opened and inserted into an electronic voting machine two weeks before Election Day. If fewer than 10,000 absentee ballots are sent, processing may begin four days before the election.” | After polls close | N. M. S. A. § 1-6-14 | | New York | 11/3/2020 | After polls close | Election Law § 9-209 | | North Carolina | Not specified | 10/20/2020 | N.C.G.S.A. § 163-234 | | North Dakota | 11/2/2020 | After polls close | NDCC, 16.1-07-12 | | Ohio | Not specified | Not specified (“Special election officials, employees or members of the board of elections, or observers shall not disclose the count or any portion of the count of absent voter’s ballots prior to the time of the closing of the polling places.”) | Ohio Rev. Code § 3509.06 | | Oklahoma | Not specified (“prior to Election Day with approval by the secretary of the state election board”) | Not specified (“prior to Election Day with approval by the secretary of the state election board”) | 26 Okl. St. Ann. § 14-125 | | Oregon | 10/27/2020 | Not specified (“a person may not make public the results of the tally of votes from any precinct until after 8:00 p.m. on Election Day”) | O.R.S. § 254.478, § 260.705 | | Pennsylvania | 7:00 a.m., 11/3/2020 | 7:00 a.m., 11/3/2020 | 25 P.S. § 3146.8 | | Rhode Island | 10/20/2020 | After polls close | R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-20-26, §17-22-1 | | South Carolina | 9:00 a.m., 11/3/2020 | 9:00 a.m., 11/3/2020 | S.C. Code § 7-15-420 | | South Dakota | Not specified | After polls close | SDCL § 12-19-10, § 12-19-46 | | Tennessee | Upon receipt | 11/3/2020 (“after the polls open and no later than four hours before closing for general elections”) | Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-6-202, § 2-6-303, § 2-6-304 | | Texas | Upon receipt | 11/3/2020 (“when the polls open on Election Day; in a jurisdiction with more than 100,000 people, counting can begin at the end of the early voting by personal appearance period”) | V.T.C.A., Election Code § 87.0241, § 87.041 | | Utah | Not specified | Not specified | U.C.A. § 20A-3-309 | | Vermont | 11/2/2020 | 11/2/2020 (“The day before the election, absentee ballots may be deposited in a vote tabulator. The machine is turned on and the ballots tabulated on Election Day.”) | 17 V.S.A. § 2546a | | Virginia | Not specified (“before Election Day as needed to expedite counting absentee ballots”) | 11/3/2020 (“Ballots may be inserted into ballot-counting machines prior to the closing of the polls, but no ballot count totals by the machines shall be initiated until the polls close. If absentee ballots are counted by hand, tallying may begin after 3 p.m. on Election Day.”) | VA Code Ann. § 24.2-709.1, § 24.2-712 | | Washington | Upon receipt | After polls close | RCWA 29A.40.110, 29A.84.730 | | West Virginia | 11/3/2020 | 11/3/2020 (time not specified) | W. Va. Code, § 3-3-8 | | Wisconsin | 11/3/2020 (“after the polls open on Election Day”) | 11/3/2020 (“after the polls open on Election Day”) | W.S.A. 6.88 | | Wyoming | 11/3/2020 | 11/3/2020 (time not specified) | W.S § 22-9- | ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/43 "2020-10-12T00:43:11Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I’ll check in on the web a bit, but is there any chance we’ll know the result on November 3? I think it’s going to be so overwhelming that we’ll know on election day. ---
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/44 "2020-10-12T00:47:16Z")
In 2016 I decided to tune out early when it seemed like Trump was gaining ground. It was bad news to wake up to the next morning, but I had all day to absorb and process it so that by Wednesday night I could sleep relatively easily. I may choose to do the same next month. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/45 "2020-10-12T01:03:18Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > I think it’s going to be so overwhelming that we’ll know on election day. I hope so. If Biden wins Florida and Texas or something, it will be over. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/46 "2020-10-12T01:17:01Z")
I was overseas on election night 2016, so I went to bed before the results were announced. That night, I had a nightmare that Trump won and was so relieved when I woke up…until I checked the news. ---
**Author:** ![tripthicket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripthicket/32/297_2.png) [@tripthicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tripthicket)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/47 "2020-10-12T01:39:49Z")
Well, I’ll tell you what I _won’t_ be doing: hanging out with Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/48 "2020-10-12T01:41:50Z")
I have my class talking about the Bubonic Plague and other disasters. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/49 "2020-10-12T02:18:30Z")
At my desk. Results ought to come in about 10AM, at least for the states that can count. I like the idea of following along with pen & paper. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/50 "2020-10-12T02:26:13Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > If Biden wins Florida and Texas or something, it will be over. Florida is the most likely to be the best same day indicator. Texas is a reach, but Florida is definitely strongly in play. And since Florida starts counting absentees early we should have reasonably definitive results there by late in the evening. If, and it is a big if, Biden wins Florida it is a near certainty that he will win the election because even besides the fact that it is a long reach for Trump to win without it, it will probably herald a strong Biden showing across the board. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/51 "2020-10-12T02:43:34Z")
Assuming Biden wins and that’s determined before I finish work at 17:30 Beijing time on 4 November 2020, you’ll see me dancing in the streets on my way home that evening. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/52 "2020-10-12T03:37:57Z")
Last month I bought a set of the complete series and all the movies of Babylon 5. I haven’t seen it since it’s initial run back in the 90s but I’m not watching it yet. If Biden wins overwhelmingly on election night, that’s awesome. But my plan if this turns into a shitshow is that I will be spending a few weeks with Sheridan, Delenn, Mollari and G’Kar to help keep my sanity. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/53 "2020-10-12T03:39:46Z")
If you guys don’t think it’ll jinx it I’m thinking of getting some confetti cannons (biodegradable, of course). What would be a good meal to have that night? Something that tastes sweet? Toast? I’m not coming up with any good ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Temporary\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Temporary\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Temporary_Name)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/54 "2020-10-12T03:40:59Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > > [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > > > I think it’s going to be so overwhelming that we’ll know on election day. > > I hope so. If Biden wins Florida and Texas or something, it will be over. > [@Tamerlane](#): > > Florida is the most likely to be the best same day indicator. Texas is a reach, but Florida is definitely strongly in play. And since Florida starts counting absentees early we should have reasonably definitive results there by late in the evening. If, and it is a big if, Biden wins Florida it is a near certainty that he will win the election because even besides the fact that it is a long reach for Trump to win without it, it will probably herald a strong Biden showing across the board. For me, Florida and Pennsylvania will be the two that will allow me to sleep easy if they both go for Biden unless polling changes significantly between now and then. They both seem to be likely to have genuine results on election night. The states that don’t allow counting absentee or mail-in ballots until after polls close are not likely to be tipping point states. If there has to be some going to bed worried about election results, I hope it is just what happens in the Senate. My fervent hope is that Presidential incumbent Barney Fife continues to shoot himself in the foot for the next three weeks and Biden manages to not shove some reporter’s microphone up his or her ass the twenty-ninth time they ask about packing the court. Would not hurt if every Trump rally becomes a super spreader event, and Bill Barr is locked in a sound proof hospital room until December or January and, as long as I am counting upon ideal conditions, if the US Senate is not able to seat a quorum for the next four months. (Unless a stimulus package needs to voted upon, but for those twenty minutes only of course.) As for election night, I will be monitoring things early and by the time polls close back east I should be bouncing off the walls with anxious energy. A few may come over and watch with me but any distraction to the proceedings will be answered by expulsion – forceful if necessary. Just hope Florida and Pennsylvania will let me sleep the peaceful sleep of the righteous that night. I will bet I am not the only registered Republican hoping Democrats will control the White House, Senate, and House soon. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/55 "2020-10-12T03:46:57Z")
> [@Temporary\_Name](#): > > I will bet I am not the only registered Republican hoping Democrats will control the White House, Senate, and House soon. Nope, you’re not the only one. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/56 "2020-10-12T05:10:01Z")
I normally spend election night talking shit with my republican friends on facebook as results roll in. No shit talking this year. Trump took the fun out of that. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/57 "2020-10-12T05:56:44Z")
Watching CNN, with a good stiff drink. Or six. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/58 "2020-10-12T07:05:27Z")
I’ll be at work until 2230 (PST). When I get home, I’ll fire up the DVR and watch _Jeopardy!_. After that, I’ll probably get online and see if the electorate has gained enough intelligence and self-interest to comply with my instruction to ensure that no Republican wins any election. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/59 "2020-10-12T08:18:51Z")
Planning the Revolution. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728/60 "2020-10-12T09:40:07Z")
Having an anxiety attack while flipping between CNN and MSNBC to see my pretend TV boyfriend and human golden retriever puppy Steve Kornacki ( yes I know he’s gay but I still go for the hot nerds). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-plan-to-spend-election-night/922728.md?page=4)