How's Everyone Doing?

[Farerb]

I was wondering about the US election, what makes people compelled to vote if they are in a definite Blue/Red state? What makes them feel like their vote is significant?

[UmbrellaFish]

Oof, that’s a very big question which I’m probably qualified to answer since I’m a blue voter in a very red state. First off, it’s important to me that my vote and my voice are recorded. I’m proud that I voted for Hillary in 2016 and that I am a part of the 35% of Tennesseans who were, quite frankly, right in 2016.

Secondly, it’s important for down ballot races. There’s more up for grabs than just the Presidency at the election box and local and state elections tend to be more idiosyncratic than the Presidential election. States that go blue for the Presidency can elect Republican governors and vice versa. Speaking anecdotally— in my deep red part of the country, I’ve seen a lot of yard signs for the Democratic nominee for our House Rep seat. It’s because she sort of straddles the line between liberal and conservative, and the person who won the Republican nomination is pretty unpopular (she won a split contest with only 19% of the vote). So I needed to show up at the polls to support her because without any reputable public polling available— I think this Dem has a real shot, at least going by yard signs!

Last but not least, a blue vote in a red state matters because party leaders take notice. Even if we lose this cycle, if the state shows signs of becoming a “battleground state” (getting closer to 50%), the state and National parties will begin pumping in money and resources to turn that state to their side in the future. Texas is a great example— due to population and demographic shifts, it’s projected that the Republican stronghold will go to the Democrats in the not-so-distant future. In fact, it may even go for Joe Biden this cycle. That’s partly to do with Biden’s pretty historic polling this election (some of it indicates we could be looking at a landslide... but I’m wary of getting too hyped up just yet), but it’s also the hard work of party leaders and officials who have been on the ground to turn the state blue for years. As a Tennessean, I want the same thing to happen to my state so I will continue to vote and encourage my friends to vote and hopefully we’ll see change in oh... say the next 15-20 years?

[Farerb]

Thank you for the long answer

I never realized how the US politics are complicated, but I guess that's how it is when the president governs many states instead of just one, so you have elections to both the president and the state governor and voting for the president might play a strategic role for the local state elections.
I also find the registration concept strange because shouldn't it be known who's allowed to vote? In my country we only get in the mail the info we need in order to vote (like the place) but we don't need to register.

Good luck getting the results you want

[UmbrellaFish]

Re: voter registration, I haven’t done a great amount of research on it. There are so many governmental databases and everyone needs an official ID be it a drivers license or a non-drivers license ID, so one would think that voter’s registration could at least be done at the DMV where you get those IDs instead of being an entirely separate process. Certainly, voter registration is useful to politicians in power as a form of voter suppression— there’s all kinds of news stories about registration rolls being purged and the like. That’s why even though I know I’m registered, in the lead up to an election I frequently check the official state database to make sure that it stays that way.

Good luck getting the results you want

And thank you!

[blackcauldron85]

I was wondering about the US election, what makes people compelled to vote if they are in a definite Blue/Red state? What makes them feel like their vote is significant?

UF gave a terrific answer. I never thought of if I'm in a red state or blue state to affect me voting (Wikipedia shows that Florida is purple, which totally makes sense since we're a mishmash of people from all over the country). I vote to have my voice heard. I always do my research for the local elections (I'm grateful that my local newspapers tend to publish interviews and things online), and I am a Democrat, and I've only voted Democrat for president; I didn't need to do my research to know that I was not voting for the current president, having lived through it for 4 years!!!!

Imagine if a large group of people said "Oh, my vote doesn't count," or "Oh, I'm lazy, I won't vote." If a huge part of people just didn't show up, and if their votes could have swung the election, you know? Maybe it's a big group of Republicans, maybe of Democrats, maybe a mishmash, or maybe, like UF said, people of one party voting for another party...

at least going by yard signs!

The other day I drove through a part of town that I don't usually go through, and I was dismayed at all the Trump signs. (My husband and I watched some of an Obama speech in Pennsylvania yesterday, and he told me that his father wouldn't talk to him after he voted for Obama. I won't get into my "father-in-law is an a-hole" conversation here, but it's CRAZY how politics can tear up families. I'm proud of my husband, though!!)

but I’m wary of getting too hyped up just yet

Me too.

Oh boy, and the "why register?" question- Like UF, I haven't done my research, but I know that the Republican party wants to really put a chokehold on who can vote. If you're really interested, this explains some of the craziness:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_sup ... ntemporary

[Disney's Divinity]

Thankfully I live in a purple state (NC). Voting matters no matter where you are, but it does feel satisfying to live in a state that can flip one way or another, because every vote feels crucial. '08 was the first election I could vote, and NC went blue. Unfortunately, the state didn't turn for HRC, but at least I helped to knock out the Republican governor here. They did like three re-counts hoping to keep him in office, but failed, thank God (I can't imagine how much worse NC would've been impacted by the pandemic without our Dem governor who actually treated it seriously). It was practically a miracle that he lost by a hair despite it being a year in R's favor and R's winning nationally, and it was due to rage over business and jobs NC lost because of his anti-transgender policies. I'm hoping we go blue again after four years of Trump in office. I'm not a big fan of Biden like I was Hillary--I wish Kamala or Buttigieg had been the nominee instead--but there's nothing "wrong" with him and at least he's already committed to only serving one term.

It's hard for me to imagine family tension over voting for Obama. Like him or hate him, he was a relatively normal politician, not like a Trump or Bernie / AOC type. I have as little to do as possible with my Trump-voting family members, but it was more of a "straw that broke the camel's back" kind of situation since I already kept them at a distance. I would still take care of my family if necessary (and if I had the means to do so) because that's a moral obligation, I just don't see us ever being friendly with one another again.

[blackcauldron85]

at least he's already committed to only serving one term.

Whoa, I had not heard that. Fingers and toes are crossed so hard that he wins, and then that the country turns around so much that Kamala (or another Democrat) wins in 2024.

I would still take care of my family if necessary (and if I had the means to do so) because that's a moral obligation, I just don't see us ever being friendly with one another again.

And that's a good outlook, I think. Family should be family, as long as you're decent to each other, you know? My husband and his dad sometimes get along, sometimes don't talk (I think we didn't see them for 2 years?). You can't please everyone, and if someone is going to be juvenile and petty like that, then who are we to change them.

[UmbrellaFish]

at least he's already committed to only serving one term.

Whoa, I had not heard that. Fingers and toes are crossed so hard that he wins, and then that the country turns around so much that Kamala (or another Democrat) wins in 2024.

I just want to clarify that Biden has not actually committed to serving only one term— that is, if he gets elected in the first place. If you read between the lines in his campaign (he’s called himself, I think it was, ‘a transitional candidate from the older generation to the next’) it does seem like he may only want to serve one term— after all, he’d be in his 80’s in 2024. But it also wouldn’t surprise me if a hypothetical Biden administration was very popular, and his health was not too much in question, that Biden could decide to run again. He’s keeping his options open— so Biden 2024 is not entirely out of the question...

[Disney's Divinity]

Yeah, it was more of an open secret kind of thing, that he was setting up Kamala to run behind him for the "new" generation. That was why there was so much focus on who his VP pick would be (aside from Kamala, I wouldn't have minded Gretchen Whitmer or Val Demings.) I could see the party pushing him to run again because why take a risk with a new candidate when you already have a winning one. I really hope not though. Because there's no way Kamala could win running after eight years of Biden if Hillary couldn't do it after Obama (Obama being a much better candidate than Biden is... JMO). Which means it would be around 16 years before we even have a president I'm enthusiastic about again--assuming the parties switch back and forth every eight years like they usually do (and assuming I'd like that next Democrat way down the pipeline)..

Personally, I'd be fine if he stepped down and retired after two years and let Kamala take over... He'll have been president, ended Trumpism, etc. That's a legacy in itself. But that's just me. I know it's not certain he will win though, this is all hypothetical.

[blackcauldron85]

Oh boy, and the "why register?" question- Like UF, I haven't done my research, but I know that the Republican party wants to really put a chokehold on who can vote. If you're really interested, this explains some of the craziness:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_sup ... ntemporary

This just popped in my inbox:
https://deadline.com/2020/10/bill-maher ... 234602893/

*edit*
And stuff like this:
The Trump Campaign Has Sued To Stop Mail-In Ballot Counting In Nevada's Biggest County https://buzzfeed.com/skbaer/trump-campa ... ark-county

[UmbrellaFish]

Happy Halloween!!

[blackcauldron85]

^ Did you carve that?!? That's super good!!! It's spooky and cute.

When I was at Walgreens yesterday, I picked up a bag of Tootsie Pops, but this will be our third Halloween in our home, and we've never had one trick or treater. But just in case. Always buy candy you like in case you have leftovers! Even without Coronavirus, with 4 dogs at home who freak out when the door is knocked (and who would need to be secured if the door is opened), I'm happy to have no one come.

[UmbrellaFish]

Thank you! I carved it with this template: https://family.disney.com/activity/vamp ... -template/

Like you, we never have trick-or-treaters, and we’ve lived in a couple different places these past 10 years. I think in our area, Trunk or Treats have taken the place of regular trick or treating. I miss the tradition... well, maybe not so much this year. But this is our first year in a new place— so I could be surprised. I won’t be at home anyway— I’ll be seeing a live stage production of Dracula at a drive in movie theatre on Halloween night (so it will be safe!). I think this theatre company is really ingenious: https://bartertheatre.com/barter-at-the-moonlite/

[blackcauldron85]

^ That's a really great idea! (I hope the cast and crew are safe/have been tested!) Let us know how you like the show, please

[UmbrellaFish]

I had such a fun time last night seeing Dracula with my mother! It was so good to see live theatre again! And it was wonderful because after it was over I realized I hadn’t thought about or stressed about anything else going on in our lives (like the election...). My mother and I enjoyed it so much we’re going back in December to see their double bill of A Christmas Carol and Frosty the Snowman— and my sisters are coming this time, too. Last night we watched the show comfortably inside my mom’s car, but next time we’re going to bring fold up chairs, blankets, hot chocolate, and cookies to make a whole go of it!

(I hope the cast and crew are safe/have been tested!)

Even in a normal year, all the cast and crew live together in housing provided by the theatre. They are the theatre’s B-string company, a small group of mostly young people and college students. So it all works out perfectly as long as they are otherwise following guidelines!

[blackcauldron85]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it and had a break from the real world for a moment! The Christmas show sounds great. And that's neat how they live together!!

[UmbrellaFish]

Happy Election Day!!

[blackcauldron85]

Waking up to Trump winning Florida and its 29 electoral votes makes me feel sick. My husband said yesterday, though, that his youngest brother stood up for themselves when their dad gave them crap for voting for Biden. So I'm proud of that, but terribly worried about this country.

And all of the mail-in ballots won't be counted for a while, right? Or am I wrong? #INeedHope

[UmbrellaFish]

Waking up to Trump winning Florida and its 29 electoral votes makes me feel sick. My husband said yesterday, though, that his youngest brother stood up for themselves when their dad gave them crap for voting for Biden. So I'm proud of that, but terribly worried about this country.

And all of the mail-in ballots won't be counted for a while, right? Or am I wrong? #INeedHope

Florida. Even though I only lived there for a short period of time, I feel let down, too! Of course, TN still went red by a massive margin. But as far as I can tell, things look pretty good for Joe Biden. Apparently a lot of states counted their mail in and early voter ballots faster than was expected, so hopefully we will have definitive news soon. I think if things come down to Pennsylvania, it may take longer due to their process, but supposedly it looks like Biden is winning enough states that he may not need PA. Maybe. Who knows?

Anyway, I feel pretty good about it all today.

[Disney's Divinity]

With Biden officially taking Michigan now, all he needs to do is hold Nevada or win Pennsylvania, NC, or Georgia and it's over. I think Nevada's last vote won't be in until tomorrow though unfortunately (and of course Pennsylvania and NC will take even longer).

The terrible news is that the Senate will stay red. Which means no second stimulus. Damn.