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Some curiosity abounds as to where those 20 million “missing voters” from 2020 went.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Well Mr. Helfner, in the spirit that "we're all Americans", I congratulate the candidate that both you and Mr. Harris apparently supported.
Should both Arizona and Nevada, which neither haven't been called at this writing, fall Mr. Trump's way, his victory can be considered a "landslide". Some media outlets, beyond Fox, Newsmax, and these various "new media" outlets of which I have no knowledge, are already calling it such. But let's leave the '20 Election behind, and hard as it may be for some of my friends who were anywhere from "let's not talk about it" to in tears, let's accept that Mr. Trump won anywhere between decisive and landslide.
The MMQB-ing and one more pollster blunder (makes one believe the George McGovern line "the only poll that counts is the one on November 7") will surely be under the microscope. Let us further be thankful that in virtual certainty, the transition will be orderly and peaceful.
addendum Nov 10: both Arizona and Nevada now called for Trump
irishchieftain Member # 1473
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Well, for those who favor the popular vote (which would disenfranchise the majority of states if employed), Trump won that decisively.
I fully expect the left to regroup and continue their depredations on society out of spite. They will particularly renew their attacks on family and private property, per the Manifesto.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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In all certainty, Mr. Helfner, Trump also won the popular vote. I must acknowledge his "fair and square" victory approaches a landslide.
For myself, I went "radio silent" at 6P CT Nov 5 with the phone set to Airplane mode with both the router and cable "box" unplugged. When I "went live" 7A CT Nov 6, and the first words I heard from the NBC "Today" anchor was "President-Elect Trump", I thought "how was this decided so quickly?" It was supposed to be "neck and neck".
Four days later, my Social Worker friends (gals; with their own families) in Indianapolis, still cannot bring themselves to talk about it without tears. As for myself, the popular vote is key. While it will never happen to have the Constitution amended to provide popular vote election of a President, that Trump plurality showed he was "the people's choice". I for one, accept that.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Mr. Helfner, as of "Election Day + 10", there appears to be conjecture regarding the 20M votes from the '20 Election.
But what really counts is that this go-round, Trump won "fair and square" insofar as the Electoral Vote. If he wins the popular vote, and that presently remains undecided, all the greater confirmation that more voters wanted him rather than her.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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I "don't exactly" think Joe holds the 14th best spot with Bret Stephens:
I think Joe is going to be in for "a big time dropping" considering how he mishandled the Election by not withdrawing early in '23, allowing a primary/caucus process to play out, which Kamala may or may not have won. I think the last time a candidate was chosen in "the smoke filled room" at a Convention was Ike over Taft during '52. This is essentially what happened with regards to Kamala.
George Harris Member # 2077
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I will probably have more to say later, but for now I will say this. I have been working the same poll for the last several years, and the turnout this time was surprisingly low, but also the time of the voters appearing was in a word, strange. In 2020 we had an 83% turnout of registered voters in my precinct. This time it was 66%. But the truly peculiar thing was when the voters arrived.
In 2020, it was nonstop throughout the day. When we opened at 7:00am there was about 200 people in line. By 7:00pm we had caught up with the line to the point that it was down to only 14 outside the door. (The law is that if you are in line at 7:00pm you get to vote, no matter how long thereafter it takes to get it done.)
This time, I counted at 6:45am and there were 198 people in line, realizing that number could be off around 3 to 5 but not much more. Between 7:00am and 12:00noon, we had 1020 votes dropped in the box. In the remaining 7 hours, there was only 763 more, and in the last hour only about 39 people. Why the difference, I am not certain, but have a suspicion. Given that this state was not considered to be in question, it could be that quite a few of the 2024 voters felt that there was no need to go vote particularly if they heard the horror stories of spending over an hour in line from those that went early. In addition, we had off and on light rain most of the day.
The proportions were about the same as in 2020, about 2/3 Trump to 1/3 Biden or Harris. In addition, there were 470 early votes in the precinct. These were counted in the 66%, but I have no idea how those went, as they were done at and held at the county courthouse. I can say the numbers for certain for the in-person voters because the ballots are machine readable and the drop box spits out a tape after the polls close that gives the totals for each candidate.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Interesting narrative, Mr. Harris; thanks for sharing.
Just speaking for myself, retired, and who votes on Election Day, because, to me, voting in the traditional manner of standing in line at the polling place is just part of "doing my duty as a citizen". I guess it is analogous to those who get up at 3A to be "Doorbusters" on Black Friday (something I'm not about to do).
I did vote early during '16 because I was out at the County Farm (the DuPage County government center that once was just that) on other business and there was this flashing sign saying "vote here". So I did, but something was missing from the experience.
'20, I voted by mail; one five letter term - COVID - should say it all.
But '24 and we are back to normal. At about 10A, I walked under "adequate" weather conditions the half mile to the polling place - Park District HQ - stood maybe five minutes in line chatting with neighbors, voted, picked up my I Voted badge, and walked home.
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