A Few Thoughts About Election Night Results
I’m sure some of you didn’t know this, but ... before I had my book blog, I had this blog.
I didn’t know what to call it, so I went with “The Soapbox” which seemed appropriate. I started it in June 2011, and did a few blogs here or there.
I had also planned a NASCAR blog, a cooking/food blog, writing blog, and a photography blog.
And, life sidelined me so the blogs got ignored.
Anyway …
I decided to delete some of my “voting” tweets and expand them in this blog for easier viewing and to unclog my timeline.
One of the people I follow, who used to run a NASCAR track, made mention of wanting the election results or “projected” results on election night. He made reference to us being able to do it in 1968 and 1980.
To be fair – back then, things were a bit … different. One HUGE difference is the amount of voters who showed up to vote. That isn’t how many were registered, but just the ones who ACTUALLY cast their ballots.
Let’s view the years Mr. G mentioned. Statistics taken from: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/data/voter-turnout-in-presidential-elections
Voters 1968 – 73,026,831
Voters 1980 – 86,496,851
Now, let’s review the most recent election with statistics from: https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022/2020-presidential-election-voting-report.html
Voters 2020 – 154,600,000 (estimated)
That is nearly DOUBLE the 1980 figure!!
Now, I quote tweeted and mentioned how different things are NOW as opposed to then referencing early voting and mail-in/absentee.
NOTE: some early votes are not, by state law (depends on the state), allowed to be counted early.
What then ensued from Mr. G’s quote tweet of mine and his reply were replies that expressed support for his thinking, but more of support of what I was trying to point out – early voting and mail-in/absentee ensures that EVERYONE has a chance to vote. Thus, results are NOT going to be feasible that night. Nor should they. You can click the picture to read the thread which is still there as of this blog post.
That was why I started the Twitter threads to further expand.
Right off …
I am a proponent for voting the following ways (I’ll expand on one down the line):
🗳️ In-Person
🗳️ Early Voting
🗳️ Absentee/Mail-In
Why?
Because at one time or another, since 1996 – I have voted:
🗳️ In-Person (punch card)
🗳️ In-Person (electronic/touch screen)
🗳️ Early Voted (like at the mall or library)
🗳️ Absentee (punch card)
🗳️ Mail-In (fill in the circle)
I know. Another “why” ...
Why have I voted the way I have?
Simple – my circumstances have NEVER been fluid, or stationary. Each election my circumstances have not been the same. And, since then, I’ve had my share of voting hardships and mishaps:
✳️ My mother, between 1996-2000 (my first election & the year we lost our car), was scheduled 6a-6p, or 7a-7p EVERY TUESDAY. She was my ride as I didn’t drive. In 1996 her boss let her go early to vote. She lost an hour of pay though (more on that later on)
✳️ Having been without a car for almost five years at one point in my life (2000-2005), it was IMPOSSIBLE to vote on election day. And, there was NO transportation to our polls available at the time. We didn’t even have home phone service at times. In 2000, we utilized the absentee system. No, I didn’t vote in 2004.
✳️ I’ve been EXTREMELY sick and unable to go in person. This was about 20 years BEFORE COVID, but just as NASTY. Try coughing up buckets of snot/mucus from your lungs, while your nose is a faucet. Gross, I know. Not fun when you're waiting in line to vote.
Can you imagine listening to and being around someone like that? I was sick and I didn’t want to be around me! Really, I wanted to leave me somewhere else. One lady even gave me a cough drop. Not because she didn’t want to hear me, she was amazed I was voting and wanted me to be “comfortable” – bless her heart!!
✳️ Going back to 1996 … I waited OVER 90 minutes in the cold to vote. 45 minutes in, I wanted to go home. I was tired, cold, hungry, miserable. My legs and feet ached (standing on slippery grass that was sloped). While it was my first election – I just didn’t care to be miserable. And, I didn’t WANT to vote.
What made it worse? The “projected winner” was announced before we got inside to vote. Why stay in line? GO HOME!! Since it was my first presidential election, my mother FORCED me to stay. She was my ride home, and she was staying. And, we weren’t close enough for me to walk, and it was dark so I would’ve been lost. And, I got sick the next day. She half regretted it, but it was a MAJOR milestone in my life. Yes, I still love her. Yes, she took care of me.
✳️ This year? My mom, because of her back, has been in hospitals and rehabs for 45+ days. No way for her to go in person. I’ve been a basket case; and had ZERO patience. I was thankful to get our ballots, visit her so we could get them done, get them OUT OF OUR HAIR. Why should she lose her vote because of her physical condition?
This is just my 26 years of voting experience. I have not even asked my mother about hers.
But, I’ll break it down a bit more here and just use the presidential ones since I remember them more than mid-terms:
✅ 1996 – First election, described above (not favorable experience, Yelp review – 1 star)
✅ 2000 – This was the first year we didn’t have a car and used absentee voting with the “chad” cards
✅ 2004 – Didn’t vote
✅ 2008 – As I still didn’t have a license to drive (my choice, ya know). My mom and I went early voting on her day off. Easy, peasey, fast
✅ 2012 – I was finally driving, and I believe we both early voted at the same time. Though, I might’ve done it before my mom and took her on her day off
✅ 2016 – Early voted. Again, easy, fast, done
✅ 2020 – Due to COVID, mail-in. So, so, so much easier. My mom and I did it together
✅ 2022 (mid-term) – described above
My experiences are why I believe in giving everyone access to voting by any means necessary.
And, while we don’t think we can – WE REALLY CAN wait for results. Some transfers are not done immediately, usually after the first of the year.
Another thing – the military can have delays in returning their ballots due to logistics. We'd have to wait for them anyway. So, there’s still some waiting involved.
It isn’t about not being transparent. It isn’t about the potential to create division because of not knowing or having an idea of the results. It is about taking the time to be fair to EVERY SINGLE VOTER and letting the process take place.
This is not a political/partisan side of me talking. I’m registered non-partisan. This is a person – an actual, REAL human being – who has experienced hardships and difficulties in voting. One who has been elated to vote, and one who has wondered “what is the d@*n point”, “what am I doing”?
Seriously, I think that is the reason I don’t do more mid-terms. I am so exasperated!!
One thing Mr. G pointed out was voting only on voting day. And, others have stated “if you can’t show up to vote, you’re not trying”. That is not as simple as they make it out to be. It isn’t about NOT TRYING. It is about logistics and feasibility (read on for the people potentially affected).
Again, remember my mom’s experiences? If not for early voting or absentee/mail-in she couldn’t have voted. There would’ve been times I couldn’t either.
Mr. G stated – in error – was that according to law, employers HAD to give you time off to vote. Not so.
There is NO federal law to be given time off to vote.
There are less than 30 states that are required to give you time off. And, less than HALF of the states pay you.
Nevada, where I’ve lived 80% of my life, DOES NOT REQUIRE YOUR EMPLOYER TO PAY YOU.
Out of respect, do not comment with “well my state allows me to” – I am NOT in your state. What your state allows you to do does not help me. You are not in my state. That’s the problem. Each state has different laws. Your state laws do not apply unless you are in Nevada.
My Nevada state laws do not apply to the other 49 states.
In addition, voting in a small town of 5000 is MUCH different than a suburb of 500,000. Parking is also a consideration.
Not being rude or argumentative – but, trying to argue a point that has NO significance is pointless. There are differences between cities and their respective polling places.
With that established …
About employers allowing employees to take time off to vote ... consider the following factors first:
✅ Time to drive to the polling place (traffic and distance)
✅ The time to WAIT in line to vote (again, if EVERYONE is voting on ELECTION day … that’s going to be a VERY LONG WAIT)
✅ Time spent voting
✅ Time to drive BACK to work (if required) ...
This was taken from (https://www.nevadaemployers.org/time-off-to-vote-whats-required-in-nevada/):
“Nevada law requires employers to provide employees with sufficient time off to vote if it is impractical for them to do so before or after work. This leave must be paid and the employee cannot be disciplined, discharged, or otherwise penalized for taking leave to vote. Employers who interfere with an employee’s right to take leave to vote are guilty of a misdemeanor.
Sufficient time off to vote is defined based on distance between the employee’s place of employment and the employee’s designated polling place.
If the polling place is two (2) miles or less from the employee’s workplace, the employee is entitled to one (1) hour of leave to vote.
If the polling place is more than two (2) miles, but less than ten (10) miles from the employee’s workplace, the employee is entitled to two (2) hours of leave to vote.
If the polling place is more than ten (10) miles from the employee’s workplace, the employee is entitled to three (3) hours of leave to vote.
Employers may require advanced notice from an employee of his or her intent to take leave to vote. There is no minimum or maximum amount of notice that is required by law—only that it occur prior to Election Day.
Additionally, employers may designate the time an employee can take leave to vote to minimize the impact his or her absence may have on normal business operations.”
Lets say your employer lets you off early from work – that works great. Even though you won’t get paid, at least you can vote.
But, if they don’t let you off work early because you close the office or do end of day around 4pm-7pm … that means time off from WORK.
To reiterate ...
“Employers may designate the time an employee can take leave to vote to minimize the impact his or her absence may have on normal business operations”.
Again, that “time off” be it 1-hour, 2-hour, 3-hours – IS NOT PAID. And, that time includes what I mentioned above:
✅ Time to drive to the polling place (traffic and distance)
✅ The time to WAIT in line to vote (again, if EVERYONE is voting on ELECTION day … that’s going to be a VERY LONG WAIT)
✅ Time spent voting
✅ Time to drive BACK to work (if required) ...
REAL-LIFE, PERSONAL EXAMPLE (what that means is an example based on what she and I have done or know about our circumstances):
Between 2008 and when she retired (2016), my mom (and I) lived 20 miles from where she worked (and more to her polling place).
So, she would be entitled to 3-hours (180 minutes) off of work to vote. I know the distance as I drove her to/from work from 2010-2016. I also know the horrific traffic as well. Highway could take 30-45 minutes. When it is backed up, it increased to 50. Surface streets either shave or add 5 minutes.
Let’s say her supervisor says 12p-3p since they want her to be there to man the desk during change of shift (she was a clerk) during her 7a-7p shift.
I know this in advance so I can go get her. I’m there waiting for her to walk out. The time starts when she leaves the “floor” to downstairs (5 minutes minimum, even with a working elevator).
It takes 45 minutes to get from her work to the polls (lunch rush traffic, plus 2 CONSTANTLY HEAVY bottleneck freeway interchanges between 6am-9pm). That leaves 2 hours and 10 minutes (130 minutes) to park, wait, vote, get her back to work.
There is a 90-minute wait at the poll from where she is standing to an available machine, after all – it is LUNCH TIME – so EVERYONE is there. That leaves her 40 minutes to vote and me to drive her back (saying I decide NOT to speed).
NOT FEASIBLE. JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
Why isn’t it feasible?
It took us 45 minutes to get there, remember? Travel time to/from with TRAFFIC = 90 minutes. Lunch rush, and leaving around 3pm, the 4pm work crowd is heading home. The math isn't going to math.
Yes, I know:
⏱️ 90 minutes travel
⏱️ 90 minutes waiting
That equals 180 minutes; 3 hours.
Y’all are forgetting ... the time started when she left her duty station and it took her 5 minutes to get to the car not to mention the TIME TO VOTE!
There is the 5 minutes it’ll take her from where I let her off to get back to her duty station.
Yes – her employer was that PETTY at times (the stories I could write that stuff in to). No, lawsuits do nothing to curb the behavior. They pay and weasel out of what they should to a discount price, and they still do bad.
And, lawsuits pay YEARS after the adverse action which doesn’t help when you’ve been evicted, lost your car, lost your job …
I think y’all get the picture.
Moving forward …
It takes time to check-in to vote, carefully reviewing ballot, marking ballot, checking it over one last time, submitting it? I’ve taken anywhere from 5-15 minutes from check-in to getting my sticker at the end (let’s say 10 for this exercise).
Even at just 5 minutes from check-in to sticker; she’s still late getting back to work. And, guess what? Her employer can discipline her for being late, even fire her if they’d like. After all, they LEGALLY only had to give her THREE (3) HOURS.
Total time she spent away from work:
⏱️ 5 minutes to leave duty station
⏱️ 90-minute travel (45 minutes each way)
⏱️ 90-minute poll line waiting
⏱️ 10 minutes voting (check in to check out and get sticker)
⏱️ 5 minutes back to duty station
Yup … 200 minutes or 3 hours and 20 minutes. She’s in trouble for being 20 minutes late, and they’re in the clear from breaking the law when they discipline her.
I know, it sucks.
BUT …
Remember, they fulfilled their LEGAL requirement and gave her 3 hours. It is not their fault if the traffic is bad, the wait is long, or how long she takes to vote. Nor is it their fault her duty station is 5 minutes from the exit/entrance of the building. They fulfilled their requirement.
Mr. G is privileged in that respect. I don’t know his entire background, but I BET he hasn’t worked for a hospital like my mom did for 25 years. And, her job actually paid for tickets to Texas Motor Speedway in November 2005, and well ... that entire trip.
While I still respect him for the job he’s done, in this scenario – he’s wrong in his opinion about only voting on election day. While he says he would make exemptions for certain cases ... do you know how far in advance requesting a mail ballot is? I don’t because it has been automatic since 2020. But, I do recall around 2000 it was about 3-4 months in advance.
People cannot predict (especially months in advance) auto accidents, job shifts/changes, sickness, or surgeries.
Two fun facts about schedule changes ... yes, very relevant to the you can’t predict life changes argument. I’m certain I have more, these are the best examples though.
In February 2014, I booked a special trip to New Jersey (June 26-29). At the time my mom worked the 7p-7a shift (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday). I booked my air transportation, hotel stay, and my ticket to the event. None of this was refundable or changeable (the date was chosen by the event staff).
How this relevant? Good question. Read on ...
As I was leaving on a Thursday (6/26), my mom could drive me to the airport. She could come home and go back to sleep. No impact to her schedule or mine. No money needed for a cab or ride-share; I mean she was using our car.
Beginning of June, the hospital went through a personnel shift. They were letting people go in a cost-effective savings measure; and switching schedules for the remaining staff. With my mom’s seniority, no worries. She did ask REPEATEDLY about her schedule, they said “NO CHANGE” would be made.
Ya know, I thought that would mean “your schedule isn’t going to change”. Right?
She was, within TWO weeks of my departure, given THREE handwritten (on post-it notes) schedule changes over a 5-day period. All three would PREVENT her from taking me to the airport on 6/26.
Given the last change was halfway feasible, Monday-Thursday 7am-3pm (32 hours) and a 10-2pm (4 hours to make it a total of her 36) for Friday; we went with that.
However, they wanted her to work six days in a row. This change would start IMMEDIATELY, as in less than 3 days BEFORE my trip. She would work Sunday, Monday, Tuesday (7-7); then Wednesday and Thursday (7-3), and Friday (10-2).
She asked for the date of my departure off (so work 4, off 1, work one – resume new schedule on Monday), AND CLEARLY STATED WHY. After all, my NON-CHANGEABLE plans were made FOUR (4) months before the hospital wanted her to change her schedule without sufficient notice required by the UNION contract.
Her manager’s response? No to Thursday off, but she would give her WEDNESDAY (6/25) off instead. Again, my mom told her about my trip. The manager only said “sorry”, though there was a remark made about my changing NON-CHANGEABLE plans. I love my mom. She called off the day of my departure. No, we are not sorry. Not even going to say “sorry, not sorry”.
As snotty as it sounds ... they had it coming. They had violated the contract by changing her schedule the way they did. It was SUPPOSED to be in writing (as in memo or letter, NOT a POST-IT note) about 30 days before (not 10-14 days). While two WRONGS don’t make a right, what do you do? I call it even is what I call it.
How could I know in February what they’d pull in June? Folks are shady at times.
Another example? This year is a GOOD one ...
I didn’t know on 10/1 my mom would have to have surgery on 10/31. It was an option that we were made aware of, but I didn’t know how MUCH it was needed to help my mom and her mobility issues. We didn’t know on 9/1 that 20 days later she wouldn’t be able to step up curbs or stairs either. Try seeing that one coming.
So, how would I know when to request her ballot (or mine)? It isn’t like they can print and mail it like an on-demand Amazon book or DVD one or two-day shipping.
These are REAL experiences my mother and I have LIVED. And, those experiences SHAPE our views. Those experiences have or had the potential to impact our ability to VOTE. And, I don’t think Mr. G has had the experiences we have had either.
[I did forget one thing ... but, I really don’t want to mention what it would be like to ride a bus, or multiple buses to/from work. My mom rode two buses from August 2000 – August 2002, and from August 2002 – May 2005 she rode one.
There have been times riding 2-3 busses to get somewhere was NOT out of the ordinary; and a one-way trip often took close to 3 hours.]
This is why ...
Early voting and absentee/mail-in voting is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL to secure and maintain EVERY VOTER’s right to vote.
To be completely honest, I’d be more in favor of online and app voting 7-10 days prior to election day. And, I am NOT the only one in support of online/app voting either.
You could do it from work, waiting at the doctor’s office, at the store, at the park watching your kids/grandkids, at home. Even watching a movie (not in a theater).
Even on vacation at Disneyland (if you’re going to wait 50 minutes for a ride, might as well do something to pass the time 🤣). I could take my tablet to my mom while she's undergoing PT/OT from back surgery. I could do it just before bedtime.
VOTE anywhere, any time. Even on election day!! Forget the polls of 7am-7pm. Vote between midnight and 7pm on Election Day. Why wait in line??
Worried about fraud?
This could be the log-in process:
💻 Username (preferably something like this: First initial, PERIOD, Last Name, DASH, date of birth: I.User-12599)
💻 Email (thisismyemail@client.com)
💻 Social Security Number (each person should ONLY have one: 123-45-678)
💻 State/County Registered (Nevada, Clark)
💻 Scan State ID# (license, permit, or ID card) (there are apps that do this for other reasons)
💻 Password (7 letters, symbol, 2 numbers, 2 letters – Example: Sevenos#77SV)
True that would be a LOT of information and trouble to log-in. But, it would count down on fraud.
I mean, how many of YOU are going to have:
❓ YOUR NAME
❓ YOUR BIRTHDAY
❓ YOUR EMAIL
❓ YOUR SSN
❓ YOUR STATE/COUNTY
❓ YOUR STATE ID CARD
❓ YOUR UNIQUE PASSWORD
It is an idea to make sure there is easier access to voting. I know I would not hesitate to use that system. Some have suggested (if a device allows) biometrics such as retina, face ID, and/or fingerprint.
It would reduce the amount of mail ballots printed, lost, or transported. Easier to count. Reduce voter fraud. REDUCE WASTE of paper too. Opt-in for e-ballot as opposed to paper.
Now, there are some things a family member MIGHT be able to use to log-in. But, there’s ALWAYS a problem with any method (as we’ve seen).
Alternative voting measures exist because we live in different times, and we cannot expect results the minute a poll closes (some people are also waiting in line to vote).
Think about the MILLIONS of people who’d have to leave work to vote on voting day. Even if it were a NATIONAL HOLIDAY for some to take off, there are SOME people who can’t take days off, holidays or not:
🩺 Doctors (clinical yes, hospital and care center can’t)
💉 Nurses (see above)
🩸 OTHER Hospital/Care Center Workers (caregivers, therapists, maintenance, cleaning, clerical, lab, radiology to name some)
🚒 Firefighters
🚑 Ambulance crews
✈️ Airline Pilots
💺 Flight Attendants
🚛 Truckers/Freight Transport
🚓 Law Enforcement (changed this to include federal agents/officers such as FBI, NCIS, U.S Marshals in addition to police and corrections officers [jails, detention centers])
🗳️ Election Officials (people at the polls)
🚍 Transit Drivers (subway, bus)
🚧Construction Workers
🚨 Security Guards
🎰 Casino Workers
🥣 Food Service Workers (restaurant, fast food)
🏨 Hotel Workers (front desk, guest room attendants)
⛽ Gas Station Workers
And, I am 100% certain I’ve missed a few so please forgive me if I forgot your industry. I mean 0% disrespect. I am using this to show how IMPOSSIBLE it is to accommodate over 150 million+ people in ALL industries on ONE SINGLE DAY.
I don’t want to imagine the LONG lines, parking issues, and other problems with ONE-DAY voting.
Remember this – long waits = needs. People need to have hydration, food, and bathrooms. Get out of line and lose your place? Have someone hold your place?
What about childcare? Paying for it? Who pays for it? Kids in long lines at polls? Not a good idea. They need hydration, food, bathroom visits, and naps (even some adults do).
I have not even touched the pain and discomfort for standing hours on end (back, hips, knees). Just because one person didn’t have that experience, doesn’t mean others may not or did not. I think I mentioned my 1996 experience.
Another fact?
IF YOU ARE IN LINE BY THE TIME THE POLL IS SET TO CLOSE – YOU ARE STILL LEGALLY ALLOWED TO VOTE.
Why’d I say that?
The longer it takes to get folks voted and out – the longer you wait for results. If a poll doesn’t close until 11pm … when do you think those votes will be counted? Not before midnight due to removing the electronic boxes and getting them to the registrar’s counting location and putting them in queue.
Not to pat myself on the back, but I believe I’ve sufficiently made a point here with how our society needs these alternatives and NEEDS to accommodate them.
That means …
✅ We need multiple options to vote. They are ESSENTIAL to guarantee EVERYONE’S right to vote.
✅ We need patience (and time) to count every single vote - however they voted
I respect opinions. But, I also respect rights. A person's opinion shouldn’t affect someone's right.
Please VOTE however you can. I am not saying which way to cast your ballot – that is your decision.
Don’t feel bad about early voting, mail-in/absentee, or waiting at the polls.
Do what is right for you.
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