It appears to be over / An apology

[Lappa]

There was an article some weeks ago saying that Trump was stacking the Supreme Court just for this very scenario. It will be interesting to see how it pans out.

[woodPixel]

Is the Electoral College required to accept the votes of the people?

My understanding of the USAs voting system is that it's NOTHING like here.

The presidential vote is more of an internal party-member vote. Then the delegates from each area *listen* to that vote and put forward theirs *based* on that. Its more of a very strong suggestion.....

So it entirely feasible that a place might get 99.998% of the vote for a thing and the delegate overriding that.... (now, that might be unpopular, but it can be done...)


One simply cannot rock on up, say who they are and tick a box. A person has to register as a party member first? THAT gets you through the door and once inside THEN you get to get to choose?


Sort of like the vote we had here recently on the gay marriage referendum... like the pirates code! More of a ... guideline....

[rrich]

Ian,
The best I can say is "Oh God". My hope is that sanity will prevail. But then we just endured 4 years of Trump.

I watched the Harris / Biden speeches tonight. My first election was 1964. I have voted in every election since then, save one school board election after we moved out of state. In my lifetime I have never observed the spontaneous celebrations in the many cities that were happening tonight.

Since I was involuntarily 'Retired' Cinco de Mayo, 2003 I have worked 18 different elections as some sort of a poll worker. For a variety of reasons I did not work this years election. During Harris' speech tonight was the first time that, albeit indirectly, I was thanked indirectly for my efforts.

During Biden's speech, the message was clearly to 'Heal the divide in the country'. That attitude is refreshing.

As for California law, firearms are not permitted at a polling place. People in uniform (Police or Military or Governmental) are not permitted at polling except expressly for the purpose of voting. Also, no campaign regalia is permitted within 100 feet of a polling place.

Over the years I have experienced two incidents where people tried to wear campaign regalia while voting. One was a young woman wearing a Bush "T" shirt. I gave her three options, turn the shirt inside out, wear another shirt or cover the Bush with a towel that I supplied. She chose the latter and voted. Then she tried to walk away with the towel. The second incident was a crew cut Donald Trump wearing a MAGA hat during the 2016 election. It was clear that he was there to cause trouble incidental to voting. I refused to allow him to vote until he removed his hat. He really tried to bully me until I told one of one of the other poll workers to call 9-1-1 (Police/EMT/Fire/etc.). Then he acquiesced. We insist that the polling places be completely neutral and do not allow intimidation. The neutrality is more important than 'The First Amendment'.

One election a campaign worker had placed a campaign sign about 90 feet from the entrance to the polling place that I was working. Twice I moved the sign to about 105 feet. Prior to polling day, both times it was restored to the 90 foot location. In an E-Mail conversation with the candidate, he advised me to move the sign. I told him that I didn't want to confiscate the sign. IIRC he won his election.

[rrich]

Is the Electoral College required to accept the votes of the people?

By state law, the electors are required to vote for the candidate per the voters. The electors may be so called "Faithless" and vote their choice. I am not sure about California but other states will fine a Faithless elector. The last that I saw was the fine is $1000.

The Electoral College was instituted during the very early years of our country. The intent was protect the smaller, in population, states from being overwhelmed by the larger states.

To put it simply, the Electoral College is good and bad. In 2016 the Electoral College saved us from Hillary but gave us Trump. I couldn't vote for either and voted for the Libertarian candidate. I knew he wouldn't win but I couldn't vote for either Hillary or Trump.

[Lappa]

I didn’t envy your choice this time either.

[BobL]

. . . . . Also, no campaign regalia is permitted within 100 feet of a polling place.

I wouldn't mind seeing that brought in here as well.

The difference is when a voluntary voter (such as in the US elections) turns up they usually know who they are going to vote for but our lot need a reminder so the party faithful provides everyone with a handbill size cheat sheet .

I'd still like to see compulsory voting but no cheat sheets and an alternative voting spot on the ballot paper for "couldn't effing remember".

[rrich]

I'd still like to see compulsory voting but no cheat sheets and an alternative voting spot on the ballot paper for "couldn't effing remember".

A voting spot on the ballot for "None of the above" has been discussed. The political parties were terrified.

The problem here is that the political parties have too much influence upon presenting the candidates through the primary process. Then we, the little people only have of the icky one, the slime, the child molester with good lawyers, the count your fingers after shaking hands and so forth to make our choice.

[elanjacobs]

What if the candidates had to be passed by a poll of say 100,000 random people from around the world before they were deemed fit to run in the primaries?

[markharrison]

I wish I could be more positive ...


Biden and the Democrats have not won control of the US Senate.

The US is, if anything, more divided on partisan political lines than ever.

Since the Republicans lost control of the House 2 years ago, almost no legislation has been passed by the US Senate.

A I understand the US political system, even as president, Biden needs the US Senate to confirm his cabinet choices. What is the probability of this happening if the US Senate is controlled for at least the next 2 years by the "Party of Trump"

And if this happens what will Biden's approval rating be in November 2022 when the House and 1/3 of the Senate is up for re-election?

On the upside, in seventy-three days; the nuclear launch codes will be held by an adult.

Assuming we make it to then...

[ian]

Ian,
The best I can say is "Oh God". My hope is that sanity will prevail. But then we just endured 4 years of Trump.

I watched the Harris / Biden speeches tonight. My first election was 1964. I have voted in every election since then, save one school board election after we moved out of state. In my lifetime I have never observed the spontaneous celebrations in the many cities that were happening tonight.

Since I was involuntarily 'Retired' Cinco de Mayo, 2003 I have worked 18 different elections as some sort of a poll worker. For a variety of reasons I did not work this years election. During Harris' speech tonight was the first time that, albeit indirectly, I was thanked indirectly for my efforts.

During Biden's speech, the message was clearly to 'Heal the divide in the country'. That attitude is refreshing.

Look, I truly hope that Biden and Harris can heal the US's deep political divisions.

However, after the last 5 or 6 years I'm not sure that that is even possible.

From this distance I get the impression that the 2020 Presidential election came down to
1. a vote for Trump/Pence because they are NOT Biden/Harris.
2. a vote for Biden/Harris because they are NOT Trump/Pence.
3. there was no 3rd middle ground candidate.


The latest US election has set a record in the size of the voter turnout -- around 160 million.
Trump's "for" vote was some millions greater than it was in 2016 -- with 91% of votes counted, Trump had received 70.8 million "for" votes.
Biden's "for" vote is currently standing at about 75.2 million.

9% of votes are still to be counted.



but the divisions between the Democrats and Republicans will take much more than platitudes to heal.

I really truly hope Biden can do the healing, but ...

[ian]

On the upside, in seventy-three days; the nuclear launch codes will be held by an adult.

Assuming we make it to then...

I have faith that the US Military will stick to their oath to "protect and uphold the Constitution of the United States"
I don't see the nuclear launch codes being activated over the next 73 days.

[markharrison]

I wouldn't mind seeing that brought in here as well.

The difference is when a voluntary voter (such as in the US elections) turns up they usually know who they are going to vote for but our lot need a reminder so the party faithful provides everyone with a handbill size cheat sheet .

I'd still like to see compulsory voting but no cheat sheets and an alternative voting spot on the ballot paper for "couldn't effing remember".

The how-to-vote cards are unfortunately necessary. I've stood as an observer in a tally room on several occasions and the truly dumb stuff I've seen is beyond my ability to describe!

You are not required by law to actually fill in the ballot. You can simply drop it straight in the ballot box. Nobody is going to try and talk you out of it. That said, most people do take it seriously once they have that piece of paper in their hand.

Compulsory voting would change the whole nature of US politics. The lowest common denominator approach of both political parties required to motivate their "base" to turn up to vote would be neutered. The instant everyone HAS to turn up, you have to appeal to a greater percentage of the voting population. That alone would bring politics somewhere towards the centre of the US political spectrum.

[elanjacobs]

From this distance I get the impression that the 2020 Presidential election came down to
1. a vote for Trump/Pence because they are NOT Biden/Harris.
2. a vote for Biden/Harris because they are NOT Trump/Pence.
3. there was no 3rd middle ground candidate.

A friend of mine put it quite well: each one could only defeat the other

[markharrison]

I have faith that the US Military will stick to their oath to "protect and uphold the Constitution of the United States"
I don't see the nuclear launch codes being activated over the next 73 days.

I'm sure you're right.

Fortunately, the carrier of the "nuclear football" is always a USAF Colonel (If I recall correctly) so not some wet behind the ears newbie that is going to instantly cower if the toddler-in-chief bellows at them.

[yvan]

Unless I am missing something, the fact that Biden will face a Republican senate is not much different than the current political landscape in Australia. The Liberal Party happens to hold the majority in the lower house but does not control the Senate... Which, I assume, is exactly the role a second house was intended to have and be a house of review.

As much as I appreciate the benefits of both houses being of the same colour, it often encourages the passage of opportunistic and fundamentally bad legislation.

Once introduced, bad laws never seem to be removed.. !!!