theguardian--2020-10-28--Drag Race stars get political: 'People were like, you queens should stick to wigs and makeup'

Drag and activism have always gone hand in hand .
In June 1969 , Marsha P Johnson , a Black drag performer reputedly threw the first brick in the Stonewall uprising in New York City ; the violence that followed inspired LGBTQ+ people the world over to stand up to oppression and discrimination .
Now , 51 years later , drag is more visible than ever , due in no small part to the multiple Emmy award-winning reality series RuPaul ’ s Drag Race .
The show has given a powerful platform to a new generation of drag , trans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early activists often had to contend with police batons , water cannon and prison cells , these queens have more freedom to speak their minds .
“ Drag has always been a stronghold against shitty politicians , ” says Alaska , in her trademark vocal fry .
The ferociously witty winner of RuPaul ’ s Drag Race All Stars season 2 says her political role models include Act Up ( Aids Coalition to Unleash Power ) , the movement that advocates to end Aids , and Elizabeth Taylor , one of the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aids crisis in the 1980s , who “ wasn ’ t technically a drag queen , but she kind of was , right ?
” “ Act Up had this badass element and ‘ enough is enough ’ attitude .
It was during the Reagan presidency and they were , like : ‘ This man doesn ’ t see us , we have a crisis , people are dying – we ’ re burying all our friends and the president won ’ t even acknowledge it.
’ They had to take really drastic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get through , ” she says .
Alaska has also found an effective medium to get her point across .
The bi-weekly podcast Race Chaser , which she co-hosts with fellow Drag Race contestant Willam , features Let ’ s Get Political , a segment in which the queens share crucial information about registering to vote and engaging with good causes , while making no secret of their personal sentiments .
Alaska recently said , “ An empty suit on a hanger in a closet would do less damage than the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.2 to 1.5m downloads a month , their platform is not to be sniffed at .
“ People didn ’ t like it at first .
They were like : ‘ I don ’ t think you drag queens know anything about politics and you should just stick to talking about Drag Race and wigs and makeup.
” But we persisted .
Even though we ’ re talking about something we may not know about , there ’ s a lot of people who don ’ t know shit about politics but , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much injustice and so much lying , we have no choice but to be active and fight against it , ” Alaska says .
Her message to her US followers is , simply : vote .
With her teased blond beehive , love of leopard print and notorious potty mouth , Alaska is not the most obvious political role model – a paradox not lost on the leggy diva : “ It ’ s sort of a topsy-turvy world where a drag queen named Alaska Thunderfuck is someone who ’ s a role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , why not ?
I ’ m always trying to be a better person , a better citizen , a better drag queen .
I guess it ’ s just a case of trying to do good and not do harm.
” For Peppermint – actor , singer , Broadway performer and fan favourite from Drag Race season 9 – there were no public figures that represented her experience growing up .
As a young Black trans woman , she was inspired by those who dared to stand for change and challenge social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were being ostracised or fired from their jobs , or being made fun of on television – those are the trailblazers who paved the way for people like me , ” says Peppermint , whose role models include the Minneapolis councilwoman Andrea Jenkins , the first Black openly transgender woman elected to public office in the US , and earlier on , gender non-conforming pioneers such as Sylvia Rivera , Marsha P Johnson and Stormé DeLarverie , who are credited with starting the modern queer rights movement .
Since the start of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sassy , but never shady ” Peppermint has emerged as one of the most eloquent voices in the Black Trans Lives Matter movement , which aims to raise awareness of the violence directed at the Black trans community , and Black transgender women in particular .
“ It ’ s absolutely necessary for people to become outraged and mobilised when we see images of injustice .
I ’ m so thankful that the Black Lives Matter movement began after the murder of Trayvon Martin and continued with George Floyd , but what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sort of energy when it comes to the women who have been killed : Breonna Taylor , Sandra Bland and many others , ” Peppermint says .
In 2019 , at least 27 transgender people were murdered in the US , of whom the vast majority were Black women , according to Human Rights Campaign , an LGBTQ advocacy group .
Peppermint believes the lack of public indignation surrounding the murders of Black trans women is rooted in misogyny and transphobia – issues that have become glaringly apparent under the current Republican administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bright light that ’ s hard to look at but shows us everything we need to see , ” she says .
“ It ’ s not pretty and it ’ s rough and it ’ s uncomfortable .
But I don ’ t know that we ’ d be out marching for Breonna Taylor and George Floyd under a different presidency because I think we ’ d be comfortable with the way things are .
Trump is using the worst tools he can to inspire the worst in some people , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say ‘ No !
’ You can ’ t make change until you hit rock bottom and he ’ s rock bottom.
” One queen who is no stranger to change and overcoming adversity is Latrice Royale .
Having been arrested in 2001 , she served a year in a Florida prison on a minor drug charge , after missing a parole meeting .
Ten years later , “ large and in charge , chunky yet funky ” Latrice Royale emerged as the heart and soul of season 4 , earning the title @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her glittering career has gone from strength to strength .
“ Thank God for drag !
When you go away [ to prison ] and come back , there are no job opportunities .
But most people don ’ t have drag to fall back on , ” Royale says .
Drag may have restored her ability to support herself , but another of her key rights took considerably longer to be reinstated .
Like 1.4 million other Floridians , Royale lost her right to vote after having been convicted of a felony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which disproportionately affects Black people , who make up 46 % of Florida ’ s prison population , according to the Prison Policy Initiative .
After the 2018-midterm elections , a piece of legislation known as Amendment 4 reversed this Jim Crow-era law by restoring access to the ballot to so-called returning citizens .
However , voting rights are only restored once they have paid off their court fees .
Just before the 2018 midterms , Royale shared an Instagram post with side-by-side pictures of herself in prison and in drag , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voice , please vote !
Speak for people like me who can ’ t !
” “ It passed , thank goodness , but it ’ s a never-ending uphill battle , ” she says , referring to the estimated 774,000 with felony convictions who still can not vote because they owe money , according to the American Civil Liberties Union .
“ The point of this law is to keep Black people disenfranchised and silence us .
We ’ re in this situation because so many people think their measly little vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does .
If we don ’ t participate , we ’ re going to be sitting here crying about it and I have no more tears .
So I ’ m going to keep screaming , ‘ Vote !
Vote !
Vote !
Vote !
’ , ” says Royale , who will vote herself this year for the first time since Bill Clinton was re-elected in 1996 .
One of the fiercest queens ever to slay the runway of RuPaul ’ s Drag Race , Latrice Royale is well aware of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mainstream media .
That ’ s why RuPaul has been such an inspiration .
“ What RuPaul has done for our community has been beyond anyone ’ s imagination .
When he came out with Supermodel ( You Better Work ) , I was like ‘ Oh , my God – that ’ s a man , Maury !
’ , ” exclaims Royale , with her deep boisterous laugh .
Talking to all the queens about role models , one name that comes up repeatedly is Lady Bunny .
A friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Race , the iconic drag performer , DJ and actor is recognised not only as the reigning queen of New York LGBTQ+ nightlife , but one of the most radical voices in queer politics .
Perhaps , though , Lady Bunny is best known as the creator of Wigstock .
The annual drag festival , which was born on a night out in New York ’ s East Village in 1984 , is often described as subversive and anti-establishment , but Lady Bunny disagrees .
“ No !
” she exclaims , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to say it was ‘ in your face ’ .
Actually what it was , the whole country was gripped by Aids – and the tragedy of it .
I was in my early 20s and , as hard as it may be for people to imagine , I was a twink [ a young , gay , slim , boyish man ] , so my interests were drinking and sex !
The role of Wigstock was for me to be a jester and for people to celebrate that we were still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death and darkness.
” Lady Bunny says her true political awakening occurred after 9/11 , when she saw the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center “ used as a way to start a war with Iraq ” .
Since then , the drag legend with the giant blond wig and mouth like a fishwife has been an outspoken critic of mainstream media and politics .
In 2016 , she backed Bernie Sanders and , ultimately , voted for the Green Party nominee , Jill Stein .
Today , she continues to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading parties , arguing that they are in the pockets of corporate interests .
Not so in this election , though .
While Lady Bunny disagrees with many of Joe Biden ’ s policies , she admits , “ Trump is a nightmare for LGBTQ+ issues .
Because of the Supreme Court , because of LGBTQ+ rights , because of the emergency that is the climate , I would encourage people in swing states to vote for Joe Biden , ” she says .
“ However , Americans have to stop thinking that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change the hideous problems in this country .
We began seeing cellphone footage of police killing Black people under the Obama administration .
Nothing was done and now , here we are , with a white supremacist-affiliated president , ” referring to alleged links between Donald Trump ’ s father and the Ku Klux Klan , described in historian Linda Gordon ’ s controversial book The Second Coming of the KKK : The Ku Klux Klan and the American Political Tradition .
Many in the drag and LGBTQ+ community see the coming election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alaska put it best in a recent episode of Race Chaser : “ For us as queer individuals , this is life or death .
The current administration is trying to dismantle our rights , discriminate against us , create a country that is hostile towards us and treats us as second-class citizens .
That is not OK and we will never allow it to be OK. And we will never stop speaking about it until every fuckin ’ person on this planet has the exact same rights and fuckin ’ justice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @

Drag and activism have always gone hand in hand. In June 1969, Marsha P Johnson, a Black drag performer was one of the key players in the Stonewall uprising in New York City; it was an event that inspired LGBTQ+ people the world over to stand up to oppression and discrimination. Now, 51 years later, drag is more visible than ever, due in no small part to the multiple Emmy award-winning reality series RuPaul’s Drag Race. The show has given a powerful platform to a new generation of drag, trans and non-binary performers. And, whereas early activists often had to contend with police batons, water cannon and prison cells, these queens have more freedom to speak their minds.
“Drag has always been a stronghold against shitty politicians,” says Alaska, in her trademark vocal fry. The ferociously witty winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season 2 says her political role models include Act Up (Aids Coalition to Unleash Power), the movement that advocates to end Aids, and Elizabeth Taylor, one of the first Hollywood icons to speak up during the Aids crisis in the 1980s, who “wasn’t technically a drag queen, but she kind of was, right?”
“Act Up had this badass element and ‘enough is enough’ attitude. It was during the Reagan presidency and they were, like: ‘This man doesn’t see us, we have a crisis, people are dying – we’re burying all our friends and the president won’t even acknowledge it.’ They had to take really drastic measures because it was the only way to get through,” she says.
Alaska has also found an effective medium to get her point across. The bi-weekly podcast Race Chaser, which she co-hosts with fellow Drag Race contestant Willam, features Let’s Get Political, a segment in which the queens share crucial information about registering to vote and engaging with good causes, while making no secret of their personal sentiments. Alaska recently said, “An empty suit on a hanger in a closet would do less damage than the current person in the White House.” With 1.2 to 1.5m downloads a month, their platform is not to be sniffed at.
“People didn’t like it at first. They were like: ‘I don’t think you drag queens know anything about politics and you should just stick to talking about Drag Race and wigs and makeup.” But we persisted. Even though we’re talking about something we may not know about, there’s a lot of people who don’t know shit about politics but, right now, there’s so much injustice and so much lying, we have no choice but to be active and fight against it,” Alaska says. Her message to her US followers is, simply: vote.
I’m always trying to be a better person, a better citizen. I guess it’s just a case of trying to do good and not do harm Alaska Thunderfuck
With her teased blond beehive, love of leopard print and notorious potty mouth, Alaska is not the most obvious political role model – a paradox not lost on the leggy diva: “It’s sort of a topsy-turvy world where a drag queen named Alaska Thunderfuck is someone who’s a role model for young people, but sure, why not? I’m always trying to be a better person, a better citizen, a better drag queen. I guess it’s just a case of trying to do good and not do harm.”
For Peppermint – actor, singer, Broadway performer and fan favourite from Drag Race season 9 – there were no public figures that represented her experience growing up. As a young Black trans woman, she was inspired by those who dared to stand for change and challenge social and gender norms.
“People who were being ostracised or fired from their jobs, or being made fun of on television – those are the trailblazers who paved the way for people like me,” says Peppermint, whose role models include the Minneapolis councilwoman Andrea Jenkins, the first Black openly transgender woman elected to public office in the US, and earlier on, gender non-conforming pioneers such as Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P Johnson and Stormé DeLarverie, who are credited with starting the modern queer rights movement.
Since the start of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, “sassy, but never shady” Peppermint has emerged as one of the most eloquent voices in the Black Trans Lives Matter movement, which aims to raise awareness of the violence directed at the Black trans community, and Black transgender women in particular.
“It’s absolutely necessary for people to become outraged and mobilised when we see images of injustice. I’m so thankful that the Black Lives Matter movement began after the murder of Trayvon Martin and continued with George Floyd, but what we’re not seeing is the same sort of energy when it comes to the women who have been killed: Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland and many others,” Peppermint says.
In 2019, at least 27 transgender people were murdered in the US, of whom the vast majority were Black women, according to Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group. Peppermint believes the lack of public indignation surrounding the murders of Black trans women is rooted in misogyny and transphobia – issues that have become glaringly apparent under the current Republican administration.
Latrice Royale, able to vote in 2020 for the first time since 1996. Photograph: Mugged Media Inc./Erika Wagner
“Trump is like a really bright light that’s hard to look at but shows us everything we need to see,” she says. “It’s not pretty and it’s rough and it’s uncomfortable. But I don’t know that we’d be out marching for Breonna Taylor and George Floyd under a different presidency because I think we’d be comfortable with the way things are. Trump is using the worst tools he can to inspire the worst in some people, but it inspires the rest of us to say ‘No!’ You can’t make change until you hit rock bottom and he’s rock bottom.”
One queen who is no stranger to change and overcoming adversity is Latrice Royale. Having been arrested in 2001, she served a year in a Florida prison on a minor drug charge, after missing a parole meeting.
Ten years later, “large and in charge, chunky yet funky” Latrice Royale emerged as the heart and soul of season 4, earning the title of Miss Congeniality. Since then, her glittering career has gone from strength to strength. “Thank God for drag! When you go away [to prison] and come back, there are no job opportunities. But most people don’t have drag to fall back on,” Royale says.
Drag may have restored her ability to support herself, but another of her key rights took considerably longer to be reinstated. Like 1.4 million other Floridians, Royale lost her right to vote after having been convicted of a felony, due to a law from 1868, which disproportionately affects Black people, who make up 46% of Florida’s prison population, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. After the 2018-midterm elections, a piece of legislation known as Amendment 4 reversed this Jim Crow-era law by restoring access to the ballot to so-called returning citizens. However, voting rights are only restored once they have paid off their court fees.
Just before the 2018 midterms, Royale shared an Instagram post with side-by-side pictures of herself in prison and in drag, urging, “All that have a voice, please vote! Speak for people like me who can’t!”
“It passed, thank goodness, but it’s a never-ending uphill battle,” she says, referring to the estimated 774,000 with felony convictions who still cannot vote because they owe money, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. “The point of this law is to keep Black people disenfranchised and silence us. We’re in this situation because so many people think their measly little vote doesn’t matter, but it does. If we don’t participate, we’re going to be sitting here crying about it and I have no more tears. So I’m going to keep screaming, ‘Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote!’,” says Royale, who will vote herself this year for the first time since Bill Clinton was re-elected in 1996.
One of the fiercest queens ever to slay the runway of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Latrice Royale is well aware of the lack of representation for people like her in mainstream media. That’s why RuPaul has been such an inspiration.
“What RuPaul has done for our community has been beyond anyone’s imagination. When he came out with Supermodel (You Better Work), I was like ‘Oh, my God – that’s a man, Maury!’,” exclaims Royale, with her deep boisterous laugh.
Talking to all the queens about role models, one name that comes up repeatedly is Lady Bunny. A friend of RuPaul and referenced frequently on Drag Race, the iconic drag performer, DJ and actor is recognised not only as the reigning queen of New York LGBTQ+ nightlife, but one of the most radical voices in queer politics. Perhaps, though, Lady Bunny is best known as the creator of Wigstock. The annual drag festival, which was born on a night out in New York’s East Village in 1984, is often described as subversive and anti-establishment, but Lady Bunny disagrees.
“No!” she exclaims, in her captivating southern drawl. “People tried to say it was ‘in your face’. Actually what it was, the whole country was gripped by Aids – and the tragedy of it. I was in my early 20s and, as hard as it may be for people to imagine, I was a twink [a young, gay, slim, boyish man], so my interests were drinking and sex! The role of Wigstock was for me to be a jester and for people to celebrate that we were still here in the midst of all this death and darkness.”
Lady Bunny says her true political awakening occurred after 9/11, when she saw the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center “used as a way to start a war with Iraq”. Since then, the drag legend with the giant blond wig and mouth like a fishwife has been an outspoken critic of mainstream media and politics. In 2016, she backed Bernie Sanders and, ultimately, voted for the Green Party nominee, Jill Stein. Today, she continues to be a voice of dissent against the two leading parties, arguing that they are in the pockets of corporate interests.
Lady Bunny, reigning New York queen and longtime activist.
While Lady Bunny disagrees with many of Joe Biden’s policies, she admits, “Trump is a nightmare for LGBTQ+ issues. Because of the Supreme Court, because of LGBTQ+ rights, because of the emergency that is the climate, I would encourage people in swing states to vote for Joe Biden,” she says. “However, Americans have to stop thinking that voting every four years is enough to change the hideous problems in this country. We began seeing cellphone footage of police killing Black people under the Obama administration. Nothing was done and now, here we are, with a white supremacist-affiliated president,” referring to alleged links between Donald Trump’s father and the Ku Klux Klan, described in historian Linda Gordon’s controversial book The Second Coming of the KKK: The Ku Klux Klan and the American Political Tradition.
Many in the drag and LGBTQ+ community see the coming election as a critical moment for them. Alaska put it best in a recent episode of Race Chaser: “For us as queer individuals, this is life or death. The current administration is trying to dismantle our rights, discriminate against us, create a country that is hostile towards us and treats us as second-class citizens. That is not OK and we will never allow it to be OK. And we will never stop speaking about it until every fuckin’ person on this planet has the exact same rights and fuckin’ justice. That’s the tea.”


theguardian--2020-10-28--We can't vote in San Quentin prison. So we held a mock election

Authors Juan Haines and Kevin Sawyer are both incarcerated journalists at San Quentin prison .
“ I want to be heard , ” one man wrote on the back of a makeshift ballot in a simulated election held inside San Quentin state prison .
Another wrote that he was voting because “ I ’ d like to feel like a citizen ; feel like I am important too.
” The total population of US prisons and jails is greater than all but four American cities .
But with a few exceptions ( Maine , Vermont and now Washington DC ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisons can not participate in the democratic process .
In California , even people on parole can not vote , though a measure called Proposition 17 could change that this year .
The thousands of men in San Quentin do not worry about violence at polling places or missing mail-in ballots .
We know from the start that our votes won ’ t count .
At least 1,600 men spend more than 23 hours a day locked inside windowless , 4ft x 10ft cells .
The unventilated housing units , five tiers high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perfect environments for the coronavirus to thrive .
There have been more than 2,200 confirmed cases at San Quentin – three-quarters of the prison ’ s total population – and 28 incarcerated men have died .
Some of the men incarcerated here were nonetheless given a chance to make their choices – and their voices – known through a mock election .
The mock election goal : poll those held in the general population in north block and west block , who represent about 85 % of the total population .
To make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Solitary Watch , which is collaborating with the Guardian to support our election and publish our story , mailed 800 ballots to north block and 800 more to west block .
The ballots , delivered via express mail , have been sitting in the prison mailroom since 2 October .
Calls from Solitary Watch went unanswered .
It was under these circumstances that 150 handmade ballots were passed out in north block on 10 October .
Three days later , 170 more were smuggled into west block , accompanied by a note that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department of corrections and rehabilitation ] is holding the ballots , we have to improvise.
” Every other day , about 160 of the 800 men on north block are let out of their cells for 90 minutes , tier-by-tier , until everyone on all five tiers gets a chance to shower in one of 10 ( racially segregated ) community showers and/or go to the prison yard and/or make a 15-minute telephone call on one of 12 phones , if sign-up slots are available .
Voting took place during this time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On west block , ballots were hastily passed out and collected over a two-day period during brief cell unlocks .
The first day , an impromptu lockup impeded the process , and on the second day a short medical quarantine placed the election in jeopardy .
But 73 ballots were retrieved and tallied .
Overall , this random sampling delivered a landslide to Biden , who received 141 votes to Trump ’ s 27 – a ratio of 8 to 1 .
( One person wrote in “ freedom liberty ” and three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undecided ” . )
Each ballot also said : “ I want to vote because … ” and left room for handwritten comments .
These showed that while Trump ’ s talk about prison reform and pardons had resonated in San Quentin , only a few thought criminal justice reform would have a better chance under a second Trump term .
Some Trump supporters credited him for building “ the wall ” , creating economic growth , and making good trade deals ; others simply did not like Biden .
Brian Asey has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Biden .
He ’ s never voted before .
“ I want to vote because I want to change our city officials because they are the ones who can make a difference in my community , ” said Asey , who was working in the prison ’ s media department as a film-maker before Covid-19 .
“ The president is too busy lining his and his base ’ s pockets with money to care about anything else … He don ’ t care about the people , he only cares about making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Trump is a habitual liar.
” That ’ s not a quality people find appealing in a place where a man ’ s word is supposed to be his bond .
The words “ Nazi/KKK ” and “ White Supremacy ” were parenthetically scrawled around Trump ’ s name on another vote for Biden .
Alex Ross , 54 , has been incarcerated 26 years .
He voted for Biden .
“ I want to vote because it is necessary that all voices be heard and to counter ethnic cleansing by way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So did 49-year-old Tim Hick , who said that , politically , denying those in prison the right to vote is “ a strategic way to red-line people ” .
While Trump voters were in the minority , the current president still garnered some support .
“ Trump ’ s a businessman from jump-start – a good businessman , period , ” said Daniel James Longorio , one of the few Trump supporters in north block .
Last year , the group Initiate Justice conducted a survey of people incarcerated and on parole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democracy Needs Everyone .
The results suggested that ending felony disenfranchisement would have a positive impact on public safety .
While 63 % of respondents in that survey said they never voted before incarceration , 98 % said they ’ d vote now , if they could .
They wanted to have a voice in society , a say in elected leadership , and a chance to contribute positively to their community .
San Quentin ’ s Rodney “ Pit ” Baylis , 60 , has been incarcerated 24 years .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ As long as there is inequality in America , there will always be a civil rights movement to fill those missing pages of history , ” Baylis said .
“ The next president ’ s job is going to be the hardest seat to fill because so many things are left broken .
To fill this seat everyone needs to help him .
The Republicans and Democrats have to come together as one to fix this country.
” Meanwhile , some people in prison , conscious of the harm they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a special understanding of the need for justice and restoration –something that is particularly relevant in these times of deep racial , economic and political divisions .
One man , explaining his reason for voting , wrote simply : “ We need to heal.
” • None Juan Haines and Kevin Sawyer have both been incarcerated at California ’ s San Quentin state prison for over two decades .
Haines , 63 , is senior editor at the award-winning prison publication the San Quentin News and a regular contributor to the Appeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting as he fought Covid-19 from a solitary confinement cell during the prison ’ s massive outbreak .
Sawyer , 57 , is associate editor at the San Quentin News

By Juan Moreno Haines and Kevin Deroi Sawyer

Authors Juan Haines and Kevin Sawyer are both incarcerated journalists at San Quentin prison.
“I want to be heard,” one man wrote on the back of a makeshift ballot in a simulated election held inside San Quentin state prison. Another wrote that he was voting because “I’d like to feel like a citizen; feel like I am important too.”
The total population of US prisons and jails is greater than all but four American cities. But with a few exceptions (Maine, Vermont and now Washington DC), citizens held in state and federal prisons cannot participate in the democratic process. In California, even people on parole cannot vote, though a measure called Proposition 17 could change that this year. The thousands of men in San Quentin do not worry about violence at polling places or missing mail-in ballots. We know from the start that our votes won’t count.
At least 1,600 men spend more than 23 hours a day locked inside windowless, 4ft x 10ft cells. The unventilated housing units, five tiers high, have their windows welded shut – perfect environments for the coronavirus to thrive. There have been more than 2,200 confirmed cases at San Quentin – three-quarters of the prison’s total population – and 28 incarcerated men have died.
Some of the men incarcerated here were nonetheless given a chance to make their choices – and their voices – known through a mock election. The mock election goal: poll those held in the general population in north block and west block, who represent about 85% of the total population. To make it happen, on 1 October, Solitary Watch, which is collaborating with the Guardian to support our election and publish our story, mailed 800 ballots to north block and 800 more to west block. The ballots, delivered via express mail, have been sitting in the prison mailroom since 2 October. Calls from Solitary Watch went unanswered.
It was under these circumstances that 150 handmade ballots were passed out in north block on 10 October. Three days later, 170 more were smuggled into west block, accompanied by a note that read: “Since CDCR [California department of corrections and rehabilitation] is holding the ballots, we have to improvise.”
Every other day, about 160 of the 800 men on north block are let out of their cells for 90 minutes, tier-by-tier, until everyone on all five tiers gets a chance to shower in one of 10 (racially segregated) community showers and/or go to the prison yard and/or make a 15-minute telephone call on one of 12 phones, if sign-up slots are available. Voting took place during this time, and north block cast 103 votes.
On west block, ballots were hastily passed out and collected over a two-day period during brief cell unlocks. The first day, an impromptu lockup impeded the process, and on the second day a short medical quarantine placed the election in jeopardy. But 73 ballots were retrieved and tallied.
Overall, this random sampling delivered a landslide to Biden, who received 141 votes to Trump’s 27 – a ratio of 8 to 1. (One person wrote in “freedom liberty” and three others wrote “other” or “undecided”.)
Each ballot also said: “I want to vote because …” and left room for handwritten comments. These showed that while Trump’s talk about prison reform and pardons had resonated in San Quentin, only a few thought criminal justice reform would have a better chance under a second Trump term. Some Trump supporters credited him for building “the wall”, creating economic growth, and making good trade deals; others simply did not like Biden.
An aerial view of San Quentin state prison. Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Brian Asey has been incarcerated 22 years. He voted for Biden. He’s never voted before.
“I want to vote because I want to change our city officials because they are the ones who can make a difference in my community,” said Asey, who was working in the prison’s media department as a film-maker before Covid-19. “The president is too busy lining his and his base’s pockets with money to care about anything else … He don’t care about the people, he only cares about making money.”
Another Biden voter wrote, “Trump is a habitual liar.” That’s not a quality people find appealing in a place where a man’s word is supposed to be his bond. The words “Nazi/KKK” and “White Supremacy” were parenthetically scrawled around Trump’s name on another vote for Biden.
Alex Ross, 54, has been incarcerated 26 years. He voted for Biden. “I want to vote because it is necessary that all voices be heard and to counter ethnic cleansing by way of prison,” Ross said. So did 49-year-old Tim Hick, who said that, politically, denying those in prison the right to vote is “a strategic way to red-line people”.
While Trump voters were in the minority, the current president still garnered some support. “Trump’s a businessman from jump-start – a good businessman, period,” said Daniel James Longorio, one of the few Trump supporters in north block.
Last year, the group Initiate Justice conducted a survey of people incarcerated and on parole in California and published a report, Democracy Needs Everyone. The results suggested that ending felony disenfranchisement would have a positive impact on public safety.
While 63% of respondents in that survey said they never voted before incarceration, 98% said they’d vote now, if they could. They wanted to have a voice in society, a say in elected leadership, and a chance to contribute positively to their community.
San Quentin’s Rodney “Pit” Baylis, 60, has been incarcerated 24 years. He said the last time he voted was 1982.
“As long as there is inequality in America, there will always be a civil rights movement to fill those missing pages of history,” Baylis said. “The next president’s job is going to be the hardest seat to fill because so many things are left broken. To fill this seat everyone needs to help him. The Republicans and Democrats have to come together as one to fix this country.”
Rodney Baylis: ‘The Republicans and Democrats have to come together.’ Photograph: Eddie Herena/Humans of Quentin
Meanwhile, some people in prison, conscious of the harm they’ve inflicted on fellow citizens, also have a special understanding of the need for justice and restoration –something that is particularly relevant in these times of deep racial, economic and political divisions.
One man, explaining his reason for voting, wrote simply: “We need to heal.”
Juan Haines and Kevin Sawyer have both been incarcerated at California’s San Quentin state prison for over two decades. Haines, 63, is senior editor at the award-winning prison publication the San Quentin News and a regular contributor to the Appeal and to Solitary Watch; he continued reporting as he fought Covid-19 from a solitary confinement cell during the prison’s massive outbreak. Sawyer, 57, is associate editor at the San Quentin News


theguardian--2020-10-28--'We couldn't stand it any more': why disaffection with Devin Nunes is growing among his constituents

Paul Buxman remembers how excited he was to meet his new congressman , Devin Nunes , when Nunes showed up at his organic fruit farm in California ’ s central valley in the early 2000s .
Buxman assumed that Nunes , who comes from Portuguese dairy farming stock , was actually interested in sustainable land use .
Maybe they ’ d talk about pesticides , or water , or farm labor issues in one of the world ’ s largest food producing regions .
Maybe Nunes would ask Buxman to address the crowd he ’ d brought along .
None @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this is the first farmer we ’ ve had as a congressman who ’ s come out to visit a farm , ” Buxman .
“ But all it was was a photo op.
” Buxman never was able to arrange a meeting with Nunes , despite making multiple overtures .
Pretty soon , he stopped voting for him .
Then , after Donald Trump became president and Nunes , as chair of the House intelligence committee until 2019 emerged as one of Trump ’ s staunchest defenders , Buxman started leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ You have to remember , you don ’ t only represent people who you agree with .
At least , sit quietly and put up with us , ” he ’ d tell them .
Nunes paid no attention until Buxman signed a petition demanding that Nunes stop describing himself as a farmer on the electoral ballot .
Nunes ’ s parents had long ago moved the family dairy farm to Iowa and Nunes himself had no apparent farming connection left other than a small investment in a friend ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now , Nunes did respond – with a lawsuit , accusing Buxman of being part of a dark-money plot that threatened his good name and the integrity of the electoral process .
It was one of a flurry of suits the congressman filed against critics and media organizations after facing heavy criticism for his role in Trump ’ s various Russia scandals .
Lashing out at his critics in this way has not been without a political cost .
Two years ago , after 16 years in Congress , Nunes faced his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutor , Andrew Janz , came within five percentage points of unseating him .
This year , small business owner and civic activist Phil Arballo could come closer still with a campaign that has focused predominantly on the local issues that many constituents accuse Nunes of ignoring .
In a district that , until recently , was considered one of the few remaining safe Republican seats in California , Arballo is polling about five points behind Nunes but is rapidly closing in , according to a recent internal Democratic party poll .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sizable fundraising haul , largely from small donations including hundreds of thousands of dollars raised in response to Nunes ’ s constant lawsuits .
( Nunes still enjoys a huge fundraising advantage , though ) .
Arballo ’ s coalition is built on two pillars : the changing demographics of the area , which is now almost 50 % Latino , and disaffection with Nunes .
As Nunes has focused his energies largely on Washington ’ s toxic political culture and made himself less visible in his district , that disaffection has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forgotten about his constituents .
That ’ s the bottom line , ” Arballo said in an interview with the Guardian .
“ Instead of holding himself accountable and reassuring people they ’ re going to be protected , instead of pushing for stimulus money and PPE in response to the coronavirus , he ’ s on Fox News talking about Hillary Clinton .
He ’ s in a different world .
He has no plans for the future .
He believes he ’ s entitled to this seat and takes every voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not respond to repeated requests for comment , but his critics say he has done little to counter this critique .
According to local media reports , he has not held an open constituency meeting for about 10 years .
He almost never gives media interviews , other than to Fox News and a friendly district radio station .
His rhetorical style is hot and uncompromising , whether he ’ s talking to his favorite TV hosts or on the podcast that he started last year .
Over and over , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence on Trump as a hoax , demonized Democrats as closet socialists , and characterized Joe Biden as a would-be revolutionary akin to Mao Zedong and Pol Pot .
Last month , he published a 95-page pamphlet titled Countdown to Socialism which he has since distributed widely to his constituents .
The Democrats , he writes in it , “ sympathize with the rioters and statue-topplers , they ’ re ashamed of their nation and their history , they believe their fellow countrymen are irredeemably racist and , most important , they want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something different ” .
Such rhetoric may energize the Trump base in his district , but it exhausts and bewilders many others .
Amy Aragon , a schoolteacher , and her husband , who runs a trucking company , are lifelong Republicans who voted for Nunes in each of his past elections .
But this summer they decided they ’ d had enough when they saw how Nunes and Trump responded to the protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
The same religious faith that once drew them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them with moral revulsion at their political leaders as they equated anti-racist protesters with thugs and criminals .
“ When we saw the hatred they were spewing , ” Aragon said , “ we couldn ’ t stand it any more .
We walked into Democratic party headquarters in downtown Fresno and asked for an Arballo sign … Then we asked if there was a way to get involved.
” Two years ago , Andrew Janz ran much of his campaign on national issues , ramming home Nunes ’ s willingness to cheerlead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was being used as a tool by hostile Russian interests .
Arballo , by contrast , has focused on the issues he believes voters of all political stripes care about most : healthcare , containing the pandemic , lobbying for emergency economic aid , and worrying about the central valley ’ s worsening air quality .
A big part of Arballo ’ s appeal is his life story , which dovetails at many junctures with these concerns .
Arballo had nothing handed to him : his father was an alcoholic and died when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to scrape for every dollar to become the first member of his family to graduate from college .
When the pandemic hit , his wife Cynthia lost her job as a translator for local schools , and they have struggled ever since to make ends meet while shepherding their six-year-old through remote school learning and also looking after a two-year-old .
They know first-hand what it is like to wait for months for unemployment benefits .
And they worry that their six-year-old could lose access to healthcare because he is asthmatic , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covered if the Affordable Care Act is overturned as Nunes has advocated .
“ People can relate to my story , ” Arballo said .
“ I know what it ’ s like to live paycheck-to-paycheck and do a household budget .
I grew up here , and my family ’ s still here … Devin Nunes couldn ’ t be more different .
He ’ s been a representative for 18 years and knows nothing outside of that.
” The question of political authenticity looms large in the race and perhaps helps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusation that he ’ s not really a farmer .
A few years ago , his connection to the Alpha and Omega winery in Napa generated unwelcome headlines after the owner of the winery , who describes himself as a “ good friend ” , was alleged to have hosted a party on his yacht involving prostitutes and cocaine .
( Nunes was not present . )
Last year , soon after filing suit against farmer Paul Buxman , Nunes claimed a farm as one of his assets .
But he also conceded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the property was worth less than $ 15,000 , the price of a storage shed , and generated no income – an admission that prompted widespread ridicule among his detractors .
Although the district has plenty of ardent Trump supporters , the administration ’ s agenda has , in some respects , been on a collision course with local interests .
The uncompromising crackdown on immigration , for example , has made it much more difficult for the big almond and raisin growers around Fresno and the dairy farmers further south around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to market because most farm laborers in California are undocumented immigrants .
Buxman , a soft-spoken man in his 70s who says he would as soon spend his retirement making marmalade , expressed regret more than anger over Nunes ’ s trajectory from farmer ’ s son to hot-headed ideologue .
“ I ’ ve said prayers for him , ” he recounted .
“ The way I see it , the best thing that could happen to him is that he lose the election .
For his own sake .
Then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d be glad to help him do that.
” Nunes quietly dropped the suit against Buxman and his co-defendants last year .
And , this year , the designation “ farmer ” no longer appears next to his name on the ballot .

Paul Buxman remembers how excited he was to meet his new congressman, Devin Nunes, when Nunes showed up at his organic fruit farm in California’s central valley in the early 2000s.
Buxman assumed that Nunes, who comes from Portuguese dairy farming stock, was actually interested in sustainable land use. Maybe they’d talk about pesticides, or water, or farm labor issues in one of the world’s largest food producing regions. Maybe Nunes would ask Buxman to address the crowd he’d brought along.
None of it happened. “I thought, this is the first farmer we’ve had as a congressman who’s come out to visit a farm,” Buxman. “But all it was was a photo op.”
Buxman never was able to arrange a meeting with Nunes, despite making multiple overtures. Pretty soon, he stopped voting for him. Then, after Donald Trump became president and Nunes, as chair of the House intelligence committee until 2019 emerged as one of Trump’s staunchest defenders, Buxman started leaving messages with the congressman’s staffers. “You have to remember, you don’t only represent people who you agree with. At least, sit quietly and put up with us,” he’d tell them.
Nunes paid no attention until Buxman signed a petition demanding that Nunes stop describing himself as a farmer on the electoral ballot. Nunes’s parents had long ago moved the family dairy farm to Iowa and Nunes himself had no apparent farming connection left other than a small investment in a friend’s Napa valley winery, the petition argued.
Now, Nunes did respond – with a lawsuit, accusing Buxman of being part of a dark-money plot that threatened his good name and the integrity of the electoral process. It was one of a flurry of suits the congressman filed against critics and media organizations after facing heavy criticism for his role in Trump’s various Russia scandals.
Lashing out at his critics in this way has not been without a political cost. Two years ago, after 16 years in Congress, Nunes faced his first significant re-election battle when a local prosecutor, Andrew Janz, came within five percentage points of unseating him. This year, small business owner and civic activist Phil Arballo could come closer still with a campaign that has focused predominantly on the local issues that many constituents accuse Nunes of ignoring.
Devin Nunes has faced criticism for his role in Donald Trump’s various Russia scandals. Photograph: Michael Reynolds/EPA
In a district that, until recently, was considered one of the few remaining safe Republican seats in California, Arballo is polling about five points behind Nunes but is rapidly closing in, according to a recent internal Democratic party poll. The Democrat has also managed to pull in a sizable fundraising haul, largely from small donations including hundreds of thousands of dollars raised in response to Nunes’s constant lawsuits. (Nunes still enjoys a huge fundraising advantage, though).
Arballo’s coalition is built on two pillars: the changing demographics of the area, which is now almost 50% Latino, and disaffection with Nunes. As Nunes has focused his energies largely on Washington’s toxic political culture and made himself less visible in his district, that disaffection has only grown.
“He’s forgotten about his constituents. That’s the bottom line,” Arballo said in an interview with the Guardian. “Instead of holding himself accountable and reassuring people they’re going to be protected, instead of pushing for stimulus money and PPE in response to the coronavirus, he’s on Fox News talking about Hillary Clinton. He’s in a different world. He has no plans for the future. He believes he’s entitled to this seat and takes every voter for granted.”
Nunes’s office did not respond to repeated requests for comment, but his critics say he has done little to counter this critique. According to local media reports, he has not held an open constituency meeting for about 10 years. He almost never gives media interviews, other than to Fox News and a friendly district radio station. His rhetorical style is hot and uncompromising, whether he’s talking to his favorite TV hosts or on the podcast that he started last year. Over and over, he has dismissed any suggestion of undue Russian influence on Trump as a hoax, demonized Democrats as closet socialists, and characterized Joe Biden as a would-be revolutionary akin to Mao Zedong and Pol Pot.
Last month, he published a 95-page pamphlet titled Countdown to Socialism which he has since distributed widely to his constituents. The Democrats, he writes in it, “sympathize with the rioters and statue-topplers, they’re ashamed of their nation and their history, they believe their fellow countrymen are irredeemably racist and, most important, they want to ‘transform’ our country into something different”.
Such rhetoric may energize the Trump base in his district, but it exhausts and bewilders many others. Amy Aragon, a schoolteacher, and her husband, who runs a trucking company, are lifelong Republicans who voted for Nunes in each of his past elections. But this summer they decided they’d had enough when they saw how Nunes and Trump responded to the protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The same religious faith that once drew them to conservatism, she said, now filled them with moral revulsion at their political leaders as they equated anti-racist protesters with thugs and criminals. “When we saw the hatred they were spewing,” Aragon said, “we couldn’t stand it any more. We walked into Democratic party headquarters in downtown Fresno and asked for an Arballo sign … Then we asked if there was a way to get involved.”
A demonstrator holds a homemade puppet of Devin Nunes during the impeachment inquiry of Donald Trump. Photograph: Alex Edelman/Getty Images
Two years ago, Andrew Janz ran much of his campaign on national issues, ramming home Nunes’s willingness to cheerlead for Trump and questioning whether the congressman was being used as a tool by hostile Russian interests. Arballo, by contrast, has focused on the issues he believes voters of all political stripes care about most: healthcare, containing the pandemic, lobbying for emergency economic aid, and worrying about the central valley’s worsening air quality.
A big part of Arballo’s appeal is his life story, which dovetails at many junctures with these concerns. Arballo had nothing handed to him: his father was an alcoholic and died when he was 14, and he had to scrape for every dollar to become the first member of his family to graduate from college. When the pandemic hit, his wife Cynthia lost her job as a translator for local schools, and they have struggled ever since to make ends meet while shepherding their six-year-old through remote school learning and also looking after a two-year-old.
They know first-hand what it is like to wait for months for unemployment benefits. And they worry that their six-year-old could lose access to healthcare because he is asthmatic, a pre-existing condition that may no longer be covered if the Affordable Care Act is overturned as Nunes has advocated.
“People can relate to my story,” Arballo said. “I know what it’s like to live paycheck-to-paycheck and do a household budget. I grew up here, and my family’s still here … Devin Nunes couldn’t be more different. He’s been a representative for 18 years and knows nothing outside of that.”
The question of political authenticity looms large in the race and perhaps helps explain Nunes’s sensitivity to the accusation that he’s not really a farmer. A few years ago, his connection to the Alpha and Omega winery in Napa generated unwelcome headlines after the owner of the winery, who describes himself as a “good friend”, was alleged to have hosted a party on his yacht involving prostitutes and cocaine. (Nunes was not present.) Last year, soon after filing suit against farmer Paul Buxman, Nunes claimed a farm as one of his assets. But he also conceded, in a congressional disclosure form, that the property was worth less than $15,000, the price of a storage shed, and generated no income – an admission that prompted widespread ridicule among his detractors.
Although the district has plenty of ardent Trump supporters, the administration’s agenda has, in some respects, been on a collision course with local interests. The uncompromising crackdown on immigration, for example, has made it much more difficult for the big almond and raisin growers around Fresno and the dairy farmers further south around Visalia to produce their goods and bring them to market because most farm laborers in California are undocumented immigrants.
Buxman, a soft-spoken man in his 70s who says he would as soon spend his retirement making marmalade, expressed regret more than anger over Nunes’s trajectory from farmer’s son to hot-headed ideologue. “I’ve said prayers for him,” he recounted. “The way I see it, the best thing that could happen to him is that he lose the election. For his own sake. Then he really could start farming. I’d be glad to help him do that.”
Nunes quietly dropped the suit against Buxman and his co-defendants last year. And, this year, the designation “farmer” no longer appears next to his name on the ballot.


theguardian--2020-10-29--'Who the hell elected you?' Big tech CEOs grilled in US Senate hearing – video

Republican and Democrat lawmakers grill the CEOs of tech giants Twitter , Facebook and Google in a hearing about a @ @ @ @ @ from legal liability for content generated by its users .
While Republicans focused on disinformation @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump , Democrats accused their rivals of politicising the hearing , while also questioning @ @ @ @ @ that promoted content they deemed divisive Republicans use congressional hearing to berate tech CEOs and @ @ @ @ @

Republican and Democrat lawmakers grill the CEOs of tech giants Twitter, Facebook and Google in a hearing about a federal law protecting internet companies from legal liability for content generated by its users. While Republicans focused on disinformation and the 'censoring' of Donald Trump, Democrats accused their rivals of politicising the hearing, while also questioning the mechanics of the platforms that promoted content they deemed divisive
Republicans use congressional hearing to berate tech CEOs and claim Trump is 'censored'


theguardian--2020-10-28--Trump says Covid numbers 'way down' despite surge in cases as US passes 226,000 deaths – video

President Donald Trump says Covid-19 cases in the US are ‘ way down ’ despite nearly half a million people @ @ @ @ @ country over the last seven days , according to a Reuters tally .
Speaking one @ @ @ @ @ at a campaign rally in Wisconsin , Trump made a baseless prediction that the media @ @ @ @ @ doing ‘ extremely well ’ one day after the election • US election roundup : @ @ @ @ @ ’ the pandemic as cases surge

President Donald Trump says Covid-19 cases in the US are ‘way down’ despite nearly half a million people contracting the virus in the country over the last seven days, according to a Reuters tally. Speaking one week out from the election at a campaign rally in Wisconsin, Trump made a baseless prediction that the media would say the country was doing ‘extremely well’ one day after the election


theguardian--2020-10-29--How drop boxes became central to the partisan legal battles over ballots

On the East Side of Youngstown , Ohio , a steady stream of early voters drop off completed absentee ballots into the new drop box outside the Mahoning County Board of Elections .
Gloria Phifer is one of them .
The 68-year-old retired mail carrier drove about 15 minutes to the former hospital-turned-county office center .
She doesn ’ t mind walking , so she found a parking spot outside , walked up to the entrance and dropped her ballot into the red drop box – the only one in the county .
“ My fellow mail carriers , god @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought it would easier just bring it down here , ” Phifer said .
“ This is an important election and I wanted to just make sure [ there were ] no problems.
” In response to safety concerns spurred by the coronavirus pandemic and worries about potential mail delays , drop boxes are popping up all over the country – in many places for the first time .
The largely secure voting method has long been available to voters in states like Colorado and Washington .
But amid the partisan battles over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in battleground states are still fighting to limit their usage with only days left until 3 November .
Directives from Ohio secretary of state Frank LaRose and Texas governor Greg Abbott – both Republicans – limit drop boxes to one per county .
In Harris county , Texas , home to Houston , that ’ s one box for 4.7 million people .
For the 228,000 residents in more sparse Mahoning county , a single drop box could result in a lengthy trip to the Board of Elections .
In stark contrast , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county in greater Seattle , there are 73 24-hour drop boxes within easy reach of voters .
The ongoing litigation limiting the number of drop boxes has created confusion for voters in the middle of an election in which 46 million people have already voted by mail .
But in many cases , officials are also seeing that voters ’ increased anxiety about the safety of their ballots is matched by their determination .
“ When they see it ’ s so much harder for them to cast their ballot , they react @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll show you , ’ ” said Harris county clerk Chris Hollins .
In July , Travis county clerk Dana DeBeauvoir planned to establish three locations for Austin , Texas , voters to hand-deliver their completed absentee ballots .
The sprawling city is home to nearly 1 million people , and is one of the most diverse and Democrat-leaning areas in the mostly Republican state .
But on 1 October , Governor Abbott issued his executive order limiting the number of drop-off locations , citing enhanced election security and stymying DeBeauvoir ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris county , officials were preparing 11 drop-off sites locations .
“ We got no prior notice , ” said DeBeauvoir .
“ We were completely surprised by an abrupt order by the governor to cancel the three areas that we had planned and advertised for hand-delivery downtown.
” Ohio ’ s Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued a similar directive on 12 August .
He said multiple boxes would invite lawsuits , further complicating an already confusing election year .
State law requires voters to mail or deliver completed absentee ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law to prohibit drop boxes in places other than county election boards .
Mahoning County Board of Elections deputy director Tom McCabe described the limit as “ the way it should be.
” “ That ’ s what the law allows , ” he said .
“ That ’ s what the Secretary of State interprets , and I think that ’ s a good thing.
” Drop boxes are a new added convenience , and just one of the many methods of voting available this year , he said .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suppression , and in both states , voting rights activists sued to block the orders .
A Texas appeals court Friday upheld a Travis County State district court order permitting multiple hand delivery locations , but the decision will not yet lead to the reopening of closed drop boxes in Travis and Harris counties .
On the same day , Ohio voting rights advocates dropped their suit when it became clear the issue wouldn ’ t be decided before election day .
On 10 October , a federal judge threw out a lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bar the use of drop boxes in Pennsylvania , stating the campaign did not provide tangible evidence of fraud .
The Trump campaign plans to appeal the decision .
To drop off an absentee ballot in the box at the Mahoning County Board of Elections , “ you don ’ t even have to get out of your car ” , McCabe said .
The red mailbox is located outside the entrance to the building , in the middle of a roundabout .
Voters can drive right up to the box .
Pat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , drove to the Board of Elections 19 October to drop off a bundle of ballots – for her and her husband , two daughters and two grandchildren .
The Ohio secretary of state stipulates voters can submit ballots of “ near relatives ” .
“ I got everybody ’ s , ” she said , “ I told them all , ‘ Do them over the weekend , I ’ m taking them down Monday morning.
’ I just did that , so , we voted !
” The process of submitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simple in other states .
In Pennsylvania , election workers will not permit voters to drop off ballots other than their own .
In Texas , even calling the delivery system a “ drop box ” is misleading .
Voters must deliver their completed absentee ballots in-person to a drop-off location and show approved identification to a poll worker ; voters can ’ t submit anyone else ’ s ballot .
To streamline the process , the Travis County Clerk ’ s office created 16 bays in the parking lot for voters to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then go through the hand-delivery process from their cars .
“ It ’ s kinda like Sonic , ” DeBeauvoir said , referencing the drive-in restaurant .
With only about three weeks until Election Day , Florida election officials tried to create new security requirements for the state ’ s drop boxes .
In an Oct. 16 letter , Florida secretary of state Laurel Lee ’ s office announced drop boxes must be staffed at all times they are in use by an election employee or a sworn law enforcement official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to counties using surveillance cameras to protect drop boxes .
Florida law simply requires that drop boxes be “ secure , ” but does not define the word “ secure , ” said Ronald Lubasky , an attorney representing local election officials .
Election supervisors , therefore , have the discretion to determine the meaning , he argues .
Meanwhile , earlier this month , Thelma Smith , a 75-year-old resident of Harris county , drove her 79-year-old husband to submit his ballot at the county ’ s only drop-off site , NRG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband is disabled and was unable to join her when she voted early in person .
Smith called Abbott ’ s order “ unbelievable ” .
“ To me , it ’ s voter suppression , ” she said .
“ Almost 5 million people and one drop-off ?
Oh my goodness .
I can ’ t believe he did that.
” In Ohio , Erin Calaway drove her friend Anna Schnayder to the Trumbull County Board of Elections so they could both drop off their absentee ballots .
The box is located @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must park in the limited lot and walk to the entrance .
Schnayder is disabled and unable to drive .
Regarding the single box , Calaway said , “ I prefer security over quantity , ” though she added , “ it ’ d be nice to have increased access , especially for people with disabilities.
” As election day approaches , local officials are spending more and more time answering calls from frantic voters anxious about mail delays , getting the correct ballots and the security of their votes .
In Trumbull @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the phone , but the best comfort he can provide is getting correct ballots to voters on time .
When voter Bill Dray drove to the board of elections , he didn ’ t even feel comfortable putting his ballot in the box – he wanted to hand-deliver it to an election official inside .
Dray ’ s concern about the safety of his ballot isn ’ t completely unfounded – recently a man set fire to a drop box outside the Boston Public Library – though tampering with mail-in votes is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside when Dray arrived and assured him his ballot would be safe in the box .
Setting aside partisan brawls and the resulting voter anxiety , it ’ s the responsibility of election officials to make sure votes are counted , said Chris Hollins , the county clerk in Harris county , Texas .
“ It ’ s my job to protect the right to vote for every voter in Harris county , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t care who you ’ re going to vote for , what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you speak .
Every single voter has that constitutional right .
It should not be a partisan issue .
It ’ s mind blowing to me that folks are still on the other side of the argument – trying to pick and choose who is allowed to vote.
” “ It ’ s frustrating that those who claim to be leaders in a democracy are fighting democracy.
” • None Erum Salam , Ally Villareal and Nick Fiorellini contributed to the reporting

On the East Side of Youngstown, Ohio, a steady stream of early voters drop off completed absentee ballots into the new drop box outside the Mahoning county board of elections.
Gloria Phifer is one of them. The 68-year-old retired mail carrier drove about 15 minutes to the former hospital-turned-county office center. She doesn’t mind walking, so she found a parking spot outside, walked up to the entrance and dropped her ballot into the red drop box – the only one in the county.
“My fellow mail carriers, God bless them and everything, but I thought it would easier just to bring it down here,” Phifer said. “This is an important election and I wanted to just make sure [there were] no problems.”
Sign up for the Guardian’s Fight to Vote newsletter
In response to safety concerns spurred by the coronavirus pandemic and worries about potential mail delays, drop boxes are popping up all over the country – in many places for the first time. The largely secure voting method has long been available to voters in states like Colorado and Washington. But amid the partisan battles over access to the polls, election officials in battleground states are still fighting to limit their usage with only days left until 3 November.
Directives from Ohio secretary of state, Frank LaRose, and Texas governor, Greg Abbott – both Republicans – limit drop boxes to one per county. In Harris county, Texas, home to Houston, that’s one box for 4.7 million people. For the 228,000 residents in more sparse Mahoning county, a single drop box could result in a lengthy trip to the board of elections. In stark contrast, for the 2.3 million residents of King county in greater Seattle, there are 73 24-hour drop boxes within easy reach of voters.
The ongoing litigation limiting the number of drop boxes has created confusion for voters in the middle of an election in which 46 million people have already voted by mail. But in many cases, officials are also seeing that voters’ increased anxiety about the safety of their ballots is matched by their determination.
“When they see it’s so much harder for them to cast their ballot, they react to that by saying, ‘I’ll show you,’” said the Harris county clerk, Chris Hollins.
A woman casts her ballot in Santa Ana, California, on 13 October. Photograph: Frederic J Brown/AFP/Getty Images
Ongoing litigation
In July, the Travis county clerk, Dana DeBeauvoir, planned to establish three locations for Austin, Texas, for voters to hand-deliver their completed absentee ballots. The sprawling city is home to nearly 1 million people, and is one of the most diverse and Democratic-leaning areas in the mostly Republican state.
But on 1 October, Governor Abbott issued his executive order limiting the number of drop-off locations, citing enhanced election security and stymying DeBeauvoir’s plans and others. In nearby Harris county, officials were preparing 11 drop-off sites locations.
“We got no prior notice,” said DeBeauvoir. “We were completely surprised by an abrupt order by the governor to cancel the three areas that we had planned and advertised for hand-delivery downtown.”
Ohio’s Republican secretary of state, Frank LaRose, issued a similar directive on 12 August. He said multiple boxes would invite lawsuits, further complicating an already confusing election year. State law requires voters to mail or deliver completed absentee ballots “to the director”. LaRose interprets the law to prohibit drop boxes in places other than county election boards.
The deputy director of the Mahoning county board of elections, Tom McCabe, described the limit as “the way it should be”. “That’s what the law allows,” he said. “That’s what the secretary of state interprets, and I think that’s a good thing.”
Drop boxes are a new added convenience, and just one of the many methods of voting available this year, he said. But critics argue the directives amount to voter suppression, and in both states, voting rights activists sued to block the orders.
A Texas appeals court on Friday upheld a Travis county state district court order permitting multiple hand delivery locations, but the decision will not yet lead to the reopening of closed drop boxes in Travis and Harris counties. On the same day, Ohio voting rights advocates dropped their suit when it became clear the issue wouldn’t be decided before election day.
On 10 October, a federal judge threw out a lawsuit by the Trump campaign that tried to bar the use of drop boxes in Pennsylvania, stating the campaign did not provide tangible evidence of fraud. The Trump campaign plans to appeal against the decision.
Barbara Cull deposits a ballot in the ballot box at a drive-through drop off location in Austin, Texas, on 1 October. Photograph: Jay Janner/AP
Drop boxes and drive-thrus
To drop off an absentee ballot in the box at the Mahoning county board of elections, “you don’t even have to get out of your car”, McCabe said. The red mailbox is located outside the entrance to the building, in the middle of a roundabout. Voters can drive right up to the box.
Pat Morningstar, who lives in nearby Austintown, drove to the board of elections on 19 October to drop off a bundle of ballots – for her and her husband, two daughters and two grandchildren. The Ohio secretary of state stipulates voters can submit ballots of “near relatives”.
“I got everybody’s,” she said, “I told them all, ‘Do them over the weekend, I’m taking them down Monday morning.’ I just did that, so, we voted!”
The process of submitting a completed absentee ballot is not as simple in other states. In Pennsylvania, election workers will not permit voters to drop off ballots other than their own. In Texas, even calling the delivery system a “drop box” is misleading. Voters must deliver their completed absentee ballots in person to a drop-off location and show approved identification to a poll worker; voters can’t submit anyone else’s ballot.
To streamline the process, the Travis county clerk’s office created 16 bays in the parking lot for voters to drive in, pull into a bay, and then go through the hand-delivery process from their cars. “It’s kinda like Sonic,” DeBeauvoir said, referencing the drive-in restaurant.
With only about three weeks until election day, Florida election officials tried to create new security requirements for the state’s drop boxes. In 16 October letter, the office of the Florida secretary of state, Laurel Lee, announced drop boxes must be staffed at all times they are in use by an election employee or a sworn law enforcement official. The last-minute announcement presented an obstacle to counties using surveillance cameras to protect drop boxes.
Florida law simply requires that drop boxes be “secure” but does not define the word “secure”, said Ronald Lubasky, an attorney representing local election officials. Election supervisors, therefore, have the discretion to determine the meaning, he argues.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, Thelma Smith, a 75-year-old resident of Harris county, drove her 79-year-old husband to submit his ballot at the county’s only drop-off site, NRG Stadium in Houston. Smith’s husband is disabled and was unable to join her when she voted early in person.
Smith called Abbott’s order “unbelievable”. “To me, it’s voter suppression,” she said. “Almost 5 million people and one drop-off? Oh my goodness. I can’t believe he did that.”
In Ohio, Erin Calaway drove her friend Anna Schnayder to the Trumbull county board of elections so they could both drop off their absentee ballots. The box is located in front of the building; voters must park in the limited lot and walk to the entrance. Schnayder is disabled and unable to drive.
Regarding the single box, Calaway said, “I prefer security over quantity,” though she added, “it’d be nice to have increased access, especially for people with disabilities.”
Poll workers help a voter put their mail-in ballot in an official Miami-Dade county drive-thru ballot drop box in Miami, Florida, on 18 August. Photograph: Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images
Box security
As election day approaches, local officials are spending more and more time answering calls from frantic voters anxious about mail delays, getting the correct ballots and the security of their votes.
In Trumbull county, Massullo said he reassures voters over the phone, but the best comfort he can provide is getting correct ballots to voters on time.
When voter Bill Dray drove to the board of elections, he didn’t even feel comfortable putting his ballot in the box – he wanted to hand-deliver it to an election official inside. Dray’s concern about the safety of his ballot isn’t completely unfounded – recently a man set fire to a drop box outside the Boston Public Library – though tampering with mail-in votes is very rare.
But Massullo was standing outside when Dray arrived and assured him his ballot would be safe in the box.
Setting aside partisan brawls and the resulting voter anxiety, it’s the responsibility of election officials to make sure votes are counted, said Chris Hollins, the county clerk in Harris county, Texas.
“It’s my job to protect the right to vote for every voter in Harris county,” he said. “I don’t care who you’re going to vote for, what color you are, or what language you speak. Every single voter has that constitutional right. It should not be a partisan issue. It’s mind blowing to me that folks are still on the other side of the argument – trying to pick and choose who is allowed to vote.”
“It’s frustrating that those who claim to be leaders in a democracy are fighting democracy.”


theguardian--2020-10-29--Fox News's Tucker Carlson mocked for 'lost in the mail' Biden documents claim

The Fox News host Tucker Carlson has been mocked for his attempt to explain why he could not produce some documents he had promised relating to Joe Biden .
He said the only copy of the papers , which he claimed added to claims about Biden ’ s son Hunter , had been lost .
In a segment delivered to camera , Carlson said : On Monday we received from a source a collection of confidential documents related to the Biden family .
We believe those documents are authentic , they ’ re real , and they ’ re damning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York and we asked him to send those documents to us in LA … He shipped those documents overnight to California with a large national carrier brand … But the Biden documents never arrived in Los Angeles .
Tuesday morning we received word from the shipping company that our package had been opened and the contents were missing .
The documents had disappeared .
He went on to say of the delivery company , which he did not name : They searched the plane and the trucks that carried it , they went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our producer dropped that package off , they combed their entire cavernous sorting facility .
They used pictures of what we had sent so that searchers would know what to look for .
They went far and beyond .
But they found nothing , those documents have vanished .
As of tonight the company has no idea – and no working theory even – about what happened to this trove of materials , documents that are directly relevant to the presidential campaign .
Carlson ’ s show has been one of the main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , attempting to expand the narrative about his dealings in Ukraine and China and castigating other media outlets for not paying enough attention to claims made recently in the New York Post .
Carson ’ s story of the lost documents cut little ice on social media :

The Fox News host Tucker Carlson has been mocked for his attempt to explain why he could not produce documents he had promised relating to Joe Biden, implying some kind of conspiracy.
On Thursday United Parcel Service (UPS) confirmed that it had indeed lost, and then found, the package in question.
Carlson said the only copy of the papers, which he alleged added to claims about Biden’s son Hunter, had been lost. In a segment delivered to camera, Carlson said:
On Monday we received from a source a collection of confidential documents related to the Biden family. We believe those documents are authentic, they’re real, and they’re damning … We texted a producer in New York and we asked him to send those documents to us in LA … He shipped those documents overnight to California with a large national carrier brand … But the Biden documents never arrived in Los Angeles. Tuesday morning we received word from the shipping company that our package had been opened and the contents were missing. The documents had disappeared.
Damning Hunter Biden documents suddenly vanish pic.twitter.com/B2qsajZlID — Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) October 29, 2020
He went on to say of the delivery company, which he did not name:
They searched the plane and the trucks that carried it, they went through the office in New York where our producer dropped that package off, they combed their entire cavernous sorting facility. They used pictures of what we had sent so that searchers would know what to look for. They went far and beyond. But they found nothing, those documents have vanished. As of tonight, the company has no idea – and no working theory even – about what happened to this trove of materials, documents that are directly relevant to the presidential campaign.
UPS subsequently issued a statement confirming some of the details. It told the Daily Beast: “After an extensive search, we have found the contents of the package and are arranging for its return. UPS will always focus first on our customers, and will never stop working to solve issues and make things right.”
Glenn Zaccara, UPS’s corporate media relations director, confirmed to Business Insider that “the package was reported with missing contents as it moved within our network. UPS is conducting an urgent investigation into this matter and regrets that the package was damaged. The integrity of our network and the security of our customers’ goods are of utmost importance. We will remain in frequent, direct contact with Fox News as we learn more through our investigation.”
It remains to be seen what the documents will contain. Carlson’s show has been one of the main conduits of conspiracy theories about Hunter Biden, attempting to expand the narrative about his dealings in Ukraine and China and castigating other media outlets for not paying enough attention to claims made recently in the New York Post.
Carlson’s story of the lost documents cut little ice on social media on Wednesday night, before the package carrier’s statement:
BREAKING: Documents Tucker Carlson never actually had that would allegedly blow up the election were so important that they were sent via DHL, and now can’t be found despite copiers, iPhone cameras and security cameras. 😂😂😂 https://t.co/9yKkDAUh2v — Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) October 29, 2020
did you check underneath Trump’s healthcare plan https://t.co/Ec9PBvdBRu — Chuck Wendig (@ChuckWendig) October 29, 2020


theguardian--2020-10-29--Your absentee ballot never showed up. Now what?

Voting during a contentious presidential election and a pandemic is more than a little overwhelming .
Like many Americans , you may have designed a plan to vote by absentee ballot months ago , when 3 November felt a lifetime away , and no one knew how election day would look .
Maybe you were unsure of where you would be , geographically speaking , and voting by mail felt like the safest option .
If you ’ re like me , when the time came to request your absentee ballot , you submitted your information and waited for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it never did .
I requested my absentee ballot for New York on 14 September .
Two weeks later , the status on my ballot tracker read “ out for delivery ” but no ballot ever arrived .
One of my roommates requested her Pennsylvania absentee ballot on 5 October and it has reportedly been on the way since 19 October .
Last week , the Queer Eye star and Texas resident Jonathan Van Ness shared on Instagram that his absentee ballot was marked out for delivery weeks before but never arrived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t locate it .
Why hasn ’ t my absentee ballot arrived if I requested it before the deadline ?
As states grapple with the challenges of voting during a pandemic , people across the country may find themselves without an absentee ballot days before the election for a multitude of reasons .
An absentee ballot request form “ may be marked invalid if it ’ s not completed according to the specific instructions or if it was submitted by the postmarked date , but not received by the deadline ” , says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Rock the Vote .
To make matters worse , “ if a voter submitted an absentee request that was deemed invalid , they may not receive notification , in which case a voter may be waiting for a ballot that will never arrive ” .
Another one of my roommates believed she had properly requested her California absentee ballot online , only to learn that she needed to physically submit an absentee ballot request to her local board of elections as well .
Meanwhile , the US Postal Service has been struggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots amid delayed services this year .
Did states have enough resources and time to set up voting by mail ?
In short , the answer is no .
While five states have conducted elections by mail for years , including Oregon and Colorado , the rest were forced to adapt in a matter of months .
“ It takes most states several years to transition to a vote-by-mail state , but the pressures and restrictions of Covid-19 have put significant pressure on election officials while the federal government has failed to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ There are logistical hurdles – from the purchasing , printing and mailing of millions of absentee request forms and absentee ballots to the processing and counting of absentee ballots.
” Congress has granted $ 400m in election aid to states but the Brennan Center for Justice estimated $ 4bn would be needed to create “ free , fair , safe , and secure ” elections across the country .
Donald Trump has also admitted to restricting funds for the USPS in hopes of curbing mail-in voting .
With the entity responsible for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain in processing or lost through election day .
What is the best way to track my absentee ballot ’ s status ?
If you requested an absentee ballot but have yet to receive it , you can track it online or by calling and emailing your local election official , says Ben Hovland , chairman of the US Election Assistance Commission .
It may be possible to visit your local election office and speak with a representative , depending on your jurisdiction .
How do I vote if my absentee ballot is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot isn ’ t located , you have a few options .
First , check if an absentee ballot can be picked up from your local election office .
If so , you or a trusted person may be able to grab and drop it off in a ballot dropbox or at your local election office quickly .
The more obvious choice – voting in person – is also an option but comes with a few hoops to jump through .
“ Most states will require the voter to complete a standard affidavit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they never received the ballot .
Then , the voter will be allowed to vote in-person , ” says DeWitt .
These affidavits are available at polling places and would be submitted with your in-person vote .
“ In some cases , voters may have to complete a provisional ballot that will be counted once it ’ s been verified that the voter did not already vote.
” This is the case in states such as New Jersey , Alabama , Texas and California .
Provisional ballots are a safeguard to ensure people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are theoretically counted as long as you don ’ t submit a completed absentee ballot , but there ’ s no guarantee .
The 2018 Election Administration and Voting survey reported that about 38 % of provisional ballots were rejected in the 2018 election .
Reasons for this included a voter not being registered in that jurisdiction , having the wrong ID , and having already voted .
Canceling your absentee ballot before voting , as Van Ness reported doing , may allow you to vote in person .
If your only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the idea of doing so during a pandemic is frightening , there are a few precautions you can take , says Hovland .
If possible , avoid peak voting times before and after work , as well as lunchtime .
Check to see if early voting is happening in your district , and keep in mind that the polling location may be different than your voting place on election day .
Some jurisdictions also provide voters with the ability to check wait times in advance of leaving to vote .
What if my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
While the USPS advises against mailing your ballot later than a week before the election , if your ballot shows up between now and election day , you can still use it .
Some states , such as Michigan and New York , allow you to drop it off in person or invalidate it at the polling station and cast your vote there .
In certain places , such as Florida , voters may be able to have their ballots delivered by someone else , says DeWitt .
Some jurisdictions may provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find out more about your state ’ s rules and practices for absentee ballots , visit the below resources :

Sign up for the Guardian’s Fight to Vote newsletter
Voting during a contentious presidential election and a pandemic is more than a little overwhelming. Like many Americans, you may have designed a plan to vote by absentee ballot months ago, when 3 November felt a lifetime away, and no one knew how election day would look. Maybe you were unsure of where you would be, geographically speaking, and voting by mail felt like the safest option. If you’re like me, when the time came to request your absentee ballot, you submitted your information and waited for the ballot to arrive in the mail, but it never did.
I requested my absentee ballot for New York on 14 September. Two weeks later, the status on my ballot tracker read “out for delivery” but no ballot ever arrived. One of my roommates requested her Pennsylvania absentee ballot on 5 October and it has reportedly been on the way since 19 October. Last week, the Queer Eye star and Texas resident Jonathan Van Ness shared on Instagram that his absentee ballot was marked out for delivery weeks before but never arrived, and the election board couldn’t locate it.
Why hasn’t my absentee ballot arrived if I requested it before the deadline?
As states grapple with the challenges of voting during a pandemic, people across the country may find themselves without an absentee ballot days before the election for a multitude of reasons. An absentee ballot request form “may be marked invalid if it’s not completed according to the specific instructions or if it was submitted by the postmarked date, but not received by the deadline”, says Carolyn DeWitt, president and executive director of Rock the Vote. To make matters worse, “if a voter submitted an absentee request that was deemed invalid, they may not receive notification, in which case a voter may be waiting for a ballot that will never arrive”.
Another one of my roommates believed she had properly requested her California absentee ballot online, only to learn that she needed to physically submit an absentee ballot request to her local board of elections as well. Meanwhile, the US Postal Service has been struggling to meet the demands of increased absentee ballots amid delayed services this year.
Did states have enough resources and time to set up voting by mail?
In short, the answer is no. While five states have conducted elections by mail for years, including Oregon and Colorado, the rest were forced to adapt in a matter of months. “It takes most states several years to transition to a vote-by-mail state, but the pressures and restrictions of Covid-19 have put significant pressure on election officials while the federal government has failed to provide adequate resources,” says DeWitt. “There are logistical hurdles – from the purchasing, printing and mailing of millions of absentee request forms and absentee ballots to the processing and counting of absentee ballots.”
Congress has granted $400m in election aid to states but the Brennan Center for Justice estimated $4bn would be needed to create “free, fair, safe, and secure” elections across the country. Donald Trump has also admitted to restricting funds for the USPS in hopes of curbing mail-in voting. With the entity responsible for delivering absentee ballots under-resourced, ballots may remain in processing or lost through election day.
What is the best way to track my absentee ballot’s status?
If you requested an absentee ballot but have yet to receive it, you can track it online or by calling and emailing your local election official, says Ben Hovland, chairman of the US Election Assistance Commission. It may be possible to visit your local election office and speak with a representative, depending on your jurisdiction.
How do I vote if my absentee ballot is lost?
In the case that your ballot isn’t located, you have a few options. First, check if an absentee ballot can be picked up from your local election office. If so, you or a trusted person may be able to grab and drop it off in a ballot dropbox or at your local election office quickly.
The more obvious choice – voting in person – is also an option but comes with a few hoops to jump through. “Most states will require the voter to complete a standard affidavit or another form of documentation confirming that they never received the ballot. Then, the voter will be allowed to vote in-person,” says DeWitt. These affidavits are available at polling places and would be submitted with your in-person vote. “In some cases, voters may have to complete a provisional ballot that will be counted once it’s been verified that the voter did not already vote.” This is the case in states such as New Jersey, Alabama, Texas and California.
Provisional ballots are a safeguard to ensure people only vote once, explains Hovland. They are theoretically counted as long as you don’t submit a completed absentee ballot, but there’s no guarantee. The 2018 Election Administration and Voting survey reported that about 38% of provisional ballots were rejected in the 2018 election. Reasons for this included a voter not being registered in that jurisdiction, having the wrong ID, and having already voted. Canceling your absentee ballot before voting, as Van Ness reported doing, may allow you to vote in person.
If your only option is voting in person, but the idea of doing so during a pandemic is frightening, there are a few precautions you can take, says Hovland. If possible, avoid peak voting times before and after work, as well as lunchtime. Check to see if early voting is happening in your district, and keep in mind that the polling location may be different than your voting place on election day. Some jurisdictions also provide voters with the ability to check wait times in advance of leaving to vote.
What if my absentee ballot comes at the last minute?
While the USPS advises against mailing your ballot later than a week before the election, if your ballot shows up between now and election day, you can still use it. Some states, such as Michigan and New York, allow you to drop it off in person or invalidate it at the polling station and cast your vote there. In certain places, such as Florida, voters may be able to have their ballots delivered by someone else, says DeWitt. Some jurisdictions may provide ballot pick-up for disabled voters.
To find out more about your state’s rules and practices for absentee ballots, visit the below resources: