buzzfeed--2020-10-31--Third-Party Candidates Had An Impact In 2016. In 2020, They’ve Struggled To Gain Traction.

If it were up to Hawkins , he told me before the event , he ’ d rather not be running for president at all ; but decades of activism has taught him that the Greens must contend in the presidential race to gain any traction .
He ’ d started out , with the birth of the Green Party in 1984 , thinking presidential politics were irrelevant and that the party ’ s strategy should focus on bottom-up organizing .
But this vision conflicted with the reality of the US system .
“ My attitude was that until we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not worth running for president .
But what I did n't understand that I understand now is that you need to be in those races to get your ballot line.
” In October 2016 , Pew research found that 14 % of registered voters planned to vote third party ; 6 % of the overall vote ultimately went to candidates other than Hillary Clinton and Trump .
This time , Pew found that merely 5 % of registered voters at the same point in the cycle support a third-party candidate ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are switching to Biden .
The perception that Stein , whose vote count in certain states was more than the margin between Trump and Clinton , played a role in Clinton ’ s loss has not helped .
Four years later , those two parties find themselves squeezed to the very margins during an election where undecided voters are few and far between , and media attention is fully consumed by the chaotic Trump administration and the contentious race between the president and former vice president Joe Biden .
The 2016 election cycle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties : The Libertarian Party ticket featured two former governors , New Mexico ’ s Gary Johnson and Massachusetts ’ Bill Weld ; the Green Party ’ s candidate , Stein , had already built a profile from her previous presidential run in 2012 .
The coronavirus pandemic , Nader said , had also hampered efforts at grassroots organizing and campaigning .
“ This is probably the worst period for third parties in modern American history.
” “ This is not a good year for third parties , because Trump is such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Green Party candidate whose percentage of the vote in 2000 ( 2.7 % ) was blamed by many liberals as a contributing factor to George W. Bush ’ s victory .
“ And people are so afraid of what would happen if he had a second term that they don ’ t even want to think third party.
” That ’ s a big difference between 2016 and now .
There ’ s another major difference between now and then , this one potentially significant to who wins and loses the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re voting for these candidates .
If you ’ re not too familiar with Hawkins , he ’ s the presidential nominee for the Green Party , which famously backed Ralph Nader and Jill Stein , and advocates for strong environmental policies and against nuclear power .
We were sitting on a park bench in early October in leafy Montclair , a New York City suburb , where he was to hold an event .
Hawkins had arrived early for the interview , wearing jeans , running shoes , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me most upon meeting him was his absolute normalcy .
Hawkins is a retired longtime UPS worker and union member who got his start in political activism as a youth in the Bay Area .
I asked him if it had been especially challenging to get his message out .
“ Very , ” he said .
“ I have yet to speak to a network or cable news reporter or get a segment.
” He ’ s done local NPR and local television interviews , but nothing national .
“ We just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jill Stein got , ” Hawkins said .
“ Even Ralph Nader.
” “ I 've been called a spoiler every time I run for office , and the false — one of the false parts of that narrative is that people assume if we were n't running , our people would vote for the Democrat , ” Howie Hawkins recently told me .
“ But they may not vote at all.
” MONTCLAIR , New Jersey — It may not be obvious despite the election being a few days away , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and they do actually hold public events with voters .
Like Hawkins , the Libertarian Party ’ s nominee , Jo Jorgensen , is a longtime party activist .
She was the party ’ s vice presidential candidate in 1996 and is otherwise a regular person with a nonpolitical day job : psychology professor at Clemson University .
Her running mate , Jeremy “ Spike ” Cohen , is an activist who ran as Vermin Supreme ’ s running mate in the Libertarian Party ’ s primary .
And like Hawkins , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media coverage they ’ ve garnered .
“ The mainstream media certainly has not been covering this campaign , ” her press secretary , Jess Mears , told me during an early October campaign visit to New York .
Though Mears said that local media had paid closer attention and covered Jorgensen in each of the 120 cities she had at that point visited , I didn ’ t see any reporters other than myself at Jorgensen ’ s event in a city where a large number of reporters live .
The choice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Libertarian candidate : Zuccotti Park , where the Occupy Wall Street movement first struck camp as part of its wide-ranging protest against , in large part , financial deregulation and the post-recession Wall Street bailout .
“ This location is filled with irony , ” Cody Anderson , the chair of the Libertarian Party of New York , told the small crowd of perhaps three dozen attendees .
“ We ’ re on Liberty Street , here in the least free state in the country .
We ’ re here in Zuccotti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the biggest demonstrations against a free market that this nation , possibly the world , has ever seen.
” ( Though most presidential candidates wouldn ’ t consider New York City a crucial stop on the schedule a month before Election Day , for the Libertarians and other small parties , the stakes are high here .
Anderson reminded the crowd that the party needs 160,000 votes in order to ensure ballot access in the next election ; though the Libertarian Party crossed New York state ’ s threshold for automatic ballot access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since changed the requirement . )
Jorgensen then spoke with no amplification or lectern , simply standing in front of the supporters who gathered in a large semicircle .
Her goal , she said , is to reach the millions of Americans who don ’ t vote , and who are fed up with the choices offered to them by the two-party system .
“ Most of our support does tend to come from independents or people who have never voted before , ” Jorgensen told me .
“ And I 've met @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , ‘ I 've never voted .
I never thought there was anybody worth voting for , but you know , you 're not saying the same stuff as everybody else.
’ ” Jorgensen certainly isn ’ t saying the same stuff as everybody else , a quality that might hinder her more than it helps .
She , for example , wants the United States to be more like Switzerland — neutral in all conflicts , but not isolationist .
Her position on masks to counter the spread of COVID-19 is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in adjudicating their use at all , and should instead rely on private companies like Walmart to set their own mask policies that will influence industry standards due to the forces of the free market .
The core of her argument in favor of free-market healthcare is to prompt her audience to imagine if gas stations operated the way insurance-based healthcare did : “ You would have absolutely no reason to shop around for the best gas prices .
In fact , you might even go to an expensive one that gives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lest the listener begin to think that sounds pretty good , Jorgensen lays down the meat of the argument : Gas stations would then have no reason to compete against each other and lower prices , and insurance companies could raise the hypothetical gas premiums .
Still , though Jorgensen ’ s message might not focus on mainstream ideas , voters will see her name on the ballot .
She is on the ballot in all 50 states , unlike Hawkins .
The Green Party has faced issues this year gaining ballot access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot in just 28 states and Washington , DC .
Democrats in Wisconsin made a concerted effort to keep Hawkins off the ballot , after many blamed Clinton ’ s loss there in 2016 at least in part on Stein .
Hawkins and his running mate , Angela Walker , were kicked off the ballot due to a technicality : Walker had moved during the filing process , and her new address was different from the one she had when they submitted their signatures .
In response , Hawkins said , they tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their right to be on the ballot .
But no one responded , so , he said , they googled to find new lawyers .
They ended up being represented by Republican lawyers , a fact that , whether the Greens realized it or not , created an impression that they ’ d become stooges of Republicans trying to reduce the number of Democratic votes in Wisconsin .
Hawkins said they knew about their attorneys ’ political affiliations , but “ if you go to court , you need a lawyer , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me.
” The attempt to gain access to the ballot in Wisconsin was ultimately unsuccessful , though it wasn ’ t the only effort made by Republicans on behalf of Greens this year .
Republican consultants were reportedly involved in collecting signatures to get Greens on the ballot in multiple states , including another unsuccessful attempt in Pennsylvania .
Hawkins isn ’ t worried about the potential to be considered a spoiler .
The assumption that Green voters would otherwise vote Democratic , he said , is false .
Nader said Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans do n't do as much scapegoating the Libertarians for some reason.
” Spoiler , he said , is a “ politically bigoted word.
” Hawkins , in response to a question in the Q & A portion of his talk in Montclair , pushed back against this concept .
“ The people say you ca n't afford another Trump administration , they ’ re not dealing with the people that are oppressed and exploited and abused right now who ca n't afford a Democratic or Republican administration , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ third-party politics in the US are almost always about proving a point and pushing the mainstream parties in a certain direction .
“ The best outcome for the Greens is if they can get some of their agenda adopted by the Democrats , ” Nader told me , saying he was just being “ realistic.
” In a country consumed by Donald Trump and an airborne pandemic , though , how much space is there for making a point ?
In lieu of more media attention , both Hawkins and Jorgensen have tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hawkins is trying to force Rush Limbaugh to give him equal time after Limbaugh devoted a program to a campaign rally for Trump earlier this month ; Hawkins hasn ’ t heard back from Limbaugh , but with the help of lawyer Bruce Fein , filed a complaint with the FCC on Oct. 19 , he said .
He hasn ’ t heard back from them either .
Jorgensen this week took on , of all outlets , Nickelodeon , for excluding her from a graphic about the candidates .
“ Sadly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in indoctrinating our children that there are only 2 parties , even though there are 3 candidates on all 50 ballots and 4 who can get to 270 .
What a shame for America 's future , # Nicknews.
” Mere days before the election , it ’ s unlikely that either the Libertarians or the Greens could change course .
Hawkins on Thursday told me he ’ d finished his travel schedule and would be home in Syracuse , New York , for the duration .
Tom Violett , a cochair of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizing efforts this year as “ very difficult.
” '' People who I ’ ve worked with in organizing spaces say , ‘ Not this time , I can ’ t do it , ' '' he said .
`` ' I ’ ve got to vote for Biden . '
''

Like Hawkins, the Libertarian Party’s nominee, Jo Jorgensen, is a longtime party activist. She was the party’s vice presidential candidate in 1996 and is otherwise a regular person with a nonpolitical day job: psychology professor at Clemson University. Her running mate, Jeremy “Spike” Cohen, is an activist who ran as Vermin Supreme’s running mate in the Libertarian Party’s primary. And like Hawkins, her campaign is not satisfied with the media coverage they’ve garnered.
“The mainstream media certainly has not been covering this campaign,” her press secretary, Jess Mears, told me during an early October campaign visit to New York. Though Mears said that local media had paid closer attention and covered Jorgensen in each of the 120 cities she had at that point visited, I didn’t see any reporters other than myself at Jorgensen’s event in a city where a large number of reporters live.
The choice of venue seemed an odd one for a Libertarian candidate: Zuccotti Park, where the Occupy Wall Street movement first struck camp as part of its wide-ranging protest against, in large part, financial deregulation and the post-recession Wall Street bailout.
“This location is filled with irony,” Cody Anderson, the chair of the Libertarian Party of New York, told the small crowd of perhaps three dozen attendees. “We’re on Liberty Street, here in the least free state in the country. We’re here in Zuccotti Park, which was possibly one of the biggest demonstrations against a free market that this nation, possibly the world, has ever seen.” (Though most presidential candidates wouldn’t consider New York City a crucial stop on the schedule a month before Election Day, for the Libertarians and other small parties, the stakes are high here. Anderson reminded the crowd that the party needs 160,000 votes in order to ensure ballot access in the next election; though the Libertarian Party crossed New York state’s threshold for automatic ballot access in 2018, the state legislature has since changed the requirement.) Jorgensen then spoke with no amplification or lectern, simply standing in front of the supporters who gathered in a large semicircle.
Her goal, she said, is to reach the millions of Americans who don’t vote, and who are fed up with the choices offered to them by the two-party system. “Most of our support does tend to come from independents or people who have never voted before,” Jorgensen told me. “And I've met people in their thirties and forties who said, ‘I've never voted. I never thought there was anybody worth voting for, but you know, you're not saying the same stuff as everybody else.’”
Jorgensen certainly isn’t saying the same stuff as everybody else, a quality that might hinder her more than it helps. She, for example, wants the United States to be more like Switzerland — neutral in all conflicts, but not isolationist. Her position on masks to counter the spread of COVID-19 is that the government shouldn’t be involved in adjudicating their use at all, and should instead rely on private companies like Walmart to set their own mask policies that will influence industry standards due to the forces of the free market. The core of her argument in favor of free-market healthcare is to prompt her audience to imagine if gas stations operated the way insurance-based healthcare did: “You would have absolutely no reason to shop around for the best gas prices. In fact, you might even go to an expensive one that gives you free coffee while you wait.” Lest the listener begin to think that sounds pretty good, Jorgensen lays down the meat of the argument: Gas stations would then have no reason to compete against each other and lower prices, and insurance companies could raise the hypothetical gas premiums.
Still, though Jorgensen’s message might not focus on mainstream ideas, voters will see her name on the ballot. She is on the ballot in all 50 states, unlike Hawkins.
The Green Party has faced issues this year gaining ballot access and is set to be on the ballot in just 28 states and Washington, DC. Democrats in Wisconsin made a concerted effort to keep Hawkins off the ballot, after many blamed Clinton’s loss there in 2016 at least in part on Stein. Hawkins and his running mate, Angela Walker, were kicked off the ballot due to a technicality: Walker had moved during the filing process, and her new address was different from the one she had when they submitted their signatures.
In response, Hawkins said, they tried to hire progressive lawyers to fight for their right to be on the ballot. But no one responded, so, he said, they googled to find new lawyers. They ended up being represented by Republican lawyers, a fact that, whether the Greens realized it or not, created an impression that they’d become stooges of Republicans trying to reduce the number of Democratic votes in Wisconsin. Hawkins said they knew about their attorneys’ political affiliations, but “if you go to court, you need a lawyer, and reading their briefs, they looked good to me.”
The attempt to gain access to the ballot in Wisconsin was ultimately unsuccessful, though it wasn’t the only effort made by Republicans on behalf of Greens this year. Republican consultants were reportedly involved in collecting signatures to get Greens on the ballot in multiple states, including another unsuccessful attempt in Pennsylvania.
Hawkins isn’t worried about the potential to be considered a spoiler. The assumption that Green voters would otherwise vote Democratic, he said, is false. Nader said Democrats “scapegoat the Greens.”
“The Republicans don't do as much scapegoating the Libertarians for some reason.” Spoiler, he said, is a “politically bigoted word.”
Hawkins, in response to a question in the Q&A portion of his talk in Montclair, pushed back against this concept.
“The people say you can't afford another Trump administration, they’re not dealing with the people that are oppressed and exploited and abused right now who can't afford a Democratic or Republican administration,” he said.
Hawkins’ point is principled. But third-party politics in the US are almost always about proving a point and pushing the mainstream parties in a certain direction. “The best outcome for the Greens is if they can get some of their agenda adopted by the Democrats,” Nader told me, saying he was just being “realistic.” In a country consumed by Donald Trump and an airborne pandemic, though, how much space is there for making a point?
In lieu of more media attention, both Hawkins and Jorgensen have tried to make the media an issue: Hawkins is trying to force Rush Limbaugh to give him equal time after Limbaugh devoted a program to a campaign rally for Trump earlier this month; Hawkins hasn’t heard back from Limbaugh, but with the help of lawyer Bruce Fein, filed a complaint with the FCC on Oct. 19, he said. He hasn’t heard back from them either.
Jorgensen this week took on, of all outlets, Nickelodeon, for excluding her from a graphic about the candidates. “Sadly, @Nickelodeon / @NickelodeonPR is complicit in indoctrinating our children that there are only 2 parties, even though there are 3 candidates on all 50 ballots and 4 who can get to 270. What a shame for America's future, #Nicknews.”
Mere days before the election, it’s unlikely that either the Libertarians or the Greens could change course. Hawkins on Thursday told me he’d finished his travel schedule and would be home in Syracuse, New York, for the duration.
Tom Violett, a cochair of the New Jersey Green Party, described organizing efforts this year as “very difficult.”
"People who I’ve worked with in organizing spaces say, ‘Not this time, I can’t do it,'" he said. "'I’ve got to vote for Biden.'"


buzzfeed--2020-10-31--They Marched In A Black Lives Matter Protest And It Changed Their Politics

“ You could see which side cared about the Black Lives Matter movement , ” said one first-time protester , “ and which side could n't embrace it.
” In the lead-up to Tuesday ’ s presidential election , 17-year-old Abby Wright has been pleading with everyone she knows in her conservative hometown of Dayton , Georgia , not to vote for Donald Trump .
Too young to vote herself , she ’ s instead doing her part by running a mock election at school and making political TikToks to counter misinformation .
But Abby wasn ’ t always so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US , she found herself protesting for the first time in her life during this summer ’ s Black Lives Matter demonstrations and they profoundly transformed her .
Her political reawakening is now the subject of her college application essay .
“ Before this summer , I saw myself as a middle of the road conservative , just like my parents , ” she wrote .
“ However , after seeing the lack of a reaction towards the injustice from one side of the country , I knew it was my time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dismay of my family.
” In this election year , the US has found itself grappling with two pandemics : the coronavirus and institutional racism .
Much has been written about how the president ’ s handling of COVID-19 has influenced voters , but many others have also been swayed by the Black Lives Matter movement .
Reignited again this year by the killings of George Floyd , Breonna Taylor , and Ahmaud Arbery , BLM has emerged as the civil rights movement of the 21st century .
On June 6 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to have their voices heard at 550 demonstrations across the US , according to data published by the New York Times .
Somewhere between 15 million and 26 million people have attended at least one BLM protest this year across the country , making it the biggest social movement in history .
Swept up in this movement were people like Abby who found themselves compelled to protest for the very first time .
Many are now casting their ballots for president , still energized by their experience .
Not all those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote , though , so some are finding other ways to be politically active .
“ Because I ca n't vote , that ’ s even more of a reason to try and convince others to vote and tell my friends who are 18 to get registered , ” said Anna Villard , a 17-year-old rising senior from Surprise , Arizona .
After attending half a dozen BLM protests in Mesa and Phoenix in recent months , Anna has been registering people to vote at her high school , making designs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her Instagram bio daily with the number of days left to register to vote and until Election Day .
She has even been searching voter registration records for her teachers and quizzing them about it .
“ I ’ ve been asking my teachers , ‘ Are you registered to vote ?
Have you turned your ballot in yet ?
’ I think it ’ s caught them off guard , too.
” Anna , who is Black , said the movement has given her more courage to call out racism .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online , she reported them to a volleyball coach and the principal .
She ’ s also unfollowed people she knows on social media who follow the president and no longer feigns politeness to her Trump-supporting neighbors .
“ I ’ m not going to associate with someone who has Confederate flags in their garage , ” she said , “ and if that ’ s a problem , I 'm sorry.
” Trump repeatedly complains that the media focuses on “ COVID , COVID , COVID ” this election , but Paige @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carlsbad , California , sees a link between the treatment of Black Americans and people wearing masks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus , which has disproportionately affected Black and brown communities .
“ There ’ s a good case study that could be done comparing the way people are reacting to COVID and people are reacting to the Black Lives Matter movement , ” said Dominguez .
” It just comes down to caring about your neighbor.
” Dominguez is frustrated that churches in her area are hosting events for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support BLM , especially because she believes churches should fight for the oppressed .
She found attending a BLM protest for the first time a deeply moving , almost spiritual experience .
“ I could feel the leaders of the chants , feel their passion , it really resonated with me , ” said Dominguez , who is white and attended because her teenage daughter begged to go .
At first she feared chanting but soon felt compelled to join in the protest chorus .
“ I had to rise up with them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If I had n't been part of the march , I would n't have been affected as much.
” Hazim , the upstate New Yorker , says her newfound activism has changed her profoundly .
After attending a BLM protest and changing her Facebook profile photo to read “ Black Lives Matter , ” she now quizzes men on dating apps about their support of the movement and which presidential candidate they support .
But perhaps her most personal change has been how the protests made her rethink one of the most monumental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a child , Hazim grew up in the Bronx and the Dominican Republic .
When she was 6 , her father , Jorgiris Hazim , was shot and killed by NYPD narcotics cops during a raid related to drug dealing .
Her stepmother had always told her that her dad was asleep when police busted in .
A Daily News story a month after her father ’ s November 1995 death reported that the two officers involved were under investigation for the shooting and that “ investigators reportedly found no weapon or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were never prosecuted .
For years , Hazim , who is Black and Latino , had avoided telling people about her father ’ s death , ashamed of his actions and convinced that he was a “ bad guy ” who must have deserved it .
But after participating in protests for the first time , she now wonders how an unarmed man could be killed in his home with his family nearby in the middle of the night .
“ After the George Floyd incident is really when it all hit me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowing how my dad was n't given the fair proper channels to plead his case , maybe pay for his crimes in a different way , because of the color of his skin.
” “ All these years I 've had a first-hand experience of how cops treat people of color , ” she said , “ and I did n't even realize it.
” ●

Not all those who participated in the protests are old enough to vote, though, so some are finding other ways to be politically active. “Because I can't vote, that’s even more of a reason to try and convince others to vote and tell my friends who are 18 to get registered,” said Anna Villard, a 17-year-old rising senior from Surprise, Arizona.
After attending half a dozen BLM protests in Mesa and Phoenix in recent months, Anna has been registering people to vote at her high school, making designs and posters for ballot boxes, and updating her Instagram bio daily with the number of days left to register to vote and until Election Day. She has even been searching voter registration records for her teachers and quizzing them about it. “I’ve been asking my teachers, ‘Are you registered to vote? Have you turned your ballot in yet?’ I think it’s caught them off guard, too.”
Anna, who is Black, said the movement has given her more courage to call out racism. When girls from her school used the n-word online, she reported them to a volleyball coach and the principal. She’s also unfollowed people she knows on social media who follow the president and no longer feigns politeness to her Trump-supporting neighbors. “I’m not going to associate with someone who has Confederate flags in their garage,” she said, “and if that’s a problem, I'm sorry.”
Trump repeatedly complains that the media focuses on “COVID, COVID, COVID” this election, but Paige Dominguez, a 43-year-old preschool teacher from Carlsbad, California, sees a link between the treatment of Black Americans and people wearing masks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, which has disproportionately affected Black and brown communities. “There’s a good case study that could be done comparing the way people are reacting to COVID and people are reacting to the Black Lives Matter movement,” said Dominguez. ”It just comes down to caring about your neighbor.”
Dominguez is frustrated that churches in her area are hosting events for Republicans and not doing more to vocally support BLM, especially because she believes churches should fight for the oppressed. She found attending a BLM protest for the first time a deeply moving, almost spiritual experience.
“I could feel the leaders of the chants, feel their passion, it really resonated with me,” said Dominguez, who is white and attended because her teenage daughter begged to go. At first she feared chanting but soon felt compelled to join in the protest chorus. “I had to rise up with them too,” she said. “If I hadn't been part of the march, I wouldn't have been affected as much.”


buzzfeed--2020-10-31--More Than 9 Million People Voted Early In Texas. For One Day In Its Biggest County, They Voted All N

More Than 9 Million People Voted Early In Texas. For One Day In Its Biggest County, They Voted All Night.

Millions have voted in Texas ’ s first competitive presidential race in decades .
When some polls stayed open for 24 hours this week , the voters kept coming .
HOUSTON — Across the sprawling expanse of Harris County , voters came all day Thursday .
They came at midnight , and then past it , long into the early hours of Friday morning .
If Democrats ’ long-held dreams of turning Texas blue come true on Election Day , much of it will be because of the nearly 5 million people in Harris County — home to Houston , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and a swelling population that has become more and more Democratic since 2016 .
It will also be because Harris County took on a mission to make it easy for its citizens to vote , even in the midst of a pandemic — often in the face of intense opposition from Republicans .
They crafted large drive-through voting centers modeled after fast food restaurants like Sonic , situating them in downtown parking lots left empty by the pandemic .
And on Thursday , the county took a page from the city of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overnight , opening eight early voting places for 24 hours straight .
The 24-hour polling places were chosen to draw nurses and oil refinery workers ; people from deep-blue precincts and dark-red ones ; churchgoers and college students ; aficionados of taco trucks and nachos .
By the time early voting had ended altogether in Texas on Friday , more than 1,435,000 people had voted in Harris County , significantly more than the total number of people who voted in the county in 2016 .
More than 9 million people had voted early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s plan worked .
This is what it looked like in the 24 hours that helped make that possible .
The night shift is ending , but it ’ s still dark as polls open at the world ’ s largest medical center , where more than 100,000 people work in a forest of hospitals , medical schools , and specialty centers .
Nurses in a rainbow of differently colored scrubs come to vote , some of them rushing off to start their shift .
One pauses to take a photograph of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” sticker in front of the enormous blue wall of a fountain .
A nurse named Erisha votes for the first time : she just got her American citizenship .
As the sun starts to rise , Andre , a resident physician just off the night shift , stops immediately outside the door to place his sticker onto the badges that hang around his neck .
His finger is still encased in a white latex sleeve .
He ’ s here to vote , he says , because of the presidential election .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ d say the priorities of the many outweigh the priorities of a few , ” he says .
Andre isn ’ t sure whether he believes Texas will flip to Democrats or not , but he says seeing the surge in voter turnout across the state has left him hopeful .
“ Something has pulled people to vote , whether or not they close the gap.
” In front of the low brick community center , an employee in an Astros ball cap raises two enormous flags : first the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big .
In 2016 , Hillary Clinton won Harris County by the biggest margin for a Democrat in years , and the county went even bluer in 2018 ’ s elections .
But this is the deep-red edge of the enormous county , and the 24-hour voting center here in the city of Pasadena is meant to draw oil refinery workers whose shifts extend long into the night .
Next door to Pasadena is the city of Deer Park , whose precincts Trump won in 2016 by 40 and 50-point margins .
Kristen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usually votes on Election Day .
But this year , she says , she felt even more urgency to vote .
“ It ’ s the most important vote I ever had , ” she says .
“ It ’ s a turning point for the way our country goes.
” Isaac , a plumber in Pasadena , thought the country was “ doing pretty good ” before the coronavirus pandemic hit .
His friends in the oil industry were doing well .
The cost of living was low .
Salaries were high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way , he says .
So he voted for Trump , and thinks the rest of Texas will too .
“ The media can sway a lot of people 's opinions , but the deep-down roots are the same.
” A young blonde woman wearing a yellow terry cloth costume , her legs striped in furry pink and orange , jogs past Isaac into the polling place , her car keys still in one hand , a paper mask pressed to her face with the other .
“ I can ’ t talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve got to get back to work !
” Less than 10 minutes later , Big Bird emerges into the parking lot , her vote cast .
It ’ s nearly impossible to find somewhere to park during the after-work rush at one of the busiest centers in Harris County , a historic former dance hall on the side of a busy freeway .
Two dozen voters form a line down a long ramp , a chill setting in in the late-afternoon sun .
Cypress , an unincorporated community strung along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northern edge , is solidly conservative .
Dustin and Evianna are both first-time voters .
Evianna , 19 , works at Target and voted for Biden , motivated by women ’ s rights and social justice .
Dustin , 21 , voted for Trump .
But Evianna says it doesn ’ t strain their relationship .
“ We ’ re both liberal , ” she explains .
“ He ’ s just a Trump supporter.
” “ Biden ’ s been in office for 40 years , and he hasn ’ t done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of explanation .
As dusk turns to night in Kashmere Gardens , a historically Black neighborhood in East Houston , Morris and Sam pose for a selfie in front of the senior center after voting .
“ It ’ s our date night , ” Sam says .
She gestures to Morris .
“ His choice.
” Will Texas finally turn blue this election ?
“ It already is , in my opinion , ” says Sam .
“ The people were just hidden.
” Maybe this time , she thinks , those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visible .
Morris came to vote in a pair of dark-blue coveralls with a reflective stripe across the arms and legs .
He and Sam both voted for Biden .
But Morris , who works in the oil and natural gas industry , had some hesitation .
He worries about what some Biden allies , like Kamala Harris , have said about fracking — it ’ s how he makes his living .
“ It weighed on my vote , yes , ” Morris says .
But he decided he trusts Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in deep-red parts of Texas , though , to doubt seriously that Texas is going to tip to Democrats .
Later , the Patels , who work at a motel nearby , show up to cast their very first votes .
Hillary Clinton won 98 % of the votes in this precinct .
But Bhavna and her husband , Paresh , aren ’ t thinking about political parties .
They just want to vote .
“ We ’ re just learning how things work in this country , ” Paresh says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ places have closed across Harris County , but a steady stream of cars are pulling into the lot of the Tracy Gee Community Center , where a taco truck paid for by the Harris County Democrats is offering free tacos to voters .
A man rushes inside to vote , leaving his family waiting in an idling white van .
When he runs out ten minutes later , he clicks his heels once , then twice , like a leprechaun .
He raises his fists over his head before he ducks into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tracy Gee at 10:30 , says she was relieved to find out about the 24-hour polling places .
She ’ s a new mom to a 3-month-old baby whose bedtime is at 9:30 — sometimes later .
Even a late 10 PM closing time wouldn ’ t work for her .
Vaughan arrives even later , past 11 , after putting in long hours running his own company .
He voted third-party in 2016 , but this time , he voted for Biden .
“ It was with my conscience more than in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The way this country has handled COVID has been a complete failure .
It was an easy vote for me.
” At 11:38 , Antonia emerges jubilantly from the community center with her new wife , Kandice , and poses for a selfie .
Antonia ’ s flight from New Jersey touched down in Houston at 10:02 PM .
She and Kandice went straight to vote .
“ It felt amazing , ” she says .
“ I flew all the way here for this.
” They ’ re motivated by everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Both women work in healthcare : “ We have to deal with this all day , every day.
” They pray Texas turns blue this time .
But at this point , “ It shouldn ’ t be between Democratic and Republican .
It ’ s a humanity thing.
” It ’ s after midnight , but a small line has formed outside the voting center on a satellite campus of Prairie View A & M , a public historically Black college .
One man stops short when he sees the line , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truck and returns zipping up a green camo sweatshirt .
The line is gone by the time Dwight arrives at 12:40 .
A disabled veteran , he says he saw a story about the county ’ s 24-hour voting centers on the news and waited til late at night , when he could be sure to avoid crowded polling places and the risk of COVID .
“ I ’ m concerned about the things my mom is concerned about , like social security , the virus , ” Dwight says .
He ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas .
“ I think the younger generations could make a big difference this time.
” When she shuffles out of the polling place at 1:03 , Katy looks a little tired , wearing zebra-print pajama pants under her warm coat .
She voted days ago , but tonight , she brought two of her children , both first-time voters .
“ They ’ re night owls , ” Katy says .
“ When I went , they were like , ‘ It ’ s too early to get up.
’ But I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Katy was a lifelong Republican , she says , until four years ago .
Now she ’ s swung in the other direction — an avowed liberal who mourned the loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and rails against for-profit colleges and prisons .
Her son , Ian , says he “ can ’ t wait ” for Texas to turn blue .
“ Even if it still goes red , it gets a little closer every year.
” After Katy ’ s car pulls away , the lot at Prairie View @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only a few minutes .
At 1:15 , one giant truck rolls into a parking space , and another follows .
In the predawn hours at the medical center , things have been “ a little slow , ” the precinct judge says .
There were a dozen or so voters here after midnight , but not many more .
By 5:30 , a few day shift employees start trickling in .
Steven , an administrative assistant at one of the hospitals , works a shift that starts at 7 , the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s never had time to vote early — and after work , he says , “ Other things just happen.
” Steven is a former foster care kid , and in this election , that ’ s what he cares about .
He ’ s not worrying about whether or not Democrats win Texas ; he ’ s just thinking about kids in the same position he was in .
Eric starts work at a hospital nearby at 7 , too .
The 24-hour polling place meant an easy opportunity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was in and out just after 6 .
Eric admits : He 's actually never voted before .
“ I ’ ve been a Democrat for a long time , ” he says .
“ I ’ ve been knowledgeable enough about electoral votes , that it ’ s seemed kind of — self-defeating before .
I mean , Texas hasn ’ t gone blue since 1976 .
That ’ s longer than I ’ ve been alive.
” So did he decide to vote because he thinks that in 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ No , ” Eric says flatly .
`` I do n't think it will . ''
He pauses .
There ’ s a lot of things that worry him : the environment , immigration , the virus gripping the country .
“ I think there ’ s just been enough things done , ” he says .
So today , he showed up to vote .
●

HOUSTON — Across the sprawling expanse of Harris County, voters came all day Thursday. They came at midnight, and then past it, long into the early hours of Friday morning.
If Democrats’ long-held dreams of turning Texas blue come true on Election Day, much of it will be because of the nearly 5 million people in Harris County — home to Houston, the most diverse city in the country, and a swelling population that has become more and more Democratic since 2016.
It will also be because Harris County took on a mission to make it easy for its citizens to vote, even in the midst of a pandemic — often in the face of intense opposition from Republicans. They crafted large drive-thru voting centers modeled after fast-food restaurants like Sonic, situating them in downtown parking lots left empty by the pandemic.
And on Thursday, the county took a page from the city of Las Vegas and allowed residents to vote overnight, opening eight early voting places for 24 hours straight.
The 24-hour polling places were chosen to draw nurses and oil refinery workers; people from deep-blue precincts and dark-red ones; churchgoers and college students; aficionados of taco trucks and nachos.
By the time early voting had ended altogether in Texas on Friday, more than 1,435,000 people had voted in Harris County, significantly more than the total number of people who voted in the county in 2016. More than 9 million people had voted early in the state overall.
Harris County’s plan worked. This is what it looked like in the 24 hours that helped make that possible.


buzzfeed--2020-10-31--People Can Vote Without A Mask in Almost Every State

While many state election officials acknowledged that allowing people to vote mask-free could create unsafe conditions at polling sites — some of which have closed in recent weeks due to outbreaks — some said their state ’ s laws don ’ t allow election officials to deny someone the right to vote based on wearing or not wearing a mask .
Others cited the US Constitution .
Arizona Gov .
Doug Ducey has been clear that “ no mitigation strategies should impede a citizen 's First Amendment rights — no voter should be turned away on Election Day , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all 50 states and Washington , DC , whether election officials would deny someone access to in-person voting if they failed to wear a mask .
While the unprecedented dilemma might appear highly partisan , in reality , the vast majority of states , red and blue , have come to the same conclusion : No , they would not .
Nearly every state in the country — including many that are under strict statewide mask mandates and facing alarming rates of new coronavirus infections — will allow people who refuse to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stations , according to a BuzzFeed News survey .
Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab said earlier this month , “ Exercising one ’ s fundamental right to vote is not , and should not be , contingent upon whether or not they choose to wear a mask.
” Oregon and Washington , DC , are taking the hardest line leading up to the election .
Oregon was the singular state that told BuzzFeed News it would bar maskless people from voting in person .
But the state is in a unique position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has for over 20 years .
However , the state does have county election offices where people can use a privacy booth to vote and masks are required inside , said Andrea Chiapella , legislative director for Oregon ’ s secretary of state .
“ No mask , no entry into any indoor space in the state , ” she clarified .
Four other states — Colorado , Washington , Hawaii , and Utah — administer elections by mail .
But those states told BuzzFeed News that in-person voters are encouraged to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they don ’ t .
Washington , DC , said that voters who won ’ t wear masks can use curbside voting services , allowing them to vote from their cars .
If those aren ’ t available at their voting center , they ’ ll have to find a place where it is .
If they refuse to leave , they ’ re out of luck .
“ Let 's hope it does n't come to that , ” said Nick Jacobs , a public information officer for the DC Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ we wo n't let you in , ” Jacobs confirmed .
Just two states , Montana and Missouri , insisted that the decision to enforce masks at the polls was up to each jurisdiction or county .
( Other states also did so at first , but later clarified that individual areas could not deny people their right to vote . )
Unsurprisingly , some states seemed loath to admit people would be allowed to vote without a mask .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face coverings at the polls for anyone over age 2 or medically able .
But New York ’ s election policies make clear that voters who don ’ t fit that criteria and still wo n't wear masks will be able to cast their vote .
“ If a voter refuses to wear a mask , poll workers should consider providing the voter the opportunity to cast a ballot using any alternative voting locations or methods available at the poll site , if available , ” joint guidelines from the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June state .
“ Otherwise , the voter should be allowed to vote normally , and poll workers should follow safety and cleaning protocols.
” Legal battles have played out over this dispute from Wisconsin to Minnesota .
Earlier this year , Texas NAACP and Mi Familia Vota , a national Latino organization , sued Texas , which is currently under a statewide mask mandate but created an exemption for polling stations .
On Friday , the 5th Circuit upheld the exemption , allowing Texans to vote or work at polling locations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Wednesday ruling from US District Judge Jason Pulliam in San Antonio , who had ruled that the mask exemption “ creates a discriminatory burden on Black and Latino voters.
” Pullman had written that the plaintiffs argued not requiring masks would force voters “ to make an unacceptable choice with respect to the 2020 election : exercising their right to vote - or - protecting their own health and lives and that of their loved ones and community by staying home.
” '' We shouldn ’ t have to choose between risking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right to vote , '' Kristian Ramos , a Democratic strategist who specializes in the Latino vote , told BuzzFeed News ahead of Friday ’ s ruling .
In a statement , the president of the Texas NAACP said the group had “ received reports of poll watchers who were using their maskless presence to approach and intimidate minority voters.
” The Texas attorney general ’ s office had argued that the majority of states don ’ t require masks at polling places and said the “ unprecedented ” injunction to require masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas voters , and force local election officials to divert scarce resources from important tasks.
” The governor ’ s mask exemption for voters and poll workers was meant to “ protect important rights such as the right to vote , ensuring that no Texan would be turned away from the polls over having to wear a mask , ” the state said in its filing .
If masks were required , “ countless Texas citizens ” would face a choice : “ wear a mask , or else lose the right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law professor at Loyola Law School , said it was “ entirely constitutional ” to turn people away if they refuse to wear a mask .
The Supreme Court says that it evaluates alleged burdens on the vote by weighing the degree of the burden against the magnitude of the state ’ s justification for the imposition , he explained .
Since the courts , including the Supreme Court , have approved state restrictions “ far more burdensome than the comparative cost of wearing a mask , with far less justification than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” a mask requirement “ is easily constitutional , ” he said .
If you have a news tip , we ’ d like to hear from you .
Reach out to us via one of our tip line channels .
“ If you are a person who just doesn ’ t want to wear a mask because you think it ’ s your constitutional right , I strongly think you should be turned away , ” said Rosie Davis , whose mother died of COVID-19 in a Texas nursing home in May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no mask mandate there , said Davis , who is now a member of COVID Survivors for Change .
Since then , some polling stations in her state have had to temporarily shut down because workers tested positive for COVID-19 , she said , pointing to outbreaks in Lewisville and Tarrant County , Texas .
She will be voting for Biden next week , even though she doesn ’ t usually vote .
“ Losing my mom from COVID is what fueled me to vote this year , ” she said .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for hours if necessary , but wishes she didn ’ t have to risk infection in the process .
Just because states won ’ t prevent maskless voters from entering polling stations doesn ’ t mean they want them there .
Many states are doing all they can to prevent what one state election official said was a “ worst-case scenario ” — voters refusing to wear masks and insisting on voting indoors .
Poll workers are often senior citizens at higher risk of serious illness or death from the coronavirus .
Maskless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Fifteen states and DC told BuzzFeed News that poll workers were required to wear masks on the job , while others did n't specify or said the same rules applied to voters and poll workers alike — masks are encouraged , not required .
As a rise in COVID-19 cases nationwide leads to spikes across the country , most states said they would provide polling locations with extra masks for voters who didn ’ t bring their own , along with other personal protective equipment such as gloves , plus hand sanitizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ markers .
Many states will offer voters who won ’ t wear masks the ability to vote outdoors , from their cars , or in other secure areas — options that are often already available to people with disabilities or mobility concerns .
Others said they ’ d just try to get those people out of the room as soon as possible .
“ If someone comes in not wearing a mask , we ’ re treating that as a political statement , ” said Jacob Gansert , a coordinator for the Rhode @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone comes in and has a big political sign we would ask them to vote quickly and leave to not influence other voters , and we ’ re treating masks the same way.
” In Minnesota , voters who decline to wear a mask or vote outside will still be allowed to vote , but will have their name recorded “ as in violation of the Governor ’ s mask requirement and reported to the appropriate authorities , ” a spokesperson said .
In September , Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refuse to wear masks could potentially be subject to a $ 100 fine .
A spokesperson for Maryland ’ s State Board of Elections told BuzzFeed News that someone who refused to wear a mask or use the provisional voting process outside of the voting room would still “ be permitted to vote.
” But earlier this week , a Harford County , Maryland , man was arrested at an early-voting precinct after doing just that , according to a Facebook post by the county sheriff , which said the man repeatedly refused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear a mask .
He was charged with violating a state emergency order and trespassing .
The man “ was not banned from the location , and is still able to cast his ballot , ” the post noted .
Some activists raised concerns about how states would enforce mask mandates at the polls , given that while minority groups , especially Black people , are at increased risk from COVID-19 , they are also more likely to be harmed by police .
“ Any sort of mask mandate is always going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutions enforcing those rules are inherently racist , ” said Tyler McFadden , executive director of the National Voter Protection Action Fund .
“ Whenever those rules are enforced , it affects Black people like me.
“

Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab said earlier this month, “Exercising one’s fundamental right to vote is not, and should not be, contingent upon whether or not they choose to wear a mask.”
Oregon and Washington, DC, are taking the hardest line leading up to the election. Oregon was the singular state that told BuzzFeed News it would bar maskless people from voting in person. But the state is in a unique position: Oregon votes entirely by mail and has for over 20 years. However, the state does have county election offices where people can use a privacy booth to vote and masks are required inside, said Andrea Chiapella, legislative director for Oregon’s secretary of state.
“No mask, no entry into any indoor space in the state,” she clarified.
Four other states — Colorado, Washington, Hawaii, and Utah — administer elections by mail. But those states told BuzzFeed News that in-person voters are encouraged to wear masks but would not be turned away if they don’t.
Washington, DC, said that voters who won’t wear masks can use curbside voting services, allowing them to vote from their cars. If those aren’t available at their voting center, they’ll have to find a place where it is. If they refuse to leave, they’re out of luck.
“Let's hope it doesn't come to that,” said Nick Jacobs, a public information officer for the DC Board of Elections. But if it does, “we won't let you in,” Jacobs confirmed.
Just two states, Montana and Missouri, insisted that the decision to enforce masks at the polls was up to each jurisdiction or county. (Other states also did so at first, but later clarified that individual areas could not deny people their right to vote.)
Unsurprisingly, some states seemed loath to admit people would be allowed to vote without a mask.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order this summer prior to the June primaries requiring face coverings at the polls for anyone over age 2 or medically able. But New York’s election policies make clear that voters who don’t fit that criteria and still won't wear masks will be able to cast their vote.
“If a voter refuses to wear a mask, poll workers should consider providing the voter the opportunity to cast a ballot using any alternative voting locations or methods available at the poll site, if available,” joint guidelines from the state’s elections board and department of health released in June state. “Otherwise, the voter should be allowed to vote normally, and poll workers should follow safety and cleaning protocols.”
Legal battles have played out over this dispute from Wisconsin to Minnesota. Earlier this year, Texas NAACP and Mi Familia Vota, a national Latino organization, sued Texas, which is currently under a statewide mask mandate but created an exemption for polling stations. On Friday, the 5th Circuit upheld the exemption, allowing Texans to vote or work at polling locations without a mask. The court overturned a Wednesday ruling from US District Judge Jason Pulliam in San Antonio, who had ruled that the mask exemption “creates a discriminatory burden on Black and Latino voters.” Pullman had written that the plaintiffs argued not requiring masks would force voters “to make an unacceptable choice with respect to the 2020 election: exercising their right to vote - or - protecting their own health and lives and that of their loved ones and community by staying home.”
"We shouldn’t have to choose between risking our lives and using our constitutionally protected right to vote," Kristian Ramos, a Democratic strategist who specializes in the Latino vote, told BuzzFeed News ahead of Friday’s ruling.
In a statement, the president of the Texas NAACP said the group had “received reports of poll watchers who were using their maskless presence to approach and intimidate minority voters.”
The Texas attorney general’s office had argued that the majority of states don’t require masks at polling places and said the “unprecedented” injunction to require masks would “create extensive confusion, disenfranchise Texas voters, and force local election officials to divert scarce resources from important tasks.”
The governor’s mask exemption for voters and poll workers was meant to “protect important rights such as the right to vote, ensuring that no Texan would be turned away from the polls over having to wear a mask,” the state said in its filing. If masks were required, “countless Texas citizens” would face a choice: “wear a mask, or else lose the right to vote.”
Justin Levitt, a constitutional law professor at Loyola Law School, said it was “entirely constitutional” to turn people away if they refuse to wear a mask. The Supreme Court says that it evaluates alleged burdens on the vote by weighing the degree of the burden against the magnitude of the state’s justification for the imposition, he explained. Since the courts, including the Supreme Court, have approved state restrictions “far more burdensome than the comparative cost of wearing a mask, with far less justification than the compelling interest in physical public safety,” a mask requirement “is easily constitutional,” he said.
If you have a news tip, we’d like to hear from you. Reach out to us via one of our tip line channels.
“If you are a person who just doesn’t want to wear a mask because you think it’s your constitutional right, I strongly think you should be turned away,” said Rosie Davis, whose mother died of COVID-19 in a Texas nursing home in May. At the time, there was no mask mandate there, said Davis, who is now a member of COVID Survivors for Change. Since then, some polling stations in her state have had to temporarily shut down because workers tested positive for COVID-19, she said, pointing to outbreaks in Lewisville and Tarrant County, Texas.
She will be voting for Biden next week, even though she doesn’t usually vote. “Losing my mom from COVID is what fueled me to vote this year,” she said.
She’s ready to stand in line for hours if necessary, but wishes she didn’t have to risk infection in the process.
Just because states won’t prevent maskless voters from entering polling stations doesn’t mean they want them there. Many states are doing all they can to prevent what one state election official said was a “worst-case scenario” — voters refusing to wear masks and insisting on voting indoors. Poll workers are often senior citizens at higher risk of serious illness or death from the coronavirus. Maskless voters could put these workers in jeopardy.
Fifteen states and DC told BuzzFeed News that poll workers were required to wear masks on the job, while others didn't specify or said the same rules applied to voters and poll workers alike — masks are encouraged, not required.
As a rise in COVID-19 cases nationwide leads to spikes across the country, most states said they would provide polling locations with extra masks for voters who didn’t bring their own, along with other personal protective equipment such as gloves, plus hand sanitizer, social distancing placards, and floor markers. Many states will offer voters who won’t wear masks the ability to vote outdoors, from their cars, or in other secure areas — options that are often already available to people with disabilities or mobility concerns.
Others said they’d just try to get those people out of the room as soon as possible.
“If someone comes in not wearing a mask, we’re treating that as a political statement,” said Jacob Gansert, a coordinator for the Rhode Island Board of Elections. “If someone comes in and has a big political sign we would ask them to vote quickly and leave to not influence other voters, and we’re treating masks the same way.”
In Minnesota, voters who decline to wear a mask or vote outside will still be allowed to vote, but will have their name recorded “as in violation of the Governor’s mask requirement and reported to the appropriate authorities,” a spokesperson said. In September, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon told local outlet MPR News that voters who refuse to wear masks could potentially be subject to a $100 fine.
A spokesperson for Maryland’s State Board of Elections told BuzzFeed News that someone who refused to wear a mask or use the provisional voting process outside of the voting room would still “be permitted to vote.” But earlier this week, a Harford County, Maryland, man was arrested at an early-voting precinct after doing just that, according to a Facebook post by the county sheriff, which said the man repeatedly refused “to comply” with directives to wear a mask. He was charged with violating a state emergency order and trespassing.
The man “was not banned from the location, and is still able to cast his ballot,” the post noted.
Some activists raised concerns about how states would enforce mask mandates at the polls, given that while minority groups, especially Black people, are at increased risk from COVID-19, they are also more likely to be harmed by police.
“Any sort of mask mandate is always going to oppress communities of color harder because the institutions enforcing those rules are inherently racist,” said Tyler McFadden, executive director of the National Voter Protection Action Fund. “Whenever those rules are enforced, it affects Black people like me.“


buzzfeed--2020-10-31--These Teachers Are Struggling To Pull Their Students Out Of A QAnon Rabbit Hole

Conspiracy theories and collective delusions are often thought to be the purview of baby boomers on Facebook , but it ’ s clear that their children are also picking it up — and it ’ s their teachers who have to deal with it .
Conspiracy theories have always been a little dangerous — and of course , a little delicious to be privy to .
They range from the adorably dumb but ultimately absurd , like Bat Boy and flat-earthers , to the legitimately terrifying and tangibly damaging , like vaccine denial and Pizzagate .
But while a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea of rampant voter fraud , which has most recently been pushed by the president and debunked repeatedly ) feel like the department of baby boomers and older Gen X parents on Facebook , there ’ s a contingency of believers who are young , extremely online , and bringing their theories to school for their teachers to try to parse .
In mid-October , BuzzFeed News asked teachers around the country what kind of conspiracy theories or collective delusions — which is what BuzzFeed News is calling QAnon thanks to its sheer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing from students .
I received responses from all over the country , and while it ’ s not a scientific survey , what ’ s clear is that students are bringing learned conspiracy theories to class — from the well-trodden ( the Clintons are murderers ) to the lesser known ( birds are actually just government cameras and COVID is a fraud perpetrated by the government because they had to change the batteries ... in the birds ) .
“ I have a student who truly believes Wyoming doesn ’ t actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans to gain votes , ” wrote one public high school English teacher from Texas .
“ They said the Democrats are trying to invade it to create their own fake votes for the state .
His reasoning ?
‘ Have you ever actually met anyone from Wyoming ?
’ ” This is markedly close to the Bielefeld conspiracy , a German satire of conspiracy theories that claims that the city of Bielefeld doesn ’ t actually exist .
Or the one about how Australia doesn ’ t actually exist .
Or that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually exist .
( There are a lot of conspiracy theories about places not existing . )
It ’ s not really clear if the students parroting any of these conspiracy theories actually believe them or if they ’ re just being ironic in their attempts to ruin their teachers ’ lives , but this moment in history won ’ t be remembered for leaving a lot of room for satiric contrarianism .
For the teachers , at least , it ’ s a very real and increasingly common problem in class , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear solution so long as they fear being labeled the “ liberal propagandist ” of their school district .
With the teachers I talked to , there are two conspiracy theories , or mass delusions , in particular that came up again and again : Jeffrey Epstein and QAnon .
It ’ s evident that Gen Z is picking up at least some of these stories from their own social networks , on TikTok and Snapchat , but they ’ re also hearing about it in their homes .
Liz ( a pseudonym @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sources in this story ) , a public and private school eighth-grade science , history , and English teacher who lives in Florida , said she ’ s struggling to talk to one student in particular , who comes from a family of fervent Trump supporters , about QAnon .
“ Our [ school ] administration has told us they don ’ t want us talking about any of this , anything political .
Of course they ’ re going to end up talking about it because it ’ s what ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Liz said .
“ So you ask them , how do you prove any of this ?
‘ Oh well , you know , everyone is evil and America is amazing because Trump is the leader of America .
My dad told me and Fox News told me.
’ ‘ What about the homeless rate ?
The joblessness rate ?
’ ‘ That ’ s fake news .
Trump is fighting Wayfair.
’ ” What Liz is referencing is the completely baseless ( and discredited ) conspiracy theory that the online furniture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trafficking — yet another QAnon belief that ran rampant on TikTok a few months ago .
( TikTok recently started banning QAnon posts , hashtags , and accounts on the app . )
Once students learn these conspiracies and start to buy into them , they bring them to school , tell their classmates about them like they are true fact , use them to belittle other students , and force their teachers to try to make sense of their logic at school .
For the teachers I spoke to , explaining actual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impossible .
In response , their students simply say that the news media is biased , and that Donald Trump is sending subtle signals to QAnon believers about how he ’ s on the brink of saving the world from pedophile rings .
My colleague recently spoke to family members and friends of QAnon believers who were candid about the difficulties in trying to convince their loved ones that what they believe is not real .
Many of the teachers I spoke to for this piece echoed the same frustrations and asked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have their full names be published out of fear of reprisal from their administrators — or worse , the parents of their students .
Many of them are English , history , or social studies teachers .
One is a grad student teaching first-year university courses , with no tenure protections .
Still , it ’ s clear that over the last several years , conspiracy theories ( namely ones that position Republicans as saviors ) are on the rise in schools .
And no matter what happens after all the votes are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election is definitively named in the next few weeks , all those theories and all those believers aren ’ t just going to disappear .
Jeffrey Epstein ’ s suicide — or , if you ask these students , his murder — is among the latest fixation for Gen Z on TikTok and for the students of the teachers I talked to .
The logic around this seems to vary ; liberal students think Trump had him killed , while conservative students think the Clintons did it .
The official answer around his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lines of , fishy but there ’ s zero evidence that either Trump or the Clintons or people associated with them walked into his jail cell to strangle him .
Referencing Epstein , both online and in school , seems to be both a tongue-in-cheek way to make teachers run out of patience , while also signaling your own political views to the rest of the class .
“ Someone would raise their hand and be like , ‘ What happened with Jeffrey Epstein ?
’ ” said Denise , a public high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They were very much just trying to get me to say that Trump did it so they could find any reason to fly off the handle a little bit.
” Most of the teachers I spoke to said conspiracy theories in their classes have been on the steady uptick for a decade , but the last four years have been particularly rough .
“ I ’ ve taught for 14 years , ” Denise said , “ and I ’ ve never had a group of humans do this.
” Sean Rafferty , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York for the last eight years , who teaches a first-year class on critical thinking , also has students who don ’ t believe Epstein killed himself .
“ There were several people I could not convince that Jeffrey Epstein almost certainly did commit suicide in jail and wasn ’ t murdered by some cabal of President Trump or Secretary Clinton , ” he said .
“ I thought conspiracy theories were highly problematic when I started this class .
And now you have people doing murders because they believe there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberals feeding on kidnapped babies ’ adrenal glands.
” “ When we talk about the more traditional version of QAnon that grew out of Pizzagate , it does tend to skew older , ” said Joan Donovan , the director and lead researcher of the Technology and Social Change Research Project at the Harvard Kennedy School , whose research focuses on media manipulation and disinformation campaigns .
“ But when you start to look at the confluence of folks showing up at the reopen protests related to conspiracy theories about the deep state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by colluding with China to bring a pandemic to the US , you end up seeing young men .
It really takes all kinds .
It ’ s not just young and old , but it ’ s also multiracial , ” she said.
“ It ’ s really important to call that kind of behavior out early on and say , ‘ I don ’ t understand what you ’ re talking about.
’ ” Jane , a public college professor in Texas who teaches research and writing to first-year students , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discern fake news from reliable news .
“ In Texas , it ’ s this weird battle where you ’ re always going to get one or two students who think Breitbart is real news and I ’ m just a hater , I ’ m just a liberal hater , ” she said .
“ I can ’ t sit there and be like , you ’ re full of shit , fuck Fox News .
What I can do is start to chip away at Fox News.
” During class , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ segments and ask if he is , indeed , a news reporter .
She mentioned to her students that a defamation suit against Fox and Carlson was dismissed because his work is “ rhetorical hyperbole and opinion commentary , ” and therefore not applicable as defamation .
“ That , ” Jane said , “ was actually very effective.
” Even still , Jane has to walk a fine line in her instructionals ; her classes are recorded , her supervisor can watch all of them , and she ’ s a graduate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ QAnon network of conspiracy theories is especially enticing largely because it ’ s not a static belief about something that happened in the past , like JFK ’ s assassination .
( Though it ’ s worth noting that QAnon supporters are also obsessed with JFK Jr. ) “ The thing about the Q network is that it ’ s extensible , adaptable , and resilient , ” Donovan said .
“ It mutates with breaking news so there ’ s always something new to discover .
Anything that happens in the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s also playing on a bunch of trauma that people have had in their lives .
It draws in people who have been abused , that feel as if no one protected them so their job is to protect vulnerable people.
” The real difference for how young people now are getting sucked in , then , is largely just the delivery mechanism .
“ Celebrities , sports figures , influencers online , all of these kinds of people stand to gain attention by mentioning these conspiracy theories , by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Donovan said .
“ Social media has decontextualized the way people assess evidence and truth.
” At the beginning of the pandemic , for example , a few high-profile celebrities ( not to mention internet-teen-famous influencers ) started circulating a conspiracy theory connecting coronavirus to 5G networks .
Woody Harrelson and M.I.A .
were among the believers .
TikTok and YouTube are some of the key social media networks responsible for the spread of conspiracy theories online , namely among young people .
The Wayfair trafficking conspiracy ripped through TikTok despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was remotely true .
There are also people on the app spreading misinformation about everything from coronavirus precautions to vaccines .
TikTok has noticed , too : This month , they restricted the kind of content available on the app , including what the New York Times called “ a crackdown on QAnon supporters and a prohibition of ‘ coded ’ language that could serve to normalize hate speech.
” YouTube , Twitter , and Facebook also recently announced their own bans on QAnon .
The cure for a conspiracy theory spreading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more to curb it , especially for young people who are even more attached to their phones as the pandemic roils on in the US .
And though Facebook has recently committed to banning QAnon , the ban comes about four years too late .
“ Earlier generations had to resign themselves to knowing some people will always believe the moon landing was fake , ” Donovan said .
“ My big worry is the scale of [ Qanon ] .
It ’ s really important that we understand that these technologies have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scale problem and start to make it more difficult for these theories to proliferate , they ’ re only going to mutate.
” According to cult expert and The Cult of Trump author Steve Hassan , the best way to help someone stuck in a mass delusion is to speak to them calmly , rationally , and without judgment .
“ The frame that I ’ m recommending my clients or anyone take is a respectful , curious , concerned , tell me more kinds of posture , ” Hassan said , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could you believe this conspiracy ?
’ ” Liz , the middle school teacher from Florida , has been told by her school ’ s administrator to no longer talk to students about current events or any of their conspiracy theories .
But if that ’ s the guidance teachers are getting , then how can they do their jobs effectively ?
For a 14-year-old , it ’ s natural to want to bring your questions about the world to the classroom .
“ I usually try to be like , all right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why do you believe it ?
Besides , just , your dad told you , tell me why you believe this to be true.
” Liz said .
“ How can we vet our facts and make sure they are facts ?
How do these beliefs affect yourself but also the people around you ?
” Shutting students down entirely when they bring up the things they read online will only push them further into the darkest parts of the internet , resigned to believing their teachers either don ’ t have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to know “ the truth ” for more nefarious reasons .
All the teachers I spoke to said they wanted to talk to their students directly about topics like QAnon and Pizzagate , in an attempt to redirect them toward actual facts and not Reddit threads and inaccurate TikTok videos .
But they often feel they ’ re unable to without repercussions .
“ I want them to be able to think critically and back up their own information .
But if they go home and tell their parents , they might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s concerning , ” Liz said .
“ I want to make sure everyone is going to be safe and understood and heard .
But I can ’ t control what happens outside of [ the classroom ] .
” And with so many classes now being held over Zoom , it ’ s even harder to engage students .
“ We ’ ve been pretty impacted by the pandemic in a lot of job loss , ” said Grant , a public high school teacher in a red district in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of parents lurking in the backgrounds of these Zooms .
I have to choose what I say in response carefully.
” In a classroom , these teachers might have slightly more autonomy to correct or advise their students when the information they ’ re delivering is demonstrably false , but over Zoom , it ’ s much harder to avoid an adversarial parent .
“ They 're sitting at home still listening to what mom and dad say , or they ’ re zoned out watching chiropractor videos on YouTube , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois , said .
“ I don ’ t know how to fix it .
But I do worry , especially with the election days away.
” More frustrating for educators is that students aren ’ t just harming themselves by sharing racist birther conspiracy theories spread by Donald Trump about former president Barack Obama .
They ’ re also making life infinitely harder for other students , namely Black and brown ones , trans or nonbinary students , and queer students , too .
For Liz , that means having to fend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AIDS to punish the gays ” or cutting conversations around Black Lives Matter short before they get too personal .
“ Another student was talking about BLM and oh , it ’ s a horrible organization and they ’ re all rioting and killing people and Black lives don ’ t matter , all lives matter , ” she said , adding that a particular Black student in that class didn ’ t know how to counter her classmate ’ s argument .
“ She couldn ’ t talk or explain to them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to listen to understand why this hurt her or why this mattered to her.
” Anyone who might get caught in the crosshairs of a conspiracy theory ends up the unwitting target of it .
“ That ’ s one of the hardest parts about managing these topics , ” Liz said .
“ How can you tell me what you think without accidentally making you hurt your friends ?
” Not entirely surprisingly , many teachers reported that it was their conservative white male students who were the loudest purveyors of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women a close second .
“ They ’ re articulating the same exact thing .
They ’ re not louder , they ’ re just better at it , ” Grant said .
“ And those straight white males and straight white females are the ones drowning out my students of color who already feel intimidated and don ’ t feel comfortable sharing.
” The kids verbalizing the theories they ’ re curious about , or believe in , are just the beginning of a larger issue .
“ The problem of conspiracies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Grant .
“ The kids willing to speak out about it are the smallest part of it .
There are kids who aren ’ t willing to share but hear kids sharing them , and they latch on .
Inevitably , what ends up happening is we don ’ t have all the tools we need to repair or replace these ideas with factual evidence.
” “ When I first graduated and got my first teaching job , ” Liz said , “ I wasn ’ t thinking , like , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to believe that QAnon isn ’ t the most credible source of information ?
” Hassan said that QAnon , unlike some other conspiracy theories , is more like a cult than just a belief system .
“ It ’ s not a conspiracy theory , it ’ s a much more demanding allegiance , ” he said .
“ They take existing groups and infiltrate them and then use those groups as proxies to disseminate stuff .
It ’ s a network of cults .
They actually have an organization of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few days before the election , and just a few weeks left in this semester of school .
For a lot of these students , this is their first eligible election , and they ’ re voting , in part , armed with misinformation and sometimes outright lies .
“ I have this one man who ’ s holding on to QAnon and is so willing to hurt other students in the class .
He ’ s intelligent and writes well and recently completed an assignment where I made him talk about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared to the Salem witch trials .
He wrote a good essay !
” Jane said .
“ Then in class , he ’ ll bring up an absurd news story about the Clintons and the children .
He knows there ’ s social problems but it ’ s become more important to be a white man in his QAnon world.
” Ultimately , there ’ s only so much a teacher can do .
“ He ’ s going to get a job and get married , ” Jane said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ●

Conspiracy theories have always been a little dangerous — and of course, a little delicious to be privy to. They range from the adorably dumb but ultimately absurd, like Bat Boy and flat-earthers, to the legitimately terrifying and tangibly damaging, like vaccine denial and Pizzagate. But while a lot of political conspiracy theories (like the idea of rampant voter fraud, which has most recently been pushed by the president and debunked repeatedly) feel like the department of baby boomers and older Gen X parents on Facebook, there’s a contingency of believers who are young, extremely online, and bringing their theories to school for their teachers to try to parse.
In mid-October, BuzzFeed News asked teachers around the country what kind of conspiracy theories or collective delusions — which is what BuzzFeed News is calling QAnon thanks to its sheer size and influence — they’re hearing from students. I received responses from all over the country, and while it’s not a scientific survey, what’s clear is that students are bringing learned conspiracy theories to class — from the well-trodden (the Clintons are murderers) to the lesser known (birds are actually just government cameras and COVID is a fraud perpetrated by the government because they had to change the batteries...in the birds).
“I have a student who truly believes Wyoming doesn’t actually exist and is only used by the Republicans to gain votes,” wrote one public high school English teacher from Texas. “They said the Democrats are trying to invade it to create their own fake votes for the state. His reasoning? ‘Have you ever actually met anyone from Wyoming?’”
This is markedly close to the Bielefeld conspiracy, a German satire of conspiracy theories that claims that the city of Bielefeld doesn’t actually exist. Or the one about how Australia doesn’t actually exist. Or that Molise in southern Italy doesn’t actually exist. (There are a lot of conspiracy theories about places not existing.) It’s not really clear if the students parroting any of these conspiracy theories actually believe them or if they’re just being ironic in their attempts to ruin their teachers’ lives, but this moment in history won’t be remembered for leaving a lot of room for satiric contrarianism. For the teachers, at least, it’s a very real and increasingly common problem in class, one that doesn’t have a clear solution so long as they fear being labeled the “liberal propagandist” of their school district.
With the teachers I talked to, there are two conspiracy theories, or mass delusions, in particular that came up again and again: Jeffrey Epstein and QAnon.
It’s evident that Gen Z is picking up at least some of these stories from their own social networks, on TikTok and Snapchat, but they’re also hearing about it in their homes. Liz (a pseudonym to protect her privacy, like most sources in this story), a public and private school eighth-grade science, history, and English teacher who lives in Florida, said she’s struggling to talk to one student in particular, who comes from a family of fervent Trump supporters, about QAnon. “Our [school] administration has told us they don’t want us talking about any of this, anything political. Of course they’re going to end up talking about it because it’s what’s important and relevant in the world,” Liz said. “So you ask them, how do you prove any of this? ‘Oh well, you know, everyone is evil and America is amazing because Trump is the leader of America. My dad told me and Fox News told me.’ ‘What about the homeless rate? The joblessness rate?’ ‘That’s fake news. Trump is fighting Wayfair.’”


buzzfeed--2020-11-01--A Woman's Thong Almost Killed Her And She Shared The Story On TikTok As A Precaution

`` Abscesses in the groin and anorectal area are not uncommon and can happen randomly to people who are more @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Lincoln said .
`` As for causing abscesses in the anorectal area , it @ @ @ @ @ cut in the skin from friction , which can then get infected .
So if @ @ @ @ @ one , opt for a loose-fitting , soft cotton version .
This may be better @ @ @ @ @ be more irritating to the skin , potentially more abrasive , or more likely to @ @ @ @ @ ''

"Abscesses in the groin and anorectal area are not uncommon and can happen randomly to people who are more prone to infections," Dr. Lincoln said. "As for causing abscesses in the anorectal area, it could theoretically cause a small cut in the skin from friction, which can then get infected. So if you do want to wear one, opt for a loose-fitting, soft cotton version. This may be better than synthetic fibers that can be more irritating to the skin, potentially more abrasive, or more likely to trap moisture and bacteria."


buzzfeed--2020-11-01--Trump Made It Clear He Wants The Supreme Court To Shut Down Vote Counting After Election Day

President Donald Trump , in his last sprint of rallies before Election Day , is aggressively accelerating his campaign to spread distrust in the US election and legal systems , laying the groundwork for a potential effort to stop counting votes after Nov. 3 .
“ The whole world , and our nation , is going to be waiting , and waiting , and waiting to hear who won ?
You ’ re going to be waiting for weeks ?
, ” Trump asked a crowd of supporters Saturday morning in Bucks County , Pennsylvania .
There has been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationwide because of the coronavirus pandemic , particularly — polls suggest , among Democrats .
Because of how some key states like Pennsylvania count votes , that might mean that the election winner is not determined on election night , and it could mean that some states that count absentee ballots late may show initial results that have Trump winning , only for Joe Biden to overtake him as more votes come in .
There ’ s nothing about that that would suggest fraud or illegality , and it ’ s not unusual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finalize a vote count .
Trump , though , is now loudly insisting otherwise .
He repeatedly blamed the Supreme Court , which earlier this week denied Pennsylvania Republicans ’ request to issue a decision on mail-in ballots before the election , punting the issue .
That denial means that Pennsylvania can still count ballots that are postmarked by Election Day as long as they arrive by Nov. 6 ; Republicans had sued to stop them from counting anything that arrives after Nov. 3 .
“ This is a terrible thing they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s the United States Supreme Court I ’ m talking about .
That is a terrible , political , horrible decision that they made .
We ’ re going to be waiting , Nov. 3 is going to come and go and we ’ re not going to know , ” Trump said .
“ And you ’ re going to have bedlam in our country , and you ’ re going to have this period of nine days or seven days or whatever it is , and many bad things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ oh we just found ten thousand ballots , oh that ’ s good , we just found another ten thousand.
’ This is a horrible thing the United States Supreme Court has done to our country .
And I say it , and I say it loud and I say it proud.
” '' We have to know who won , '' he said .
`` We have to know who won . ''

President Donald Trump, in his last sprint of rallies before Election Day, is aggressively accelerating his campaign to spread distrust in the US election and legal systems, laying the groundwork for a potential effort to stop counting votes after Nov. 3.
“The whole world, and our nation, is going to be waiting, and waiting, and waiting to hear who won? You’re going to be waiting for weeks?” Trump asked a crowd of supporters Saturday morning in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
There has been a giant spike in early and mail-in voting nationwide because of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly — polls suggest, among Democrats. Because of how some key states like Pennsylvania count votes, that might mean that the election winner is not determined on election night, and it could mean that some states that count absentee ballots late may show initial results that have Trump winning, only for Joe Biden to overtake him as more votes come in. There’s nothing about that that would suggest fraud or illegality, and it’s not unusual for some states to take days to finalize a vote count. Trump, though, is now loudly insisting otherwise.
He repeatedly blamed the Supreme Court, which earlier this week denied Pennsylvania Republicans’ request to issue a decision on mail-in ballots before the election, punting the issue. That denial means that Pennsylvania can still count ballots that are postmarked by Election Day as long as they arrive by Nov. 6; Republicans had sued to stop them from counting anything that arrives after Nov. 3.
“This is a terrible thing they’ve done to our country. And that’s the United States Supreme Court I’m talking about. That is a terrible, political, horrible decision that they made. We’re going to be waiting, Nov. 3 is going to come and go and we’re not going to know,” Trump said. “And you’re going to have bedlam in our country, and you’re going to have this period of nine days or seven days or whatever it is, and many bad things — ballots are going to be, ‘Oh, we just found 10,000 ballots. Oh, that’s good, we just found another 10,000.’ This is a horrible thing the United States Supreme Court has done to our country. And I say it, and I say it loud and I say it proud.”
"We have to know who won," he said. "We have to know who won."


buzzfeed--2020-11-01--More Than 9 Million People Voted Early In Texas. For One Day In Its Biggest County, They Voted All N


buzzfeed--2020-11-01--Trump And Republican Senators Are Losing Votes Due To Coronavirus Deaths, A New Study Says

A new study has found that , in states with rising COVID-19 deaths , voter support for Trump and Republican senators has dropped by margins big enough to swing some tight races .
States with higher coronavirus death rates may see declining voter support for President Donald Trump and other Republican candidates , possibly by margins large enough to swing tight election races , a new study has found .
Less than a week away from an election that many view as a referendum on the White House ’ s handling of the pandemic , coronavirus cases are now rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are spiking , and there are worrying signs that deaths are increasing again .
The new study , which polled hundreds of thousands of Americans across the country , found that when a state ’ s COVID-19 death rate doubled within a month ’ s time , Trump ’ s approval rating dropped by 0.5 % , independent of all other factors .
The decline in support , reported in the journal Science Advances on Friday , mirrored the effects that casualties of the Korean War , Vietnam War , and Iraq War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with voters .
Led by political scientist Christopher Warshaw of George Washington University , the researchers also asked whether people changed which candidates they were planning to vote for .
Across states , every monthly doubling of coronavirus death rates caused a 0.37 % drop in the number of people who said they planned to vote for Trump , the study found .
The drop in support for Republican senators was even steeper , at 0.79 % .
These small margins could be big enough to shift close races .
In 2016 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as Michigan was just 0.23 % — and some swing states in 2020 , such as Iowa , appear to be just as tight .
The new analysis found that the trend was particularly visible in swing states such as Michigan , Wisconsin , Pennsylvania , New Hampshire , Arizona , and Florida , with the potential to sway both the presidential election and US Senate races .
Local unemployment usually plays a pivotal role in determining who wins votes in a presidential election , according to a study of economic impacts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in August on which Warshaw also was a coauthor .
The new study suggests that COVID-19 deaths may play an equally important role .
“ The president himself declared he was a ‘ wartime president ’ at the start of the pandemic , and we are seeing death tolls above the Vietnam War and Korean War , ones we have only seen in World War II , ” Warshaw told BuzzFeed News .
“ Voters are seeing things that way too.
” While the president has repeatedly declared that the nation is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to live with ” the virus , nearly a quarter-million Americans have died in the coronavirus pandemic .
As deaths and cases continue to rise , Trump has made the false claim that the numbers are wrong — driven by increases in testing and corrupt hospitals .
Medical groups have roundly dismissed his allegations as false .
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has declared that Trump was waving the “ white flag of defeat ” to the virus .
The new study relied on survey responses from more than 300,000 people nationwide taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ + UCLA Nationscape Survey , as well as fatality data collected by the New York Times , and American Community Survey county population data .
To estimate how COVID-19 deaths have impacted changing support for Trump and Republicans , the researchers analyzed changes in polls as mortality numbers grew while controlling for other effects , such as unemployment and protests .
They first estimated statewide relationships by looking at changes in polls conducted between June 1 and July 2 of this year .
They next drilled down to the county level in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expert Douglas Kriner , who was not part of the study , told BuzzFeed News that the approach was methodologically sound and mirrored past studies on wartime casualty effects on voters .
“ The effect sizes aren ’ t massive — but given the razor-thin margins in contemporary American electoral politics , even small effects could be pivotal , ” said Kriner .
“ Moreover , given how polarized the electorate is , small effect sizes aren ’ t surprising.
” The effect of COVID-19 deaths seemed to sway Republican and independent voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , perhaps because Democratic voters had already made up their mind on Trump and the Republican Party .
“ These findings are not at all surprising , but they do reflect a potentially important shift , ” Shannon Monnat , a sociologist at Syracuse University who documented a move toward Trump in the 2016 election in counties most affected by drug overdose deaths , told BuzzFeed News .
“ As we have started to see outbreaks in many parts of rural America , people are finally coming to see that rural areas are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less capacity to cope with it.
” COVID-19 is now disproportionately hitting rural areas that Trump and Republicans rely on for support .
The worst virus outbreaks have shifted from cities to rural counties in the current surge of cases , overwhelming small hospitals , according to a New York Times report last week .
And new weekly coronavirus deaths are now higher in counties that voted for Trump in 2016 , compared to ones that went for Hillary Clinton , according to an Economic Innovation Group report released Thursday .
From a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration seems to have bet too many political chips on the economy , rather than on trying to limit the casualties of a deadly virus .
“ The administration miscalculated that it would be possible to get the economy moving again without controlling the pandemic , ” he said .
“ It seems pretty clear now that the best way to jump-start the economy would have been an early mask mandate , widespread testing , and other aggressive COVID mitigation measures in the spring.
” Trump and the Republican Senate probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding to support American families and businesses during an unprecedented economic downturn , Warshaw added .
He acknowledged that the election is still a week away and will ultimately be decided by the voters .
But if Trump loses a close race , it ’ s possible that people will argue for a long time whether the pandemic was the deciding factor .
In that case , Warshaw noted , Biden was leading Trump in nationwide polls at the start of the year , even before the pandemic started .
“ That has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .

The new study relied on survey responses from more than 300,000 people nationwide taken from 2019 to 2020 by the DemocracyFund + UCLA Nationscape Survey, as well as fatality data collected by the New York Times, and American Community Survey county population data.
To estimate how COVID-19 deaths have impacted changing support for Trump and Republicans, the researchers analyzed changes in polls as mortality numbers grew while controlling for other effects, such as unemployment and protests. They first estimated statewide relationships by looking at changes in polls conducted between June 1 and July 2 of this year. They next drilled down to the county level in a week-by-week analysis.
Cornell University public opinion expert Douglas Kriner, who was not part of the study, told BuzzFeed News that the approach was methodologically sound and mirrored past studies on wartime casualty effects on voters.
“The effect sizes aren’t massive — but given the razor-thin margins in contemporary American electoral politics, even small effects could be pivotal,” said Kriner. “Moreover, given how polarized the electorate is, small effect sizes aren’t surprising.”
The effect of COVID-19 deaths seemed to sway Republican and independent voters more, according to the study authors, perhaps because Democratic voters had already made up their mind on Trump and the Republican Party.
“These findings are not at all surprising, but they do reflect a potentially important shift,” Shannon Monnat, a sociologist at Syracuse University who documented a move toward Trump in the 2016 election in counties most affected by drug overdose deaths, told BuzzFeed News. “As we have started to see outbreaks in many parts of rural America, people are finally coming to see that rural areas are not immune, and they have even less capacity to cope with it.”
COVID-19 is now disproportionately hitting rural areas that Trump and Republicans rely on for support. The worst virus outbreaks have shifted from cities to rural counties in the current surge of cases, overwhelming small hospitals, according to a New York Times report last week. And new weekly coronavirus deaths are now higher in counties that voted for Trump in 2016, compared to ones that went for Hillary Clinton, according to an Economic Innovation Group report released Thursday.
From a political science standpoint, Warshaw said, the Trump administration seems to have bet too many political chips on the economy, rather than on trying to limit the casualties of a deadly virus.
“The administration miscalculated that it would be possible to get the economy moving again without controlling the pandemic,” he said. “It seems pretty clear now that the best way to jump-start the economy would have been an early mask mandate, widespread testing, and other aggressive COVID mitigation measures in the spring.”
Trump and the Republican Senate probably should have passed more aggressive economic stimulus funding to support American families and businesses during an unprecedented economic downturn, Warshaw added.
He acknowledged that the election is still a week away and will ultimately be decided by the voters. But if Trump loses a close race, it’s possible that people will argue for a long time whether the pandemic was the deciding factor. In that case, Warshaw noted, Biden was leading Trump in nationwide polls at the start of the year, even before the pandemic started.
“That has stayed true for the whole race,” he said.
Peter Aldhous contributed reporting for this story.