buzzfeed--2020-11-03--False Information About Voting In Pennsylvania Is Flooding The Internet

“ The online misinformation has been relentless .
Have never seen anything like this , ” said one local official .
Just after 7 a.m. on Election Day , Trump campaign staffer Mike Roman tweeted photos of Democratic campaign posters taped outside a Pennsylvania polling station .
“ Bad things are happening in Philly , ” he wrote , implying the sign broke election laws forbidding campaigning within 10 feet of a polling station .
The Philadelphia district attorney ’ s office debunked the claim three hours later , tweeting , `` What 's described in that tweet is disinformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misleading and false information about the state had flooded the internet .
It began before Election Day , according to the New York Times , and continued today , as rumors and falsehoods have been spread by confused people , right-wing influencers , and the Twitter account of the state Republican party .
“ The online misinformation has been relentless , ” Jane Roh , a spokesperson for the district attorney ’ s office , told BuzzFeed News .
“ Have never seen anything like this.
” BuzzFeed News has journalists around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 elections .
To help keep this news free , become a member .
Although the rumors surrounding Pennsylvania play into President Donald Trump 's false claims about the legitimacy of the election , in reality , most of the Election Day issues had nothing to do with the rumors .
In an update sent to the press just after noon , the district attorney ’ s office said it had received 25 complaints about the election , 21 of which had already been addressed by its Election Task Force .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has seen so far today can be attributed to bad information or misinformation being shared on social media , ” the update said .
Not all the rumors are straightforwardly false .
One viral video , for example , showed a poll watcher in Philadelphia being denied entry by a poll worker .
According to Kevin Feeley , a spokesperson for the Philadelphia City Commissioners , the local board that oversees elections , that situation really did happen , but the video lacked key context : The poll watcher was ultimately allowed entry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not acting from partisan motives but rather was confused because a previous version of the law required poll watchers to remain at one location , which they had to preregister for .
Nevertheless , the post blew up on social media , and hyperpartisan outlets framed the incident like a major scandal .
A story on Breitbart , a right-wing news site , received over 25,000 likes , comments , and shares on Facebook , and a post from Trending Politics , a right-wing website , earned 16,000 engagements .
“ In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be repeated attempts at perception hacking — where alleged instances of hyperlocal voting irregularities ( many of which are normal to election season ) are amplified by misinformation-sharing influencers on Facebook and Twitter to create a false voter fraud narrative that is blown completely out of proportion , ” Fadi Quran , campaign director with global civic organization Avaaz , told BuzzFeed News .
“ The disinformation running rampant today about the electoral process threatens to undermine one of America ’ s most important political rights for years to come.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the # StopTheSteal hashtag on Twitter , in which people are sharing dubious claims of voter interference or fraud .
Media intelligence company Zignal Labs found the hashtag had been mentioned over 12,800 times on Twitter by noon on Election Day .
Unverified claims of long voting lines also received tens of thousands of mentions , Zignal found .
The company said its data , collected since September , showed that swing states have been the primary targets of people pushing false information .
“ One of the most hotly contested states in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far the most vote-by-mail misinformation online , with more than double that of the second state on the list ( Ohio ) , ” the company found .
Other Election Day falsehoods are spreading faster than fact-checkers can verify or debunk them .
“ A steady drip of posts related to a relatively small number of voting issues being amplified and pushed as if they signal much larger problems , ” Claire Wardle , a cofounder of First Draft , a fact-checking site , told BuzzFeed News .
“ It 's doing what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to create a narrative that suggests the electoral process is flawed.
” If you have a news tip , we ’ d like to hear from you .
Reach out to us via one of our tip line channels .

Just after 7 a.m. on Election Day, Trump campaign staffer Mike Roman tweeted photos of Democratic campaign posters taped outside a Pennsylvania polling station.
“Bad things are happening in Philly,” he wrote, implying the sign broke election laws forbidding campaigning within 10 feet of a polling station.
The Philadelphia district attorney’s office debunked the claim three hours later, tweeting, "What's described in that tweet is disinformation."
But, hours later, misleading and false information about the state had flooded the internet. It began before Election Day, according to the New York Times, and continued today, as rumors and falsehoods have been spread by confused people, right-wing influencers, and the Twitter account of the state Republican party.
“The online misinformation has been relentless,” Jane Roh, a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office, told BuzzFeed News. “Have never seen anything like this.”
BuzzFeed News has journalists around the US bringing you trustworthy stories on the 2020 elections. To help keep this news free, become a member.
Although the rumors surrounding Pennsylvania play into President Donald Trump's false claims about the legitimacy of the election, in reality, most of the Election Day issues had nothing to do with the rumors. In an update sent to the press just after noon, the district attorney’s office said it had received 25 complaints about the election, 21 of which had already been addressed by its Election Task Force.


buzzfeed--2020-11-03--The Weirdest And Coolest Polling Places Where Americans Voted

How we voted this year took planning , preparation , and determination .
Whether it was by mail , dropping @ @ @ @ @ ballot box , voting early or showing up to the polls on Nov. 3 , @ @ @ @ @ track to break the highest voter-turnout rate in over a century .
Much like the @ @ @ @ @ not every polling site looked the same .
From Fenway Park in Boston , to @ @ @ @ @ San Francisco , we looked at some of the most unique places Americans cast their @ @ @ @ @ on Election Day .
BuzzFeed News has journalists around the US bringing you trustworthy stories @ @ @ @ @ To help keep this news free , become a member .

How we voted this year took planning, preparation, and determination. Whether it was by mail, dropping off a ballot at a ballot box, voting early or showing up to the polls on Nov. 3, Americans look to be on track to break the highest voter-turnout rate in over a century.
Much like the diversity of the US, not every polling site looked the same. From Fenway Park in Boston, to Osmanthus Dim Sum restaurant in San Francisco, we looked at some of the most unique places Americans cast their ballots leading up to and on Election Day.
BuzzFeed News has journalists around the US bringing you trustworthy stories on the 2020 elections. To help keep this news free, become a member.


buzzfeed--2020-11-05--Facebook Cut Traffic To Leading Liberal Pages Just Before The Election

“ It 's incredibly demoralizing , especially given the cataclysmic state of America , to know that the memes our team is making are being unfairly spiked in the Facebook algorithm.
” The operators of some of the largest US-based liberal Facebook pages said that errors and inaction by Facebook caused their engagement on the platform to drop dramatically in the critical few weeks before the 2020 presidential election .
Beginning in early October , the pages Occupy Democrats , the Other 98 % , and Being Liberal — which collectively have more than 18.5 million followers — experienced significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of how many people see a page ’ s content on the platform .
This meant their content received fewer shares , reactions , and comments .
“ It 's incredibly demoralizing , especially given the cataclysmic state of America , to know that the memes our team is making are being unfairly spiked in the Facebook algorithm , ” John Sellers , who runs the Other 98 % , told BuzzFeed News .
Sellers and Wojtek Wacowski , the owner of Being Liberal , said Facebook representatives told them the company had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strikes against their pages .
Strikes are applied when a third-party fact-checker rates content shared by a page as false and can result in a significant reduction in reach .
Both page admins said their audiences have not fully recovered , though Facebook claimed the issues had been resolved .
“ Obviously at this time , every day counts , ” Wacowski told BuzzFeed News .
“ If this would be in any other time , I probably would not want to talk because of the potential fear of retaliation [ from Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bigger thing than just my page.
” Facebook ’ s throttling of traffic to liberal pages is just the latest example of how an apparent mistake or behind-the-scenes decision can drastically affect what type of content is distributed across the platform .
Liberal page administrators who spoke with BuzzFeed News said that their reach declined by as much as 70 % , and still hasn ’ t recovered .
Occupy Democrats , the largest player in the American liberal Facebook ecosystem , with more than 10 million followers , also saw its reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oct. 4 .
Rafael Rivero , the cofounder of Occupy Democrats , told BuzzFeed News he has no idea why the page suddenly took a dive but said that it too has suffered from mistaken “ false news ” strikes in the past .
“ That 's happened to us several times in the last few months , ” he said .
“ We 'll reach out to Facebook and they 'll say , 'OK , you 're right , that was a bug . '
And they 'll clear them and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you work at Facebook or another technology company ?
We 'd love to hear from you .
Reach out at ryan.mac @ buzzfeed.com , craig.silverman @ buzzfeed.com , or via one of our tip line channels .
“ There are currently no restrictions limiting the distribution of any of these Pages , ” said Liz Bourgeois , a Facebook spokesperson .
“ Some of these Pages have previously seen their distribution reduced after their content was rated false by our third party fact-checkers .
In a few cases , individual strikes were removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were reversed by a fact-checker , or because the posts didn ’ t meet our thresholds for meriting our harshest penalties.
” Bourgeois did not specify which pages were hit with “ false positives ” or when any of these pages shared content that was “ rated false ” by fact-checkers .
Impacted page owners argue their experiences show Facebook punishing or neglecting liberal pages while bending over backward to assist conservative publishers .
BuzzFeed News reported in August that Facebook had quietly removed valid false news strikes against conservatives pages and Instagram @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In some of those instances , Facebook Vice President of Global Public Policy Joel Kaplan , a former George W. Bush administration appointee and Republican lobbyist , personally intervened to question some misinformation strikes .
Last week , the Washington Post revealed that Facebook employees also intervened to remove false news strikes against a pro-Trump super PAC and Donald Trump Jr .
These and other prominent conservative accounts are “ protected against more severe enforcement because of concern about the perception of anti-conservative bias , ” according to the Post .
Earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street Journal reported that in 2017 , Facebook altered planned changes to its News Feed to “ so that left-leaning sites like Mother Jones were affected more than previously planned.
” Mother Jones later reported that it suffered severe drops in traffic .
“ We did not make changes with the intent of impacting individual publishers , ” Facebook spokesperson Andy Stone told Mother Jones .
“ We only made updates after they were reviewed by many different teams across many disciplines to ensure the rationale was clear and consistent and could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberal page owners are among a number of problems plaguing Facebook in the critical final days before the election .
Last week , the company came under fire from Democratic candidate Joe Biden ’ s campaign when Facebook ’ s self-imposed Oct. 27 deadline for all new political ads caused bottlenecks and errors , while the Trump campaign and its supporters were able to run ads that violated the social network ’ s rules .
“ It is currently unclear to us whether or not Facebook is giving Donald Trump an unfair electoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is abundantly clear that Facebook was wholly unprepared to handle this election despite having four years to prepare , ” the Biden campaign told reporters in a statement .
“ From my perspective right-wing pages are getting preferential treatment while progressive Facebook pages have to endure a constant low level warfare against them , ” said Sellers , who runs the Other 98 % .
The administrator of another liberal page , Feminist News , which has more than 1.5 million followers , told BuzzFeed News that its reach was affected for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeted by online trolls .
These users mass-reported the page ’ s content for violating Facebook policy , resulting in its reach being reduced , according to Lacey Dickinson , who manages the page .
“ The page got jacked moments after [ we published ] a viral pro-choice post that was controversial and generating a lot of engagement , ” she said .
“ All of our Facebook posts following that post seemed artificially reduced , some by a lot , some not much — but this lasted about a week.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News was targeted with coordinated reporting , she said the issue `` has n't impacted the Page ’ s distribution . ''
While these large liberal pages are fighting to reach people , their right-wing counterparts , including those of the conservative commentator Dan Bongino , Fox News , and Daily Wire and its founder Ben Shapiro are seeing increases in engagement typical for the final stretch of a presidential election cycle , according to data from CrowdTangle , an analytics tool owned by Facebook .
A previous BuzzFeed News analysis of page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pages between 2015 and 2017 found that Occupy Democrats and Fox News were the dominant pages on the left and the right , respectively , and that they were largely neck and neck leading up to the 2016 election .
Rivero , the Occupy Democrats admin , said his page began to regain some of its audience in the past few days , though he doesn ’ t know why ; Facebook has not shared any information with him .
Sellers said Facebook never reached out to let him know the page ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company had reapplied six old false news strikes to his page .
“ They did n't tell us why it had been reduced or even that it had been reduced , ” he said .
“ It 's my belief that we would still be nuked now if we had n't noticed and made a bunch of noise.
” Rivero said Facebook ’ s decisions remain opaque but gave the company credit for making progress against false content .
“ I actually do applaud them for doing a better job of weeding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
But he rolled his eyes at conservative publishers and politicians who complain about censorship and bias while receiving preferential treatment from the platform .
“ I think it 's completely absurd that the right wing thinks that they 're being censored on Facebook , ” he said .
“ Their content runs rampant all over Facebook.
” Rivero said a strong election result for Democrats could be what forces Facebook to change how it treats liberal pages and content .
“ If by this time next week we control both houses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook will be forced to take the concerns of the left more seriously , ” Rivero said .

“Obviously at this time, every day counts,” Wacowski told BuzzFeed News. “If this would be in any other time, I probably would not want to talk because of the potential fear of retaliation [from Facebook]. But it’s a bigger thing than just my page.”
Facebook’s throttling of traffic to liberal pages is just the latest example of how an apparent mistake or behind-the-scenes decision can drastically affect what type of content is distributed across the platform. Liberal page administrators who spoke with BuzzFeed News said that their reach declined by as much as 70%, and still hasn’t recovered.
Occupy Democrats, the largest player in the American liberal Facebook ecosystem, with more than 10 million followers, also saw its reach and engagement decline starting the week of Oct. 4. Rafael Rivero, the cofounder of Occupy Democrats, told BuzzFeed News he has no idea why the page suddenly took a dive but said that it too has suffered from mistaken “false news” strikes in the past.
“That's happened to us several times in the last few months,” he said. “We'll reach out to Facebook and they'll say, 'OK, you're right, that was a bug.' And they'll clear them and then a week later they reappear.”
Do you work at Facebook or another technology company? We'd love to hear from you. Reach out at ryan.mac@buzzfeed.com, craig.silverman@buzzfeed.com, or via one of our tip line channels.
“There are currently no restrictions limiting the distribution of any of these Pages,” said Liz Bourgeois, a Facebook spokesperson. “Some of these Pages have previously seen their distribution reduced after their content was rated false by our third party fact-checkers. In a few cases, individual strikes were removed due to false positives, after ratings were reversed by a fact-checker, or because the posts didn’t meet our thresholds for meriting our harshest penalties.”
Bourgeois did not specify which pages were hit with “false positives” or when any of these pages shared content that was “rated false” by fact-checkers.


buzzfeed--2020-11-04--People Are Sharing How They Feel On Election Day 2020 Vs. How They Felt In 2016 And It's A Mood

As Americans across the country cast their ballots on Election Day , many are reflecting on just how different they @ @ @ @ @ me voting in 2016 vs me voting in 2020 Soon , many people began to @ @ @ @ @ in 2020 versus 2016 .
Me voting in 2016 vs. me voting in 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ 2016 vs Me voting in 2020 # Vote2020 # Vote2020 # ElectionDay # StayInLine # @ @ @ @ @ me voting in 2016 vs. me voting in 2020 For some , the last four @ @ @ @ @ to fuck shit up .
BuzzFeed News has journalists around the US bringing you trustworthy @ @ @ @ @ .
To help keep this news free , become a member .

For some, the last four years have left them ready to fuck shit up.
BuzzFeed News has journalists around the US bringing you trustworthy stories on the 2020 elections. To help keep this news free, become a member.


buzzfeed--2020-11-03--Struggling With Election Day Anxiety? Read This.

At long last , Election Day is finally upon us .
For months , there ’ s been a deluge of inescapable news and headlines about the impending showdown between President Donald Trump and his challenger , former vice president Joe Biden — along with a drumbeat reminding voters that the stakes for the 2020 election are spectacularly high .
For some , it feels like democracy itself is on the line .
The president , for his part , certainly hasn ’ t made the lead-up to Election Day any easier .
Trump has tried to undermine the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially when it comes to mail-in ballots .
He has called on his supporters to watch the polls , which could be seen as an invitation to intimidate people trying to cast their votes — though there are things to do if you see voter intimidation .
And he ’ s said he might prematurely claim victory if it seems like he ’ s ahead .
There ’ s also concern about how long it ’ ll take to declare the winner .
Just keep in mind that it ’ s unlikely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results on Nov. 3 .
( Remember the 2000 election ?
Gore didn ’ t concede until December ! )
But let ’ s just hope we don ’ t have to endure any nightmare scenarios before there ’ s a verdict this time around .
Naturally , with so much up in the air , you might be feeling a little overwhelmed and anxious , especially given what has already transpired over the course of the last four years .
I spoke to two psychologists — Thema Bryant-Davis , 46 , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trauma and culture , and Pierre ( he declined to give his last name for privacy reasons ) , 31 , a family therapist based in the Bronx , New York — about how to cope during this time , and some advice you can implement on Election Day and beyond .
The anxieties people are grappling with are varied and pressing , according to Bryant-Davis and Pierre .
Some of their clients have expressed concern about Trump ’ s remarks implying he might fire Dr. Anthony Fauci after the election , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been disproportionately affected by the ongoing pandemic , and many of Bryant-Davis ’ s patients are in that demographic .
Pierre said some clients have been unnerved by the Biden campaign bus being “ ambushed ” by a horde of Trump supporters in Texas .
And both psychologists said their patients have talked about fears of being physically harmed or put in danger , referencing incidents of voter intimidation and moments from earlier in the pandemic , when anti-mask rallies began to crop up .
With fears like these , Bryant-Davis said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have compassion for yourself , “ because the things people are anxious about are not beyond the realm of possibility.
” It ’ s important to acknowledge that your stressors are valid and based on things that are happening in the news and could — potentially — personally affect you .
Oftentimes , Bryant-Davis said , when trying to combat anxiety , some people may condemn themselves , which only exacerbates the problem .
Instead , she said , you should aim for “ radical acceptance ” of what you are feeling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my feelings , and I have a right to feel what I feel instead of being embarrassed about it or mad at myself for it.
” Similarly , Pierre suggested “ listening to yourself , ” regulating your sleep as much as possible , and making your bed a designated area specifically for non-stressful things , like sleep , sex , or reading .
Coping with — and quelling — anxiety , according to Bryant-Davis , isn ’ t just about figuring out how to make yourself feel better but also equipping yourself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yourself , “ How can I try to make things better ?
” So volunteering , taking up activism and advocacy , and getting involved with community organizing are some examples of actionable things .
“ Those are good for our mental health , ” she said .
“ We do n't have to just feel powerless or helpless.
” This advice hits on a sentiment expressed by Pierre , who said that for him , the point of self-care isn ’ t necessarily to cope in the face of horrible things or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ strengthen people ” and “ help people heal themselves so that they can deal with what 's happening.
” We live in a world where there ’ s a constant barrage of news , and since final results from the election might not be in for a while , Bryant-Davis recommends cutting back the amount of information you ’ re consuming , as it could exacerbate your anxiety .
You can stay informed , but you don ’ t have to “ drown in it , ” she said .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a good idea , as well as setting boundaries for who you engage with .
“ You know , there are a few people who like to debate for debate 's sake and that 's fun for them .
If that 's your thing , have fun , but for a lot of people , those conversations are draining and can feel toxic and unhealthy and leave you feeling worse.
” The key here , Bryant-Davis said , is being intentional about managing stress .
“ The powers that be want us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fail , want us to be burnt out .
They want us to be tired , ” Pierre said , speaking on the same subject .
“ Because having good self-care , having good mental wellness , good physical health isn ’ t what ’ s wanted for is , so it ’ s something you have to take .
That ’ s what makes self-care a radical move.
” Pierre ’ s approach to self-care is very much rooted in a communal ideology .
“ If you 're concerned and stressed about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to look like for you , imagine all the vulnerable people in your life and in your community who are also scared and who were also kind of dealing with the same anxieties , ” he said .
“ A way to kind of regulate yourself and make yourself feel strong is also [ by ] helping other people.
” Pierre suggested checking in on children , older adults , and people with disabilities in your family , and making sure they have groceries , medicine , and other important items , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s individual Cash App accounts and the like .
“ There are people online now who ca n't pay rent , or they need health insurance assistance , or they ca n't pay a bill and they 're asking for help , and the political campaigns , they do n't need anything else , but these people do , ” Pierre said .
“ And being able to do some makes you feel like you 're doing something , and that 's helping.
” Likewise , Bryant-Davis said it ’ s a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s on their wish lists , which are typically posted on their websites .
She added that there ’ s also a need for help at rape crisis centers and domestic violence agencies , as “ a lot of nonprofits are really struggling.
” But material services aren ’ t the only thing you can give — if you have a specific skill set , like a background in finance or law , and are able to donate some of your time , it “ can really make a difference and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power.
” It ’ s important to note , per Bryant-Davis , that we can “ hold stress in the body , ” which can present in some people as migraines , nausea , and backaches .
She suggested embodied healing as a way of taking care of yourself in order to release the tension within your body .
“ Feeling better is not just about shifting my mind , but it 's also physical , ” she said , and offered examples of exercise .
If you ’ re into yoga , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trauma-informed yoga that can help you feel more connected to your mind and body .
If you ’ re someone who has restricted movement , there are low-impact activities you can do , like chair stretching .
It ’ s equally important to make sure you ’ re nourishing yourself properly , drinking water , and eating foods that have nutrients , because “ when we are stressed , we are more likely to go for the sweets and carbs.
” With the arrival of Election Day , many worry about what will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how the losing party can handle the ensuing disappointment .
“ I would say regardless of who wins , get active , because a lot of the systemic problems that we are to be dealing with are going to still be occurring regardless , ” Pierre said .
“ There 's going to be issues with food , the pandemic is still going to be around , and a lot of the decisions that have already been made , we have n't felt the effects of it fully quite yet — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bryant-Davis echoed this , saying , if you ’ re angry or upset , you want to make sure it ’ s “ constructive anger , ” which happens when you allow your disappointment to motivate you to get involved in the changes you want to see , as opposed to “ destructive anger , ” which rises when you want to hurt others or yourself .
She also suggested not putting all your eggs “ in one presidential basket ” so you should check the names of the other folks you voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outcomes are .
Ultimately , you don ’ t want to be so entrenched in the idea that everything — your hopes and values — rely on a single individual , like the president .
Even if it may feel like there ’ s little hope for the future , Bryant-Davis said it ’ s important to cultivate joy whenever possible because “ time is sacred and time is not promised , ” and you don ’ t want to feel as if you can ’ t be happy for the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win .
“ What are ways that I can bring joy into my life ?
What are the things that helped me to come alive ?
” she offered , as questions you can ask yourself when feeling bogged down .
Listen to music , dance , Zoom with friends , go for a walk .
And with the “ heaviness of what we are facing with the election , I encourage people to choose comedy , ” she said , adding that it ’ s important to strive for balance , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the onslaught of dread .
Pierre also suggested reflecting on the things that bring you comfort and holding on to that .
“ The work for fairness , for equity , for a good , healthy democracy — that 's a lifelong commitment , ” Bryant-Davis said .
“ It 's not a sprint , so it does not end [ on Election Day ] .
So in order for me to sustain myself , I ca n't wait until everything is perfect before I can have joy.
” ●

We live in a world where there’s a constant barrage of news, and since final results from the election might not be in for a while, Bryant-Davis recommends cutting back the amount of information you’re consuming, as it could exacerbate your anxiety. You can stay informed, but you don’t have to “drown in it,” she said. She also said limiting your social media intake is a good idea, as well as setting boundaries for who you engage with.
“You know, there are a few people who like to debate for debate's sake and that's fun for them. If that's your thing, have fun, but for a lot of people, those conversations are draining and can feel toxic and unhealthy and leave you feeling worse.” The key here, Bryant-Davis said, is being intentional about managing stress. “The powers that be want us to be subjugated and want us to fail, want us to be burnt out. They want us to be tired,” Pierre said, speaking on the same subject. “Because having good self-care, having good mental wellness, good physical health isn’t what’s wanted for is, so it’s something you have to take. That’s what makes self-care a radical move.”
Pierre’s approach to self-care is very much rooted in a communal ideology. “If you're concerned and stressed about what the next week or so is going to look like for you, imagine all the vulnerable people in your life and in your community who are also scared and who were also kind of dealing with the same anxieties,” he said. “A way to kind of regulate yourself and make yourself feel strong is also [by] helping other people.” Pierre suggested checking in on children, older adults, and people with disabilities in your family, and making sure they have groceries, medicine, and other important items, as well as donating to people’s individual Cash App accounts and the like.
“There are people online now who can't pay rent, or they need health insurance assistance, or they can't pay a bill and they're asking for help, and the political campaigns, they don't need anything else, but these people do,” Pierre said. “And being able to do some makes you feel like you're doing something, and that's helping.” Likewise, Bryant-Davis said it’s a good idea to check with shelters to see what’s on their wish lists, which are typically posted on their websites. She added that there’s also a need for help at rape crisis centers and domestic violence agencies, as “a lot of nonprofits are really struggling.” But material services aren’t the only thing you can give — if you have a specific skill set, like a background in finance or law, and are able to donate some of your time, it “can really make a difference and remind you of your agency and your power.”
It’s important to note, per Bryant-Davis, that we can “hold stress in the body,” which can present in some people as migraines, nausea, and backaches. She suggested embodied healing as a way of taking care of yourself in order to release the tension within your body. “Feeling better is not just about shifting my mind, but it's also physical,” she said, and offered examples of exercise. If you’re into yoga, there’s a specific type called trauma-informed yoga that can help you feel more connected to your mind and body. If you’re someone who has restricted movement, there are low-impact activities you can do, like chair stretching. It’s equally important to make sure you’re nourishing yourself properly, drinking water, and eating foods that have nutrients, because “when we are stressed, we are more likely to go for the sweets and carbs.”


buzzfeed--2020-11-03--5 Things To Keep In Mind If You're Voting Today

Depending on which state you live in , there are different identification requirements for voting .
Some states require some @ @ @ @ @ document that displays your current address , while other states do n't require anything at @ @ @ @ @ you need to bring an ID and what type depending on your location here .
@ @ @ @ @ to bring both your photo ID and a document showing your current address to ensure @ @ @ @ @ issues when you finally reach your polling place !
If you are a first-time voter @ @ @ @ @ may be even more strict !
If you did n't register in person or have @ @ @ @ @ identification , you may need to bring some ID even in states that otherwise would @ @ @ @

3.
Make a polling plan that will go off without a hitch from the second you get to your polling location, to when you can proudly wear your "I voted" sticker. And please, give yourself more than enough time to wait in line.


buzzfeed--2020-11-04--What Will Trump’s Die-Hard Supporters Do If He Loses? They Say They'll Go On With Their Lives.

Trump supporters at the president ’ s final campaign rallies in the last week are convinced Trump will win .
But they say they ’ re not about to rush the streets if he loses .
GRAND RAPIDS , Michigan — Leading up to Election Day , President Donald Trump has stoked fear of chaos and “ rigged ” elections and suggested there ’ s no way he can lose legitimately .
He ’ s said that even a delay in results in one state could “ induce violence in the streets.
” He ’ s claimed a loss wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It puts much more pressure on me running against a guy like this , you know , ” Trump said in Grand Rapids just after midnight Monday , his last rally before voting ends .
“ You know , you lost to somebody that was good .
Can you imagine , the concept of losing to this guy ?
You better , you better get out there and vote tomorrow , I will be so angry , I 'll never come back to Michigan , I 'll never come back .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plants back.
” But during the final ones of Trump 's reelection campaign rallies in states across the country , most of his supporters told BuzzFeed News they don ’ t foresee chaos or mayhem breaking out if Trump loses .
Instead , they see themselves going on with their lives .
“ Most conservatives , we ’ re not going to riot on the streets , ” Edward Valera , 38 , told BuzzFeed News about the possibility of Trump losing .
He added , “ If he loses , he loses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Valera and thousands of Floridians streamed onto the grounds of the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport on Sunday for a late-night MAGA rally .
Salsa music from the band Los 3 de la Habana preceded the president ’ s speech .
And for one night at the tail end of such a weighted election , people danced ( and drank ) in what seemed like a large outdoor party with a few speeches and breakout chants of “ we love you ” and “ four more years ” in between .
The election anxiety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would n't be much different , ” Patrick Hill-Tarves , 20 , said of a Trump loss at the Miami rally .
He characterized his first MAGA event as “ interesting ” to see people of different ethnicities and backgrounds coalesce around the same cause : Donald Trump .
If he lost , Hill-Tarves said , “ there 's definitely some certain groups of people that would benefit and some segments that would riot and get mad.
” “ I still hope for the best here , ” ChristyAnne Bare , 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked about the possibility her candidate doesn ’ t win .
Bare said she wants Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to be successful leaders if they are elected but she ’ s not sure “ what ’ s to come.
” Mara Young , who ’ s from Panama and now lives in Miami , feels the same way .
“ Well , we ’ ll keep going , ” Young , 46 , told BuzzFeed News .
“ We ’ ll keep going .
And we ’ ll see what happens .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” BuzzFeed News spoke to more than three dozen Trump supporters across four swing states in the last week of reelection rallies for this article .
They don ’ t expect him to lose , even as polls indicate that that outcome is entirely possible , even probable .
“ He 's not gon na lose , ” Rayza Rodriquez , 56 , told BuzzFeed News in Miami , where she and thousands of supporters cheered on the president at the same Miami rally that ran well past midnight .
“ We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christina Nordet is just as confident the president will pull off a win , leaning on crowd size over polls and punditry .
And then Nordet , 49 , made the ultimate wager : “ I can literally bet my life that he ’ s not gon na lose .
Look at this turnout.
” In Hickory , North Carolina , where the president visited on Monday , Chuck Parrish , a retiree from Marion , North Carolina , is betting on a “ landslide ” victory for Trump .
“ I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including California , Parrish , 62 , said .
At the same rally , Ioana Childers , an immigrant from Romania , said she was also of the belief that Trump ’ s victory will be a repeat of 2016 , when most things pointed to a Hillary Clinton presidency .
“ It ’ s gon na be a landslide.
” Polls “ are fake , like 2016.
” Helen and Bob Miller , a retired couple from around Hickory , felt similarly .
“ I think they ’ re not true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ They were saying four years ago that he was not gon na win , and he did.
” If Trump doesn ’ t win , she thinks Kamala Harris would be president because “ Joe ’ s not gon na be able to handle it , ” and that the country will become “ socialist or communist.
” “ It would be horrible , ” Helen said .
“ The country would be headed down the tubes.
” Bob did predict violence after the election , but only if Trump wins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's gon na be all kinds of riots and uprisings in these states that are governed by Democrats who will let that happen to let people know , ‘ Hey , you should n't have let this happen.
’ First of all , you should take these protesters and lock them up.
” But there ’ s a cohort of less optimistic supporters who are counting on Trump to save them from a doomed Biden presidency , one they think would be destined for socialism .
It ’ s a falsehood the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration and resonates with his followers .
“ Well , if he doesn ’ t win , socialism is going to have a stronger hold on this country , ” Todd Hurley , 61 , told BuzzFeed News at the Miami rally .
“ I ’ m not really thrilled to think about him not winning , to be honest with you.
” In Lansing , Michigan , last week , supporters stood for hours in the cold rain for a rally near the start of the president ’ s final campaign sprint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would reinstate policies in Michigan that he says suffocated the state ’ s automobile industry .
“ If he loses , I think a lot of things are going to happen , ” Bothwell said .
“ I think we ’ re going to have CAFE requirements return to the automotive industries.
” Some just couldn ’ t bear the thought of a Trump loss .
Kumiko Newman , 56 , an immigrant from Japan , who , as she tells it , is at least as patriotic as some lifelong Americans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I do n't want to think about it , ” she said .
Others in Michigan vowed to ensure the movement doesn ’ t lose steam during the next four years .
“ We 'll just have to buckle down and make sure our voices are always heard , ” William Meyers told BuzzFeed News .
He added one slight caveat : making sure “ the other side does n't try any shenanigans.
” The Trump campaign spent most of its final days blitzing swing states with rallies , especially Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of his surrogates made near consecutive stops in the last week .
In Allentown last Monday , thousands of supporters filed into the parking lot of a local manufacturing facility in the rain .
“ If he does n't win , well , we go back to our normal life , ” James Rubin told BuzzFeed News .
“ But the reason why we ’ re here is that we want him to win.
” The president made four stops this past Saturday in Pennsylvania , one of which was at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bucks County .
There , the president suggested there would be “ bedlam ” should the election results extend past Election Day — a likely scenario for the state after election laws were adjusted because of the coronavirus pandemic .
His audience , however , didn ’ t bite .
“ Well , I mean , it 's America , ” said Michael Donohue , the Republican chair in Cape May , New Jersey .
“ We have elections .
Somebody wins and somebody loses and you accept the outcome of the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a while , but there ’ ll be another election.
” Steve Britt of Ambler , Pennsylvania , who had attended three rallies before the one in Bucks County , squelched the idea of the state being besieged by bedlam .
“ I think he 's gon na win , ” Britt , 30 , said .
“ I do n't even think he 's gon na need Pennsylvania .
I do n't think there 's anything to worry about.
” And despite their confidence , attendees at Pennsylvania rallies have also embraced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Britt suggested that if Biden wins , he would just serve as a placeholder for Harris , who he believes has embraced socialism , mimicking a falsehood often used by the president .
Laura Kushner , a resident of Bucks County , expressed the same dire need for a Trump victory .
“ He has to win , ” she said .
“ He needs to win for us , for me , for you , for everybody .
He needs to win.
” And so did Michael Surmann , a retired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his son .
“ I think I 'm going to worry about America , ” Surmann told BuzzFeed News as he and a few hundred others waited for the president at Headquarters Farm .
“ I 'm going to worry about our children , grandchildren , and what the future will be.
” Cindy , who declined to give her last name , was more direct about her concerns if Trump loses , but she never suggested violence .
“ It 's gon na be a sad world , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to be like every other socialist country .
There 's gon na be illegal immigrants all over the place and we 're gon na have to pay for them.
” ●

Christina Nordet is just as confident the president will pull off a win, leaning on crowd size over polls and punditry. And then Nordet, 49, made the ultimate wager: “I can literally bet my life that he’s not gonna lose. Look at this turnout.”
In Hickory, North Carolina, where the president visited on Monday, Chuck Parrish, a retiree from Marion, North Carolina, is betting on a “landslide” victory for Trump.
“I think every state” will go for Trump, including California, Parrish, 62, said.
At the same rally, Ioana Childers, an immigrant from Romania, said she was also of the belief that Trump’s victory will be a repeat of 2016, when most things pointed to a Hillary Clinton presidency. “It’s gonna be a landslide.” Polls “are fake, like 2016.”
Helen and Bob Miller, a retired couple from around Hickory, felt similarly.
“I think they’re not true,” Helen said of the polls. “They were saying four years ago that he was not gonna win, and he did.”
If Trump doesn’t win, she thinks Kamala Harris would be president because “Joe’s not gonna be able to handle it,” and that the country will become “socialist or communist.” “It would be horrible,” Helen said. “The country would be headed down the tubes.”
“Our country will fall,” Bob said.
Bob did predict violence after the election, but only if Trump wins. “If Trump wins, there's gonna be all kinds of riots and uprisings in these states that are governed by Democrats who will let that happen to let people know, ‘Hey, you shouldn't have let this happen.’ First of all, you should take these protesters and lock them up.”
But there’s a cohort of less optimistic supporters who are counting on Trump to save them from a doomed Biden presidency, one they think would be destined for socialism. It’s a falsehood the president has repeated to color the possible Biden–Harris administration and resonates with his followers.
“Well, if he doesn’t win, socialism is going to have a stronger hold on this country,” Todd Hurley, 61, told BuzzFeed News at the Miami rally. “I’m not really thrilled to think about him not winning, to be honest with you.”
In Lansing, Michigan, last week, supporters stood for hours in the cold rain for a rally near the start of the president’s final campaign sprint. Robert Bothwell believes a Biden administration would reinstate policies in Michigan that he says suffocated the state’s automobile industry.
“If he loses, I think a lot of things are going to happen,” Bothwell said. “I think we’re going to have CAFE requirements return to the automotive industries.”
Some just couldn’t bear the thought of a Trump loss. Kumiko Newman, 56, an immigrant from Japan, who, as she tells it, is at least as patriotic as some lifelong Americans, wouldn’t even entertain the topic.
“I don't want to think about it,” she said.
Others in Michigan vowed to ensure the movement doesn’t lose steam during the next four years.
“We'll just have to buckle down and make sure our voices are always heard,” William Meyers told BuzzFeed News. He added one slight caveat: making sure “the other side doesn't try any shenanigans.”


buzzfeed--2020-11-04--Donald Trump Jr. Tweeted A World Map That Made Absolutely No Sense

@ ShehabKhan @ realDonaldTrump I 'd like to think it 's the LIBERiA ( L ) thing .
Other issues @ @ @ @ @ on it -Croatia is left blank ( Melania is from neighbor Slovenia ) -the Black @ @ @ @ @ Lanka is n't part of India -Cuba is n't the only communist country -it gives @ @ @ @ @

@ShehabKhan @realDonaldTrump I'd like to think it's the LIBERiA(L) thing. Other issues: -South Sudan isn't on it -Croatia is left blank (Melania is from neighbor Slovenia) -the Black Sea is shaded red -Sri Lanka isn't part of India -Cuba isn't the only communist country -it gives ALL of Kashmir to Pakistan..


buzzfeed--2020-11-03--Voters In Battleground States Are Getting Robocalls Discouraging Them From Going To The Polls

Voters arrive at Waddell Language Academy in Charlotte , North Carolina , shortly after the polls opened on Nov. 3 .
As Americans across the country make their way to the polls on Election Day , registered voters in states across the country have reported receiving robocalls discouraging them from casting their ballot .
Nebraska Secretary of State Robert Evnen stated in a tweet that residents were getting “ anonymous phone calls to voters telling voters to ‘ stay home and stay safe.
’ ” The Kansas Secretary of State 's office also warned that there have been `` robocalls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Attorney General Leticia James announced today her office is investigating similar robocalls in the state .
The FBI is also investigating the calls , Reuters reported .
BuzzFeed News has journalists around the US bringing you trustworthy stories on the 2020 elections .
To help keep this news free , become a member .
Hashim Warren , a 40-year-old registered Democrat in Guilford County , North Carolina , who already voted earlier this week , told BuzzFeed News he received a similar anonymous message today telling him to `` stay home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. “ It was sort of creepy , ” he told BuzzFeed News .
“ It definitely hit on the anxieties my family has had about the election.
” Residents of Flint , Michigan , have gotten robocalls this morning falsely informing them that “ due to long lines , they should vote tomorrow , ” state Attorney General Dana Nessel stated in a tweet .
`` Generally speaking , those kinds of robocalls and text messages are geared toward conning people out of their savings , instead of conning them out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a conference call .

As Americans across the country make their way to the polls on Election Day, registered voters in states across the country have reported receiving robocalls discouraging them from casting their ballot.
Nebraska Secretary of State Robert Evnen stated in a tweet that residents were getting “anonymous phone calls to voters telling voters to ‘stay home and stay safe.’” The Kansas Secretary of State's office also warned that there have been "robocalls telling voters to stay home." New York Attorney General Leticia James announced today her office is investigating similar robocalls in the state. The FBI is also investigating the calls, Reuters reported.
BuzzFeed News has journalists around the US bringing you trustworthy stories on the 2020 elections. To help keep this news free, become a member.
Hashim Warren, a 40-year-old registered Democrat in Guilford County, North Carolina, who already voted earlier this week, told BuzzFeed News he received a similar anonymous message today telling him to "stay home and stay safe" shortly before 10 a.m.
“It was sort of creepy,” he told BuzzFeed News. “It definitely hit on the anxieties my family has had about the election.”
Residents of Flint, Michigan, have gotten robocalls this morning falsely informing them that “due to long lines, they should vote tomorrow,” state Attorney General Dana Nessel stated in a tweet.
"Generally speaking, those kinds of robocalls and text messages are geared toward conning people out of their savings, instead of conning them out of their vote," she said in a conference call.


buzzfeed--2020-11-04--Trump Spent His Final "Fox & Friends" Appearance Before The Election Criticizing Everyone, Including

Trump Spent His Final "Fox & Friends" Appearance Before The Election Criticizing Everyone, Including Fox News

President Donald Trump lambasted his critics , his opponent Joe Biden , and even Fox News in his final pitch to voters during his appearance on the network 's Fox & Friends morning show on Election Day .
The president has spent much of the past week insisting that a winner of the election be declared on Tuesday night , despite the likelihood that vote-counting could go on for days , and sowing mistrust about the reliability of the vote count .
When host Steve Doocy said some have speculated Trump may `` declare victory if the early numbers favor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would declare himself the winner , he was vague .
`` When there is victory , '' Trump said , sounding hoarse after a whirlwind schedule of non–socially distant rallies with supporters in the final days of the campaign .
`` If there is victory , I think we will have victory .
I think the polls are , you know , suppression polls .
And I think we will have victory .
But only when there is victory .
You know , there is no reason to play games .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' BuzzFeed News has journalists around the US bringing you trustworthy stories on the 2020 elections .
To help keep this news free , become a member .

President Donald Trump lambasted his critics, his opponent Joe Biden, and even Fox News in his final pitch to voters during his appearance on the network's Fox & Friends morning show on Election Day.
The president has spent much of the past week insisting that a winner of the election be declared on Tuesday night, despite the likelihood that vote-counting could go on for days, and sowing mistrust about the reliability of the vote count. When host Steve Doocy said some have speculated Trump may "declare victory if the early numbers favor you" and asked the president when he would declare himself the winner, he was vague.
"When there is victory," Trump said, sounding hoarse after a whirlwind schedule of non–socially distant rallies with supporters in the final days of the campaign. "If there is victory, I think we will have victory. I think the polls are, you know, suppression polls. And I think we will have victory. But only when there is victory. You know, there is no reason to play games. And I think we will have victory."
BuzzFeed News has journalists around the US bringing you trustworthy stories on the 2020 elections. To help keep this news free, become a member.


buzzfeed--2020-11-05--Here's A Running List Of False And Misleading Information About The Election

Watch out for images and videos being taken out of context .
Election Day is here .
We may see a flood of false information about President Donald Trump and his challenger , former vice president Joe Biden .
Researchers are warning about images or videos of ballot tampering that may be old or out of context , misleading statistics on voter fraud , and baseless allegations of foreign interference .
Before sharing an online rumor with your friends and family , take the time to verify it .
This can be as easy as checking how recently an account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , comparing the claim to what reputable news outlets are saying , searching online to find another source , or doing a reverse image search .
Today we 'll be keeping a running list of unverified , misleading , and fake claims that we have been able to debunk .
This list will be updated throughout the day , so please check back .
BuzzFeed News has journalists around the US bringing you trustworthy stories on the 2020 elections .
To help keep this news free , become a member .
UNVERIFIED : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirming or refuting them .
This type of claim has either no sources or no evidence , and is based on conjecture with no original reporting behind it .
Treat this kind of information with healthy skepticism and wait to see how it develops .
MISLEADING : Posts that take a real event out of context , for example : miscaptioning a video or photo from the protests .
This can also include images that are presented at a deceptive angle or descriptions that cherry-pick facts .
Avoid spreading or engaging with this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or reliable sources with direct knowledge have contradicted this information on the record , or it is refuted by unimpeachable evidence .
Examples include images or videos filmed at a different time or location but presented as recent , demonstrably false claims , and websites masquerading as news outlets publishing untrue information .
Tweets , like the one above , claiming ballots were being “ magically counted ” are misleading .
The state 's mail-in ballots are still being counted and officials are asking the public for patience , the Detroit Free Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes cited in some tweets were the result of a data error , according to a spokesperson for Decision Desk HQ , an election data and analysis service .
“ It was a simple error from a file created by the state that we ingested , ” the company said in a statement .
`` DDHQ does not correct/amend/adjust any state provided file .
The state noticed the error and produced an updated count .
This happens on election nights and we expect other vote tabulators in MI experienced this error and corrected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The state is largely Democratic and absentee ballots are “ expected to be more generally favorable to Biden , ” according to the Detroit Free Press .
You can see the latest Michigan results here .
Officials in some counties in Pennsylvania , Nevada , and Georgia paused late in the night on Tuesday and resumed counting Wednesday morning .
The reason ?
To give poll workers some rest .
But the decisions to pause some vote counts elicited viral Twitter posts that falsely conflated the break with voter fraud , claiming that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraudulent votes for former vice president Joe Biden .
Because the United States does not have a national election authority , decisions to let poll workers sleep differed by place , with some locations continuing to work around the clock .
There is no evidence of widespread voter irregularities , and the vote count is continuing as expected .
The video includes several obviously fake details .
First , the votes that are supposedly being burned appear to be photocopies of ballots printed on normal printer paper , which is not used for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Second , in a longer version of the video shared by @ Ninja_StuntZ , the man burning the paper is heard saying , “ you work at the mail or polling place you got ta do what you got ta do , ” indicating that he himself does not work at either of those places .
Despite all of that , on Wednesday afternoon , the video went viral on Twitter .
Even right-wing site the Gateway Pundit cited it in an article , but acknowledged that , “ None of the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know where the video came from to confirm its authenticity.
” According to a staffer at the Philadelphia city commissioners office , the situation depicted in the video really did happen , but there 's more to it than what 's shown .
`` It was an honest mistake , '' spokesperson Kevin Feeley said in a phone call .
The poll watcher had a different ward than what was at on his certificate , Feeley said , and the worker misinterpreted the law and did n't allow him in .
An older @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must be assigned to specific wards .
According to Feeley , after the error was realized , it was corrected .
“ This person was allowed to enter and is there now , ” he said .
A spokesperson for the district attorney 's office also said , “ Our Election Task Force has not received any complaints that fit what is being described or alleged in that tweet.
” A video showing a verbal altercation at a polling station in Pennsylvania in which a local Democratic official asked a Republican poll watcher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to BuzzFeed News .
But there ’ s more to the story .
Kevin Feeley , a spokesperson for the Philadelphia City Commissioners , said the poll watcher in the video never left the polling station , and that the altercation was the result of a misunderstanding .
Feeley told BuzzFeed News that his office sent a senior state election official to the polling station to investigate .
They found that the woman in the video had misunderstood new regulations , which now allow poll watchers to remain for the duration of polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not how it worked in the past , ” Feeley said .

Election Day is here. We may see a flood of false information about President Donald Trump and his challenger, former vice president Joe Biden. Researchers are warning about images or videos of ballot tampering that may be old or out of context, misleading statistics on voter fraud, and baseless allegations of foreign interference.
Before sharing an online rumor with your friends and family, take the time to verify it. This can be as easy as checking how recently an account sharing the information was created, comparing the claim to what reputable news outlets are saying, searching online to find another source, or doing a reverse image search.
Today we'll be keeping a running list of unverified, misleading, and fake claims that we have been able to debunk. This list will be updated throughout the day, so please check back.
BuzzFeed News has journalists around the US bringing you trustworthy stories on the 2020 elections. To help keep this news free, become a member.


buzzfeed--2020-11-03--Voting Today? Great! Here Are 7 Things You Can Do To Stop Voter Intimidation

Believe it or not , we 've made it to Election Day ( deep breath ) .
While millions of Americans have already cast their ballots , millions more will be heading to polling places today in what many are calling the most high-stakes election of their lifetimes .
They will do so following a bitter campaign in which allegations of voter fraud and voter intimidation have dogged the race , bandied about by , among others , the president himself .
At the same time , some have raised alarms that militant groups may patrol polling places and intimidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this past weekend in Springfield , Oregon , armed groups reportedly intimidated voters at a ballot drop-off box , resulting in some people leaving out of fear .
State police said Monday that they were looking into the incident .
Voter intimidation is a crime under federal and state law , no matter where you live .
That means it is a crime for someone to ask you about your citizenship as you attempt to vote , or for someone to scream at you as you attempt to vote , or for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ path to the voting booth .
You have a right to cast your ballot peacefully and without interference – and most Americans will .
But if you see or experience something that feels aggressive , intimidating , or illegal , there are steps you can take .
`` The experience of the vast majority of Americans will be a peaceful election and despite all the challenges — pandemic and new processes — people are turning out in record numbers to vote , '' said Nealin Parker , director at Princeton University 's Bridging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this election may have been really polarizing , but the work does n't stop on Election Day .
Rather than making it the culmination of a polarized campaign period , you can make Election Day the beginning of the future you want for our country . ''
Here are 7 things you can do to protect the right to vote in your community .
Voter intimidation is illegal and carries serious consequences .
Its precise definition varies from state to state , but here are the most common tactics , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : • Asking someone about citizenship , who they are voting for , or their criminal record .
• Taking photos or videos of voters or following them around .
• Shouting or using offensive language and taunting chants .
• Falsely identifying as an election official or law enforcement officer .
If you witness behavior you believe is meant to scare or turn away voters , you can report it easily .
866-our-vote is a national , nonpartisan election protection hotline that 's comprised of more than 100 local , state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coalition runs hotlines in many languages , including legal help and voter protection field programs .
You can also report intimidation to The Election Protection Hotline:1-866-OUR-VOTE or 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA ; and the US Department of Justice Voting Rights Hotline:800-253-3931

Believe it or not, we've made it to Election Day (deep breath).
While millions of Americans have already cast their ballots, millions more will be heading to polling places today in what many are calling the most high-stakes election of their lifetimes.
They will do so following a bitter campaign in which allegations of voter fraud and voter intimidation have dogged the race, bandied about by, among others, the president himself. At the same time, some have raised alarms that militant groups may patrol polling places and intimidate people trying to vote. For example, this past weekend in Springfield, Oregon, armed groups reportedly intimidated voters at a ballot drop-off box, resulting in some people leaving out of fear. State police said Monday that they were looking into the incident.
Voter intimidation is a crime under federal and state law, no matter where you live. That means it is a crime for someone to ask you about your citizenship as you attempt to vote, or for someone to scream at you as you attempt to vote, or for someone brandishing a gun to block your path to the voting booth. You have a right to cast your ballot peacefully and without interference – and most Americans will. But if you see or experience something that feels aggressive, intimidating, or illegal, there are steps you can take.
"The experience of the vast majority of Americans will be a peaceful election and despite all the challenges — pandemic and new processes — people are turning out in record numbers to vote," said Nealin Parker, director at Princeton University's Bridging Divides Institute. "The tone of this election may have been really polarizing, but the work doesn't stop on Election Day. Rather than making it the culmination of a polarized campaign period, you can make Election Day the beginning of the future you want for our country."
Here are 7 things you can do to protect the right to vote in your community.
1. Know your rights.
Voter intimidation is illegal and carries serious consequences. Its precise definition varies from state to state, but here are the most common tactics, according to a guide from Pennsylvania's Department of State:
Blocking access to a polling place.
Physical violence or threatening violence — including brandishing a weapon, no matter a state's open carry laws.
Asking someone about citizenship, who they are voting for, or their criminal record.
Disseminating misinformation.
Taking photos or videos of voters or following them around.
Shouting or using offensive language and taunting chants.
Falsely identifying as an election official or law enforcement officer.
If you witness behavior you believe is meant to scare or turn away voters, you can report it easily. 866-our-vote is a national, nonpartisan election protection hotline that's comprised of more than 100 local, state, and national groups and volunteers. The coalition runs hotlines in many languages, including legal help and voter protection field programs. You can also report intimidation to The Election Protection Hotline:1-866-OUR-VOTE or 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA; and the US Department of Justice Voting Rights Hotline:800-253-3931


buzzfeed--2020-11-04--New: Mueller Investigated Julian Assange, WikiLeaks, And Roger Stone For DNC Hacks

Prosecutors investigated Julian Assange , WikiLeaks , and Roger Stone for the hacking of Democratic National Committee servers as well as for possible campaign finance violations , but ultimately chose not to charge them , newly released portions of the Mueller report reveal .
Although WikiLeaks published emails stolen from the DNC in July and October 2016 and Stone — a close associate to Donald Trump — appeared to know in advance the materials were coming , investigators “ did not have sufficient evidence ” to prove active participation in the hacks or knowledge that the electronic thefts were continuing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not establish that the hacked emails amounted to campaign contributions benefitting Trump ’ s election chances and furthermore felt their publication might have been protected by the First Amendment , making a successful prosecution tenuous .
The fresh details of former special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s decision not to charge Assange , WikiLeaks , or Stone for their role in influencing the 2016 election come just a day before voters head to the polls for the 2020 presidential election .
The material sheds new light on the seriousness with which the special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ computers .
In July 2018 , Mueller indicted 12 Russian officers belonging to the Kremlin ’ s intelligence directorate , the GRU , for the theft and distribution of those emails .
The role that Stone and Assange may have played in the hacks or their distribution has been the subject of much speculation .
Little , however , was known about how intently the special counsel focused on those individuals as possible targets for prosecution during the two-year investigation into Russian election interference .
But a new version of the 448-page Mueller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contains previously redacted sections on 13 pages , nearly all of them dealing with events surrounding the hacked emails and their eventual publication .
The passages were disclosed in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit , filed by BuzzFeed News and the advocacy group Electronic Privacy Information Center , that called on the government to release the report in its entirety .
In September , a federal judge ruled that while some parts could still remain hidden , the government had violated the law by withholding portions dealing with internal discussions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Department to release relevant sections by Nov. 2 .
The newly visible sections , found in the table of contents as well as on pages 9 , 51 , 65 , 174 , 176–179 , 188–189 , and 190–191 , deal almost entirely with charging decisions by members of Mueller ’ s team regarding the hacks and WikiLeaks ’ publication of the stolen emails .
The Justice Department also unredacted footnotes and substantial sections of the report — 22 pages — that were previously withheld due to ongoing investigations involving the Internet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the IRA , the Russian troll farm that used social media platforms to sow discord and spread disinformation during the 2016 election in an effort to help Trump win .
Mueller indicted 13 Russians affiliated with the organization in February 2018 .
Vast swaths of black ink have now been lifted from pages 14-17 , 18-24 , 26 , 27-29 , 31 , 32 , 45 , 68 , 88 , 187 and 199 of the Mueller report .
The fact that prosecutors elected not to file any charges in the WikiLeaks matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Stone .
But Mueller , writing in early 2019 , did not completely absolve either man , noting in a newly unredacted footnote that there were “ factual uncertainties ” that were “ the subject of ongoing investigations ” by the US Attorney ’ s Office for the District of Columbia .
Trump has consistently tried to discredit Mueller ’ s investigation , frequently dismissing it as a “ witch hunt.
” He ’ s found support from his attorney general , Bill Barr , who overlooked major findings of the probe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 .
Barr has since intervened in cases related to the investigation , among them the prosecution of Stone , who was indicted in January 2019 and convicted of multiple felonies , including witness tampering and lying to Congress .
He was sentenced to 40 months in prison , but Trump commuted his sentence in July , saying Stone “ was treated very unfairly.
” Assange , for his part , was indicted in March 2018 for hacking and violations of the Espionage Act for conspiring with former US Army private Chelsea Manning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and publish a trove of classified documents related to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq .
He is currently detained in the United Kingdom and fighting extradition to the US .
A decision in that matter is expected in January .
An attorney for Assange could not immediately be reached for comment .
Grant Smith , an attorney for Stone , welcomed the new information about the report .
`` The release of the unredacted sections of the Mueller report tonight vindicates Roger Stone and proves what Mr. Stone has been saying since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he did not engage in any illegal activity around the emails hacked from the DNC and that he in no way knew the content or timing of their release , '' Smith said .
`` No matter how hard the Mueller team tried , they could not make the case they tried to pin on Mr. Stone from the start . ''
Although Stone was never a formal member of Trump ’ s campaign , he was in frequent contact with the candidate and his closest advisers and has admitted that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as Guccifer 2.0 , later revealed to have been created and run by the GRU officers who were indicted .
In addition , the Mueller team gathered evidence suggesting that Stone knew in advance that WikiLeaks would be publishing the emails from the DNC in July 2016 and from John Podesta , Hillary Clinton ’ s campaign chair , on October 7 — the same day the notorious Access Hollywood tape was released .
Assange repeatedly denied Russia was the source for the emails that WikiLeaks published , but the Mueller report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact with Guccifer 2.0 , from whom it sought to procure the emails .
“ If you have anything hillary related we want it , ” WikiLeaks wrote on July 6 , 2016 .
Just 16 days later , WikiLeaks published nearly 20,000 pages of emails .
Nonetheless , the newly unredacted sections of the Mueller report show that prosecutors worried they didn ’ t have enough hard evidence to prove that Assange or Stone actively participated in the hacks or were aware they were ongoing at the time they communicated with Guccifer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place on encrypted chats that the investigators appear not to have had access to .
“ While the investigation developed evidence that the GRU ’ s hacking efforts in fact were continuing at least at the time of the July 2016 WikiLeaks dissemination , ” a newly unredacted section of the report reads , prosecutors “ did not develop sufficient admissible evidence that WikiLeaks knew of — or even was willfully blind to — that fact.
” Likewise , prosecutors faced what they called factual hurdles in pursuing Stone for the hack .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond a reasonable doubt that Stone knew or believed that the computer intrusions were ongoing at the time he ostensibly encouraged or coordinated the publication of the Podesta emails.
” Separately , prosecutors looked into whether publishing those emails could be viewed as an illegal campaign contribution because they materially benefitted the Trump campaign .
But in their analysis , that case would be difficult to make because of the challenges in determining the emails ’ value .
In addition , they worried that Stone , Assange , and WikiLeaks could all be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assuming that no coordination with the Campaign occurred , ” Mueller wrote , “ a criminal prosecution of overseas actors providing non-express-advocacy information to American listeners would likely be difficult.
” The newly unveiled sections also include a small but noteworthy revelation regarding Russian attempts in August 2016 to hack a company that makes voter registration software .
The name of the company , VR Systems , had been redacted until now .
According to the special counsel , GRU agents had succeeded in installing malware on the company ’ s network .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida , has in the past denied that it was compromised .
`` We know that no system is ever completely secure and we work tirelessly every day to protect our systems and our customers , ” the company ’ s chief operating officer , Ben Martin , said in a statement in 2019 .
More than 18 months since the release of the Mueller report significant portions still remain redacted , in part because the Justice Department argues they contain information that could compromise ongoing investigations , impact individuals ’ right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement tactics and procedures .
This marks the second time , however , that portions of the report have been unredacted under court order .
In a scathing legal opinion in March , Walton faulted the government for failing “ to provide a thorough representation of the findings ” and questioned whether Barr intended “ to create a one-sided narrative ” that favored Trump “ despite certain findings in the redacted version of the Mueller Report to the contrary.
” Three months later , newly revealed portions of the document showed that investigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump in advance of the publication of the DNC emails in July 2016 .
That directly contradicted written answers provided to Mueller by Trump in 2018 , but investigators did not provide any conclusions on whether the president had lied to the special counsel , the unredacted sections indicated .
●

An attorney for Assange could not immediately be reached for comment. Grant Smith, an attorney for Stone, welcomed the new information about the report.
"The release of the unredacted sections of the Mueller report tonight vindicates Roger Stone and proves what Mr. Stone has been saying since the very beginning of this investigation, that he did not engage in any illegal activity around the emails hacked from the DNC and that he in no way knew the content or timing of their release," Smith said. "No matter how hard the Mueller team tried, they could not make the case they tried to pin on Mr. Stone from the start."
Although Stone was never a formal member of Trump’s campaign, he was in frequent contact with the candidate and his closest advisers and has admitted that he was in contact with an online persona known as Guccifer 2.0, later revealed to have been created and run by the GRU officers who were indicted. In addition, the Mueller team gathered evidence suggesting that Stone knew in advance that WikiLeaks would be publishing the emails from the DNC in July 2016 and from John Podesta, Hillary Clinton’s campaign chair, on October 7 — the same day the notorious Access Hollywood tape was released.
Assange repeatedly denied Russia was the source for the emails that WikiLeaks published, but the Mueller report found that WikiLeaks also was in direct contact with Guccifer 2.0, from whom it sought to procure the emails. “If you have anything hillary related we want it,” WikiLeaks wrote on July 6, 2016. Just 16 days later, WikiLeaks published nearly 20,000 pages of emails.
Nonetheless, the newly unredacted sections of the Mueller report show that prosecutors worried they didn’t have enough hard evidence to prove that Assange or Stone actively participated in the hacks or were aware they were ongoing at the time they communicated with Guccifer 2.0. Many of the communications took place on encrypted chats that the investigators appear not to have had access to.
“While the investigation developed evidence that the GRU’s hacking efforts in fact were continuing at least at the time of the July 2016 WikiLeaks dissemination,” a newly unredacted section of the report reads, prosecutors “did not develop sufficient admissible evidence that WikiLeaks knew of — or even was willfully blind to — that fact.”


buzzfeed--2020-11-05--Plunging Morale And Self-Congratulations: Inside Facebook The Day Before The Presidential Election

Less than 24 hours before a historic US presidential election day , Nick Clegg , Facebook ’ s vice president of global affairs and communications and the former United Kingdom deputy prime minister , tried to rally employees at the embattled social networking corporation .
Noting that the world would be watching the results , Clegg published a post on an internal message board about the work Facebook employees had done to prepare for the vote .
Many things had changed since 2016 , he said , alluding to an election in which Russian state actors used Facebook to sow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark Zuckerberg stood by oblivious “ We have transformed the way we approach elections since the U.S. presidential election four years ago , ” Clegg wrote in the note titled “ READY FOR ELECTION DAY.
” “ Thanks to the efforts of far , far too many of you to mention by name , Facebook is a very different company today.
” It is indeed .
Roiled by months of internal scandals and high-profile failures , the social network giant heads into Election Day with employee morale cratering and internal political discussion muzzled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took an optimistic tone in his post , Facebook released results of an internal survey on Monday that revealed a stark decline in employee confidence over the past six months .
Its semi-annual “ Pulse Survey , ” taken by more than 49,000 employees over two weeks in October , showed workers felt strained by office shutdowns and were continuing to lose faith that the company was improving the world .
Only 51 % of respondents said they believed that Facebook was having a positive impact on the world , down 23 percentage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in May and down 5.5 percentage points from the same period last year .
In response to a question about the company ’ s leadership , only 56 % of employees had a favorable response , compared to 76 % in May and more than 60 % last year .
( A Facebook employee acknowledged in the announcement that the uptick in May ’ s Pulse results were “ likely driven by our response to COVID-19 , ” which was widely praised . )
Do you work at Facebook or another technology company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you .
Reach out at ryan.mac @ buzzfeed.com , craig.silverman @ buzzfeed.com , or via one of our tip line channels .
The external criticism leveled against Facebook for failing to completely stem hate and misleading information is weighing on employees .
“ Top constructive themes from comments mention decision-making related to hate speech and misinformation on our platforms , and concerns that leadership is focusing on the wrong metrics , ” wrote a human resources leader in explaining the results .
Employee performance at Facebook is often evaluated based on audience growth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a new feature .
While some employees have departed or been fired for disagreeing with the direction of the company , the growing negative sentiment doesn ’ t appear to have weighed on respondents ’ plans to stay at Facebook .
A majority , 69 % , said the company was a favorable place to work — down only half a percentage point from the year before .
The average employee surveyed intended to stay at the company for 4.3 years , up about half a year from the average response last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook ’ s internal message board and the host of contentious discussions over the summer , things have settled down .
Current workers , who spoke to BuzzFeed News anonymously because they feared reprisal , said the company ’ s crackdown on political speech earlier this year has silenced discussion of the US election in open groups .
In September , following months of internal debate over the state of politics and race relations in the US , Facebook implemented rules that prevented employees from discussing social issues unless they did so within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new rules are an attempt to prevent criticism of the company , which has the ability to affect society ’ s political sentiments like few others .
`` The public rationale was that employees were uncomfortable not being able to log on and 'just do their job , ' ” one current Facebook worker told BuzzFeed News .
“ It ’ s now very easy to log in and do your job without seeing anything vaguely political beyond corporate announcements , so they succeeded . ''
Others noted that it was ironic that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a defender of “ free expression ” prevented political discussion and disagreement from permeating its ranks .
The new restrictions were reinforced on Thursday , when Facebook ’ s Vice President of People Lori Goler reminded employees of what was appropriate to post about the election and what wasn ’ t .

Less than 24 hours before a historic US presidential election day, Nick Clegg, Facebook’s vice president of global affairs and communications and the former United Kingdom deputy prime minister, tried to rally employees at the embattled social networking corporation.
Noting that the world would be watching the results, Clegg published a post on an internal message board about the work Facebook employees had done to prepare for the vote. Many things had changed since 2016, he said, alluding to an election in which Russian state actors used Facebook to sow discord, while the company and CEO Mark Zuckerberg stood by oblivious
“We have transformed the way we approach elections since the U.S. presidential election four years ago,” Clegg wrote in the note titled “READY FOR ELECTION DAY.” “Thanks to the efforts of far, far too many of you to mention by name, Facebook is a very different company today.”
It is indeed. Roiled by months of internal scandals and high-profile failures, the social network giant heads into Election Day with employee morale cratering and internal political discussion muzzled on internal message boards.
While Clegg took an optimistic tone in his post, Facebook released results of an internal survey on Monday that revealed a stark decline in employee confidence over the past six months. Its semi-annual “Pulse Survey,” taken by more than 49,000 employees over two weeks in October, showed workers felt strained by office shutdowns and were continuing to lose faith that the company was improving the world.
Only 51% of respondents said they believed that Facebook was having a positive impact on the world, down 23 percentage points from the company's last survey in May and down 5.5 percentage points from the same period last year. In response to a question about the company’s leadership, only 56% of employees had a favorable response, compared to 76% in May and more than 60% last year. (A Facebook employee acknowledged in the announcement that the uptick in May’s Pulse results were “likely driven by our response to COVID-19,” which was widely praised.)
Do you work at Facebook or another technology company? We'd love to hear from you. Reach out at ryan.mac@buzzfeed.com, craig.silverman@buzzfeed.com, or via one of our tip line channels.
The external criticism leveled against Facebook for failing to completely stem hate and misleading information is weighing on employees.
“Top constructive themes from comments mention decision-making related to hate speech and misinformation on our platforms, and concerns that leadership is focusing on the wrong metrics,” wrote a human resources leader in explaining the results. Employee performance at Facebook is often evaluated based on audience growth metrics, such as increasing the use of a new feature.
While some employees have departed or been fired for disagreeing with the direction of the company, the growing negative sentiment doesn’t appear to have weighed on respondents’ plans to stay at Facebook. A majority, 69%, said the company was a favorable place to work — down only half a percentage point from the year before. The average employee surveyed intended to stay at the company for 4.3 years, up about half a year from the average response last year.
Meanwhile, on Workplace, Facebook’s internal message board and the host of contentious discussions over the summer, things have settled down. Current workers, who spoke to BuzzFeed News anonymously because they feared reprisal, said the company’s crackdown on political speech earlier this year has silenced discussion of the US election in open groups.
Facebook spokesperson Liz Bourgeois declined to comment.
In September, following months of internal debate over the state of politics and race relations in the US, Facebook implemented rules that prevented employees from discussing social issues unless they did so within designated groups. Internal critics claim the new rules are an attempt to prevent criticism of the company, which has the ability to affect society’s political sentiments like few others.
"The public rationale was that employees were uncomfortable not being able to log on and 'just do their job,'” one current Facebook worker told BuzzFeed News. “It’s now very easy to log in and do your job without seeing anything vaguely political beyond corporate announcements, so they succeeded."
Others noted that it was ironic that a company that often touts itself as a defender of “free expression” prevented political discussion and disagreement from permeating its ranks. The new restrictions were reinforced on Thursday, when Facebook’s Vice President of People Lori Goler reminded employees of what was appropriate to post about the election and what wasn’t.


buzzfeed--2020-11-03--Here’s What Will Happen On Election Night

This is a really confusing time .
BuzzFeed News is working to answer some of your burning questions leading up to the election .
Have a question you want answered ?
Email addy.baird @ buzzfeed.com .
Even states with strong histories of mail-in voting , however , could take longer to get results simply due to the possibly historic numbers of ballots they ’ ll have to count .
But many other states , like Ohio , Pennsylvania , and Michigan , are not able to begin processing absentee votes prior to Election Day , and because they don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting , their results could likely be delayed .
Some states , like Arizona , Florida , and North Carolina — all-important swing states to watch — have laws that allow them to begin processing mail-in ballots before Election Day itself , which could result in clear and relatively comprehensive results after the polls close on Nov. 3 .
Essentially , without comprehensive reporting of mail-in ballots in a close election , it might look on election night like Trump is winning big .
And it ’ s certainly possible that he could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots have been counted .
But once absentee ballots have been counted , former vice president Joe Biden could seriously cut into or overcome the president ’ s lead .
If the election is close , it may initially look like President Donald Trump is winning , regardless of the final outcome .
Because of the president ’ s relentless — and baseless — attacks on mail-in voting , it ’ s likely that in-person votes , which will be counted more quickly , will break for Trump , resulting in what Hawkfish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael Bloomberg , has called a “ red mirage .
” Polling has consistently shown Republican voters prefer to vote in person on Election Day by a giant margin , relative to Democrats .
The first polls will close at 6 p.m .
ET on Election Day in parts of Indiana and Kentucky , and the last polls will close at 1 a.m .
ET in Alaska .
With the coronavirus pandemic prompting mass mail-in voting , calling an official winner will likely take longer than usual .
If the election is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s possible a winner could be declared on Nov. 3 .
But because of incongruities in how absentee votes are counted in different states , it could be days or weeks before an official call is made .
One state , in particular , to watch on election night is Florida .
According to Decision Desk HQ President Drew McCoy , if Biden wins Florida , it ’ s pretty likely he ’ ll win the election , as there are few paths to victory for Trump that don ’ t run through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has shown time and again , results out of Florida can take a while because of how close races there frequently have been , despite the fact that the state starts counting votes earlier than swing states in the Midwest .
If Trump wins Florida , there are several open paths to victory for the president , many of which go through states that will likely also have delays reporting full results ( states like Pennsylvania , where the Supreme Court ruled this week that election officials can count mail-in ballots received up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden winning other early-counting states on election night that Trump won in 2016 , like Arizona or North Carolina , would also at least give some sense of what direction the race is going in , even if an overall winner can ’ t be determined that night .
But those states aren ’ t quite as determinative as Florida .
If Biden wins Texas on election night , the race is pretty much over .
McCoy also said that one thing he is reminding people as Election Day draws near is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead changes in some states as votes are tallied , it ’ s nothing nefarious ; it happens in every election .
What ’ s different this year is that vote counting may be extended for days or weeks , instead of compressed into a few hours after the polls close , so lead changes may just be more visible .
There could also be litigation on Election Day and in the days afterward over vote-counting , long lines to vote in person , and other issues that could delay the results even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was `` terrible '' that the results would not be known in full on election night , adding , `` We 're going to go in the night of , as soon as that election 's over , we 're going in with our lawyers . ''
But vote counting has historically continued long after midnight on Election Day , and many states accept mail-in ballots received several days after the election .
If he is declared the winner , Biden is reportedly prepared to deliver a victory speech Tuesday night and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even if Trump tries to fight the results in court .
News outlets , including BuzzFeed News , have prepared for months for these possibilities and are taking a cautious approach to calling races , knowing that mass mail-in voting means knowing who has won each state could take time .
So don ’ t necessarily expect TV networks , with their own teams of election analysts , to get out ahead of results .
There ’ s also the real possibility that Trump or Biden declare victory on election night well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This would send us into some unprecedented territory , so we can ’ t really pretend to tell you what you should expect if that happens .
Which leads us to the most important — and maybe the hardest — thing of all to remember : Be patient .
When the polls close on Nov. 3 , voters will have already decided the election .
We just have to wait it out while the process of uncovering who they ’ ve elected unfolds .

WASHINGTON — There’s one question on everyone’s mind these days: What the hell will happen on election night?
With the coronavirus pandemic prompting mass mail-in voting, calling an official winner will likely take longer than usual. If the election is a blowout for either candidate, it’s possible a winner could be declared on Nov. 3. But because of incongruities in how absentee votes are counted in different states, it could be days or weeks before an official call is made.
The first polls will close at 6 p.m. ET on Election Day in parts of Indiana and Kentucky, and the last polls will close at 1 a.m. ET in Alaska.
If the election is close, it may initially look like President Donald Trump is winning, regardless of the final outcome. Because of the president’s relentless — and baseless — attacks on mail-in voting, it’s likely that in-person votes, which will be counted more quickly, will break for Trump, resulting in what Hawkfish, a political data firm founded by Michael Bloomberg, has called a “red mirage.” Polling has consistently shown Republican voters prefer to vote in person on Election Day by a giant margin, relative to Democrats.
Essentially, without comprehensive reporting of mail-in ballots in a close election, it might look on election night like Trump is winning big. And it’s certainly possible that he could try to claim victory before all the ballots have been counted. But once absentee ballots have been counted, former vice president Joe Biden could seriously cut into or overcome the president’s lead.
Some states, like Arizona, Florida, and North Carolina — all-important swing states to watch — have laws that allow them to begin processing mail-in ballots before Election Day itself, which could result in clear and relatively comprehensive results after the polls close on Nov. 3.
But many other states, like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, are not able to begin processing absentee votes prior to Election Day, and because they don’t have robust histories with mass mail-in voting, their results could likely be delayed.
Even states with strong histories of mail-in voting, however, could take longer to get results simply due to the possibly historic numbers of ballots they’ll have to count.


buzzfeed--2020-11-06--This Netflix Documentary Is Going Viral For Showing How To Tell If A Deaf Person Is Anti-Trump

is an eight-episode Netflix documentary series that aired last month .
It shows the everyday lives of deaf students at @ @ @ @ @ college for the deaf and hard of hearing in Washington , D.C .

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buzzfeed--2020-11-06--Beyoncé Has 80,000 Bees At Her Home, And How Did We Not Already Know This?

Although Beyoncé did n't share where all of those jars go , or whether — and , if not , @ @ @ @ @ buy one , she did explain what inspired her to take up beekeeping .

Although Beyoncé didn't share where all of those jars go, or whether — and, if not, when — we can all buy one, she did explain what inspired her to take up beekeeping.


buzzfeed--2020-11-06--This Election Has Been Going On Forever Now, So You Should Probably Know How Many Electoral Votes Th

This Election Has Been Going On Forever Now, So You Should Probably Know How Many Electoral Votes These States Get

This Election Has Been Going On Forever Now , So You Should Probably Know How Many Electoral Votes These States @ @ @ @ @ maps of Georgia and Pennsylvania for far longer than any human should , tbh .