vox--2020-10-27--Trump’s misleading tweet about changing your vote, briefly explained

Searches for changing one ’ s vote did not trend following the recent presidential debate , and just a few states appear to have processes for changing an early vote .
But that didn ’ t stop President Trump from wrongly saying otherwise on Tuesday .
In early morning posts , the president falsely claimed on Twitter and Facebook that many people had Googled “ Can I change my vote ?
” after the second presidential debate and said those searching wanted to change their vote over to him .
Trump also wrongly claimed that most states have a mechanism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Actually , just a few states appear to have the ability , and it ’ s rarely used .
Trump ’ s claim about what was trending on Google after the debate doesn ’ t hold up .
Searches for changing one ’ s vote were not among Google ’ s top trending searches for the day of the debate ( October 22 ) or the day after .
Searches for “ Can I change my vote ?
” did increase slightly around the time of the debate , but there is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to the debate or whether the people searching were doing so in support of Trump .
It was only after Trump ’ s posts that searches about changing your vote spiked significantly .
It ’ s worth noting that people were also searching for “ Can I change my vote ?
” during a similar period before the 2016 presidential election .
Google declined to comment on the accuracy of Trump ’ s post .
Trump also claimed that these results indicate that most of the people who were searching for how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the Google Trends tool for the searches he mentioned does not provide that specific information .
Perhaps the most egregiously false claim in Trump ’ s recent posts is about “ most states ” having processes for changing your early vote .
In fact , only a few states have such processes , and they can come with certain conditions .
For instance , in Michigan , voters who vote absentee can ask for a new ballot by mail or in person until the day before the election .
The Center for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Associated Press that changing one ’ s vote is “ extremely rare.
” Becker explained , “ It ’ s hard enough to get people to vote once — it ’ s highly unlikely anybody will go through this process twice.
” At the time of publication , Trump ’ s false claims had drawn about 84,000 and 187,000 “ Likes ” on Twitter and Facebook , respectively .
Trump ’ s posts accelerated searches about changing your vote in places like the swing state of Florida , where changing one ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible .
Those numbers are a reminder of the president ’ s capacity to spread misinformation quickly .
On Facebook , the president ’ s post came with a label directing people to Facebook ’ s Voting Information Center , but no fact-checking label .
Twitter had no annotation on the president ’ s post .
Neither company responded to a request for comment .
That Trump is willing to spread misinformation to benefit himself and his campaign isn ’ t a surprise .
He does that a lot .
Still , just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions have already voted , this latest episode demonstrates that the president has no qualms about using false claims about voting to cause confusion and sow doubt in the electoral process .
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All Open Sourced content is editorially independent and produced by our journalists .
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Searches for changing one’s vote did not trend following the recent presidential debate, and just a few states appear to have processes for changing an early vote. But that didn’t stop President Trump from wrongly saying otherwise on Tuesday.
In early morning posts, the president falsely claimed on Twitter and Facebook that many people had Googled “Can I change my vote?” after the second presidential debate and said those searching wanted to change their vote over to him. Trump also wrongly claimed that most states have a mechanism for changing one’s vote. Actually, just a few states appear to have the ability, and it’s rarely used.
Trump’s claim about what was trending on Google after the debate doesn’t hold up. Searches for changing one’s vote were not among Google’s top trending searches for the day of the debate (October 22) or the day after. Searches for “Can I change my vote?” did increase slightly around the time of the debate, but there is no way to know whether the bump was related to the debate or whether the people searching were doing so in support of Trump.
Help Vox’s reporting Vox wants to hear from you about your 2020 voting experience. To share, fill out this short Google form or email crowdsource@vox.com.
It was only after Trump’s posts that searches about changing your vote spiked significantly. It’s worth noting that people were also searching for “Can I change my vote?” during a similar period before the 2016 presidential election.
Google declined to comment on the accuracy of Trump’s post.
Trump also claimed that these results indicate that most of the people who were searching for how to change their vote support him. But the Google Trends tool for the searches he mentioned does not provide that specific information.
Perhaps the most egregiously false claim in Trump’s recent posts is about “most states” having processes for changing your early vote. In fact, only a few states have such processes, and they can come with certain conditions. For instance, in Michigan, voters who vote absentee can ask for a new ballot by mail or in person until the day before the election.
The Center for Election Innovation’s David Becker told the Associated Press that changing one’s vote is “extremely rare.” Becker explained, “It’s hard enough to get people to vote once — it’s highly unlikely anybody will go through this process twice.”
At the time of publication, Trump’s false claims had drawn about 84,000 and 187,000 “Likes” on Twitter and Facebook, respectively. Trump’s posts accelerated searches about changing your vote in places like the swing state of Florida, where changing one’s vote after casting it is not possible. Those numbers are a reminder of the president’s capacity to spread misinformation quickly.
On Facebook, the president’s post came with a label directing people to Facebook’s Voting Information Center, but no fact-checking label. Twitter had no annotation on the president’s post. Neither company responded to a request for comment.
That Trump is willing to spread misinformation to benefit himself and his campaign isn’t a surprise. He does that a lot. Still, just days before a presidential election in which millions have already voted, this latest episode demonstrates that the president has no qualms about using false claims about voting to cause confusion and sow doubt in the electoral process.
Open Sourced is made possible by Omidyar Network. All Open Sourced content is editorially independent and produced by our journalists.


vox--2020-10-27--Muslims worldwide are protesting French President Macron’s crackdown on Islam

Thousands of Muslims from the Middle East to Asia are protesting the French government and boycotting French products after President Emmanuel Macron defended the right to display cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed — considered a major taboo by many Muslims .
From Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh , Iran to Morocco , countries are showing their displeasure at how France is treating its Muslims .
It threatens to drive a wider rift between the Western European nation and much of the broader Muslim world .
Earlier this month , secondary school teacher Samuel Paty brought scrutiny when , as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he showed his students two caricatures of Muhammad published by the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo — the same images that in 2015 inspired jihadists to kill 11 staff members at the magazine and six others in Paris .
Parents and teachers at the school said Paty gave his Muslim pupils the opportunity to leave the classroom or look away so as not to offend them , but an outcry ensued nonetheless .
On October 16 , an attacker beheaded Paty with a butcher knife as the teacher made his way home .
Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the assailant that featured a picture of the severed head along with a message : “ I have executed one of the dogs from hell who dared to put Muhammad down.
” In response , Macron ’ s government has turned Paty into a freedom-of-expression hero .
At a national memorial for the slain teacher last week , Macron said France “ will continue the fight for freedom ” and “ intensify ” efforts to end Islamist extremism in the country .
Part of that campaign is to create an “ Islam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has put it for years , that aims to seamlessly integrate Muslims into French society .
Macron says extremists are impeding that integration , and his government has begun carrying out raids , deportations , and ordering the dissolution of certain Islamic groups .
One of them aimed to fight Islamophobia in France and another was a humanitarian organization that does work in Africa and South Asia .
Authorities also didn ’ t stop images of the cartoons from being projected onto French government buildings during the national remembrance .
France ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local paper Libération on Monday that such measures were aimed at “ sending a message , ” adding , “ We are seeking to fight an ideology , not a religion.
” Yet to thousands of Muslims worldwide , fighting a religion is exactly what it seems like the French government is doing .
And they ’ re speaking out against it .
On Tuesday , 40,000 people rallied in Bangladesh ’ s capital , Dhaka , against Macron ’ s efforts , and even burned him in effigy .
That followed less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey , Tunisia , Kuwait , Jordan , Morocco , Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates , and more calling to boycott French products and grocery stores .
In Kuwait , for example , they ’ ve already started pulling items like French yogurt and sparkling water off the shelves .
Qatar University even canceled its “ French week ” as part of the anti-Macron movement .
It ’ s unclear what precisely instigated the protests .
H.A .
Hellyer , a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was likely a combination of factors , namely Macron ’ s defense of the cartoons and the crackdown on Islamic organizations .
“ A lot of people are quite aware of that outside of France , and it contradicts the claim that the French authorities are only going after extremists , ” he said .
The global reaction by Muslims is similar to what happened after a far-right Danish newspaper published cartoons titled “ The Face of Muhammad ” in 2005 .
Even though no image directly portrayed the prophet , hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some demonstrators responded violently , and 250 people were killed and another 800 were injured .
But the main action was for the public in Muslim-majority countries — Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates , Libya — to boycott Danish goods and companies .
The message was clear then as it is now : If a country allows such cartoons to be published , it will take a major economic hit .
But that message hasn ’ t been fully received by the target countries , and experts believe the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Danish one .
“ It ’ s going to be a blip , ” said Shahed Amanullah , a former US State Department official who led outreach to Muslim communities around the world , “ and the fundamental problems of what ’ s happening in France aren ’ t going to be addressed by the outside world.
” There ’ s no prominent effort by French Muslims for a boycott at the moment , Amanullah continued , which means “ when they subside , they ’ re going to be left holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually want the protests to continue — mainly because it benefits them politically .
This is an opportunity for Muslim leaders to grab power The heads of Muslim-majority countries have stepped up their criticism of France since the Paty murder , and of Macron in particular .
Pakistan ’ s Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday tweeted the French president ’ s actions and statements “ inevitably leads to radicalisation.
” The next day , Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan went even further , saying in a televised addressed that French products should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been “ subjected to a lynch campaign similar to that against Jews in Europe before World War II.
” Why say such things if it might provoke further anger ?
Perhaps they truly believe it , but experts argue they ’ re making those comments out of pure self-interest .
“ I don ’ t think they ’ re instigating , necessarily , but they ’ re definitely utilizing [ the moment ] for their own benefit , ” said Mobashra Tazamal , a researcher on Islamophobia .
“ These leaders often present @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it pays off for them in terms of national support.
” But , she noted , they ’ re more talk than action .
“ Both Khan and Erdoğan have failed to hold China accountable in its campaign of repression against Uighur Muslims , ” she said , “ even as Chinese authorities destroy mosques , criminalize the observance of Ramadan , and force Uighur Muslims in concentration camps to drink alcohol and eat pork.
” Still , Macron is an easy target , and may be one for months to come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the Paty murder , Macron delivered an address detailing his views on the role of Islam in France ’ s secular society .
“ What we must attack is Islamist separatism , ” he told the nation , saying extremists preyed upon desperate Muslims in desolate neighborhoods , basically creating anti-French enclaves by spreading their radical Islamic “ ideology ” and “ project.
” He also made some sweeping , incendiary generalizations , such as that “ Islam is a religion that is in crisis today , all over the world.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonizes French Muslims .
That not only gives the Khans and Erdoğans of the world fodder to attack Macron , but also the space to animate their publics when it most suits them , potentially stirring up even more trouble .
They might win , in other words , but France ’ s Muslims may lose .
“ This will have lasting consequences , I think , in how French Muslims are problematized in France by the elite , ” RUSI ’ s Hellyer said .
“ That ’ s troubling.
” Macron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crackdown on French Muslims Experts say Macron ’ s actions are driven by two factors .
First , he is trying to garner some right-wing bona fides by taking a tougher stance against Islamic extremism ahead of his reelection fight 18 months from now .
Second , he ’ s a true believer in France ’ s centuries-long values of freedom of speech and secularism .
“ We will not give in , ever , ” he tweeted on Sunday .
The problem with that is French Muslims may feel extremely targeted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After all , Holocaust denial is criminalized , which means some forms of expression are outlawed in France .
But when it comes to images of the prophet , Macron says that ’ s fair play .
“ French Muslims are asking for the same respect that France gives French Jews , ” said Amanullah .
“ They want to feel like they ’ re equal French citizens , not second-class citizens.
” Unsurprisingly , little of what Macron ’ s government has done has sat well with Muslims around the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frustrations .
Help keep Vox free for all Millions turn to Vox each month to understand what ’ s happening in the news , from the coronavirus crisis to a racial reckoning to what is , quite possibly , the most consequential presidential election of our lifetimes .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
But our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources .
Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers , your support will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work .
If you have already contributed , thank you .
If you haven ’ t , please consider helping everyone make sense of an increasingly chaotic world : Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

Thousands of Muslims from the Middle East to Asia are protesting the French government and boycotting French products after President Emmanuel Macron defended the right to display cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed — considered a major taboo by many Muslims.
From Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh, Iran to Morocco, countries are showing their displeasure at how France is treating its Muslims. It threatens to drive a wider rift between the Western European nation and much of the broader Muslim world.
Earlier this month, secondary school teacher Samuel Paty brought scrutiny when, as part of a lesson on freedom of expression, he showed his students two caricatures of Muhammad published by the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo — the same images that in 2015 inspired jihadists to kill 11 staff members at the magazine and six others in Paris. Parents and teachers at the school said Paty gave his Muslim pupils the opportunity to leave the classroom or look away so as not to offend them, but an outcry ensued nonetheless.
On October 16, an attacker beheaded Paty with a butcher knife as the teacher made his way home. Police found a Twitter account suspected of belonging to the assailant that featured a picture of the severed head along with a message: “I have executed one of the dogs from hell who dared to put Muhammad down.”
In response, Macron’s government has turned Paty into a freedom-of-expression hero.
At a national memorial for the slain teacher last week, Macron said France “will continue the fight for freedom” and “intensify” efforts to end Islamist extremism in the country. Part of that campaign is to create an “Islam of France,” as the president has put it for years, that aims to seamlessly integrate Muslims into French society.
Macron says extremists are impeding that integration, and his government has begun carrying out raids, deportations, and ordering the dissolution of certain Islamic groups. One of them aimed to fight Islamophobia in France and another was a humanitarian organization that does work in Africa and South Asia. Authorities also didn’t stop images of the cartoons from being projected onto French government buildings during the national remembrance.
France’s interior minister, Gérard Darmanin, told local paper Libération on Monday that such measures were aimed at “sending a message,” adding, “We are seeking to fight an ideology, not a religion.”
Yet to thousands of Muslims worldwide, fighting a religion is exactly what it seems like the French government is doing. And they’re speaking out against it.
From boycotted yogurt to canceled “French week”
We will not give in, ever.
We respect all differences in a spirit of peace. We do not accept hate speech and defend reasonable debate. We will always be on the side of human dignity and universal values. — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 25, 2020
On Tuesday, 40,000 people rallied in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, against Macron’s efforts, and even burned him in effigy. That followed less aggressive acts in other countries, with Turkey, Tunisia, Kuwait, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and more calling to boycott French products and grocery stores.
In Kuwait, for example, they’ve already started pulling items like French yogurt and sparkling water off the shelves. Qatar University even canceled its “French week” as part of the anti-Macron movement.
It’s unclear what precisely instigated the protests. H.A. Hellyer, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, said it was likely a combination of factors, namely Macron’s defense of the cartoons and the crackdown on Islamic organizations. “A lot of people are quite aware of that outside of France, and it contradicts the claim that the French authorities are only going after extremists,” he said.
The global reaction by Muslims is similar to what happened after a far-right Danish newspaper published cartoons titled “The Face of Muhammad” in 2005.
Even though no image directly portrayed the prophet, hundreds of thousands took to the streets in protest. Some demonstrators responded violently, and 250 people were killed and another 800 were injured. But the main action was for the public in Muslim-majority countries — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Libya — to boycott Danish goods and companies.
The message was clear then as it is now: If a country allows such cartoons to be published, it will take a major economic hit. But that message hasn’t been fully received by the target countries, and experts believe the current uprising may eventually fizzle out just like the Danish one.
“It’s going to be a blip,” said Shahed Amanullah, a former US State Department official who led outreach to Muslim communities around the world, “and the fundamental problems of what’s happening in France aren’t going to be addressed by the outside world.” There’s no prominent effort by French Muslims for a boycott at the moment, Amanullah continued, which means “when they subside, they’re going to be left holding the bag.”
But some world leaders actually want the protests to continue — mainly because it benefits them politically.
This is an opportunity for Muslim leaders to grab power
The heads of Muslim-majority countries have stepped up their criticism of France since the Paty murder, and of Macron in particular.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday tweeted the French president’s actions and statements “inevitably leads to radicalisation.” The next day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan went even further, saying in a televised addressed that French products should be boycotted since Muslims in France have been “subjected to a lynch campaign similar to that against Jews in Europe before World War II.”
Hallmark of a leader is he unites human beings, as Mandela did, rather than dividing them. This is a time when Pres Macron could have put healing touch & denied space to extremists rather than creating further polarisation & marginalisation that inevitably leads to radicalisation — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 25, 2020
(Other figures, like those leading Iran and the militant group Hezbollah, are also making similar comments to gin up anti-Western sentiment and show themselves to be defenders of Islam.)
Why say such things if it might provoke further anger? Perhaps they truly believe it, but experts argue they’re making those comments out of pure self-interest.
“I don’t think they’re instigating, necessarily, but they’re definitely utilizing [the moment] for their own benefit,” said Mobashra Tazamal, a researcher on Islamophobia. “These leaders often present themselves as defenders of Islam and Muslims and it pays off for them in terms of national support.”
But, she noted, they’re more talk than action. “Both Khan and Erdoğan have failed to hold China accountable in its campaign of repression against Uighur Muslims,” she said, “even as Chinese authorities destroy mosques, criminalize the observance of Ramadan, and force Uighur Muslims in concentration camps to drink alcohol and eat pork.”
Still, Macron is an easy target, and may be one for months to come. On October 2, two weeks before the Paty murder, Macron delivered an address detailing his views on the role of Islam in France’s secular society.
“What we must attack is Islamist separatism,” he told the nation, saying extremists preyed upon desperate Muslims in desolate neighborhoods, basically creating anti-French enclaves by spreading their radical Islamic “ideology” and “project.” He also made some sweeping, incendiary generalizations, such as that “Islam is a religion that is in crisis today, all over the world.”
Such language, experts say, particularly demonizes French Muslims. That not only gives the Khans and Erdoğans of the world fodder to attack Macron, but also the space to animate their publics when it most suits them, potentially stirring up even more trouble.
They might win, in other words, but France’s Muslims may lose. “This will have lasting consequences, I think, in how French Muslims are problematized in France by the elite,” RUSI’s Hellyer said. “That’s troubling.”
Macron’s two reason for continuing the crackdown on French Muslims
Experts say Macron’s actions are driven by two factors.
First, he is trying to garner some right-wing bona fides by taking a tougher stance against Islamic extremism ahead of his reelection fight 18 months from now. Second, he’s a true believer in France’s centuries-long values of freedom of speech and secularism. “We will not give in, ever,” he tweeted on Sunday.
We will not give in, ever.
We respect all differences in a spirit of peace. We do not accept hate speech and defend reasonable debate. We will always be on the side of human dignity and universal values. — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 25, 2020
The problem with that is French Muslims may feel extremely targeted by what Macron’s government is doing. After all, Holocaust denial is criminalized, which means some forms of expression are outlawed in France. But when it comes to images of the prophet, Macron says that’s fair play.
“French Muslims are asking for the same respect that France gives French Jews,” said Amanullah. “They want to feel like they’re equal French citizens, not second-class citizens.”
Unsurprisingly, little of what Macron’s government has done has sat well with Muslims around the world — and they’re expressing their frustrations.


vox--2020-10-27--Still haven’t voted? Don’t send your ballot by mail.

More than 67 million Americans have already voted in the 2020 election , and if you ’ re not one of them : What are you waiting for ?
Whatever the reason , don ’ t wait any longer : Make a voting plan now .
But just one week out from Election Day , your voting plan needs to be realistic .
Specifically , you should now plan to vote in person or drop off your mail ballot , if you already have one .
To put it another way : It ’ s now probably cutting it too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail .
The United States Postal Service recommends that “ as a common-sense measure , you mail your complete ballot before Election Day , and at least one week prior to your state ’ s deadline.
” Deadlines vary by state .
Some states require ballots to be received or postmarked before Election Day ( Louisiana , for example , must get your ballot by November 2 ) .
Others require that ballots be received by Election Day to be counted , including swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan .
Some states require @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but have cutoffs on how late they can be received .
For example , Pennsylvania requires a November 3 postmark , but those ballots have to arrive by November 6 or they won ’ t be counted .
So Tuesday really is the deadline .
If you haven ’ t dropped your stamped ballot in the mailbox yet , it ’ s time to come up with a new plan .
The good news is there is still plenty of time for that !
If you have a mail ballot in hand , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drop it off with election officials , at a polling place , designated drop-off location , or drop box before or on Election Day .
And if you hadn ’ t thought about voting until today , it ’ s time for you to figure out how you ’ ll vote in person , either early or on Election Day .
If you still want to “ vote by mail , ” drop that ballot off Voting by mail doesn ’ t have to mean literally voting by mail .
Most states offer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states allow you to drop off your ballot at your local election office .
At least 20 states will let voters drop off their mail ballots at their polling station on Election Day .
And about 40 states are offering some sort of drop boxes where voters can return ballots , though it may depend on the county where you live .
Only two states — Tennessee and Mississippi — don ’ t allow for the hand delivery of ballots .
Kentucky doesn ’ t allow people to hand-deliver ballots but does have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some reason , makes a distinction between absentee voters ( those who have a valid excuse ) and people who just prefer to vote by mail .
Only absentee voters can hand-deliver ballots ; mail voters must send through the mail .
But as always , check the rules of your state , or call your local election officials , to find the best drop-off option .
If you requested a mail ballot and haven ’ t received it , or if you have a mail ballot and haven ’ t turned it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in person .
Many states , like Pennsylvania , require you to bring your mail ballot to the polling station and turn it in to poll workers .
If you don ’ t have a ballot — you requested one but never got it , or you threw it out , or your dog chewed it up — that ’ s also okay .
But , as in Pennsylvania , you may have to vote via provisional ballot , which will count as long as election officials can verify you didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just a safeguard against people voting twice , which is illegal , despite what people are saying .
A few states , such as New York , automatically let your in-person vote override your mail vote , but definitely check your state ’ s rules first .
Other states , like Florida , ask that you bring in your ballot , but if you don ’ t have it , election officials will let only let you cast a ballot in person if they can verify you haven ’ t already submitted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Michigan , may ask voters who don ’ t turn in their ballots to sign an affidavit canceling any mail ballot before they can vote .
If you ’ ve sent in your ballot already , or are planning to drop it off as soon as you finish reading this , do sign up for ballot tracking , if it ’ s available where you live .
Many other states let you track the progress of your ballot on a voter portal on a state or local election site .
This will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your ballot , and , in some cases , it will let you know whether it ’ s been rejected or accepted .
If your ballot has been rejected , some states allow you to go through what ’ s called a “ cure process , ” and many other states have adopted procedures to cure ballots during the pandemic .
This process allows voters to fix any mismatched or missing signatures , or other possible mistakes that might otherwise prevent their vote from being counted .
In many places , election officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but if anything seems amiss with your mail-in vote , you can always call the election office yourself .
Otherwise , plan to vote in person as soon as you can Voting in person is always an option for those who haven ’ t cast their ballots already .
If possible , you should do it now , or as soon as you can , rather than waiting until Election Day on November 3 .
About 40 states offer some form of early in-person voting , and much of it is happening this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by state and county , so check them out here .
Lines have been long in some places for early voting , but they could be far worse on Election Day , and if you for some reason can ’ t wait in line on November 3 , you might miss your chance to vote at all .
But if you can only vote in person on Election Day , then stick to that plan and do it !
For those concerned about the Covid-19 risk of voting in person , public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and about as risky as going to the grocery store .
You should still take precautions , though , like wearing a mask , trying to stay 6 feet apart from others while standing in line and inside the polling place , and washing your hands or using hand sanitizer once you ’ ve voted .
If you ’ re still worried , check with your local election officials to see what kinds of precautions they ’ re taking at your local site .
This is another reason to vote early , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off hours , when the polls might be less crowded .
As Vox ’ s Dylan Scott reported , voting by mail may be the safest option from a public health perspective , “ but whether it ’ s simply too late for you to vote by mail or you prefer to vote in person to eliminate the possibility of any mistakes in your ballot being processed , you can vote safely in person.
” There is still plenty of time to cast your ballot .
The United States could see unprecedented turnout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone who ’ s eligible to get out and vote .
So go and do it , now .
Will you help keep Vox free for all ?
The United States is in the middle of one of the most consequential presidential elections of our lifetimes .
It ’ s essential that all Americans are able to access clear , concise information on what the outcome of the election could mean for their lives , and the lives of their families and communities .
That is our mission at Vox .
But our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers , your support will be a critical part of sustaining our resource-intensive work .
If you have already contributed , thank you .
If you haven ’ t , please consider helping everyone understand this presidential election : Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

More than 71 million Americans have already voted in the 2020 election, and if you’re not one of them: What are you waiting for?
Whatever the reason, don’t wait any longer: Make a voting plan now.
But less than one week out from Election Day, your voting plan needs to be realistic. Specifically, you should now plan to vote in person or drop off your mail ballot, if you already have one.
To put it another way: It’s now probably cutting it too close to send your ballot through the mail.
The United States Postal Service recommends that “as a common-sense measure, you mail your complete ballot before Election Day, and at least one week prior to your state’s deadline.”
Deadlines vary by state. Some states require ballots to be received or postmarked before Election Day (Louisiana, for example, must get your ballot by November 2). Others require that ballots be received by Election Day to be counted, including swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan.
Some states require ballots to be postmarked by Election Day but have cutoffs on how late they can be received. For example, Pennsylvania requires a November 3 postmark, but those ballots have to arrive by November 6 or they won’t be counted.
(You can look up your state’s information here.)
So if you haven’t dropped your stamped ballot in the mailbox yet, it’s time to come up with a new plan.
The good news is there is still plenty of time for that! If you have a mail ballot in hand, you should still have the option to drop it off with election officials, at a polling place, designated drop-off location, or drop box before or on Election Day. And if you hadn’t thought about voting until today, it’s time for you to figure out how you’ll vote in person, either early or on Election Day.
If you still want to “vote by mail,” drop that ballot off
Voting by mail doesn’t have to mean literally voting by mail. Most states offer some kind of drop-off option.
Many states allow you to drop off your ballot at your local election office. At least 20 states will let voters drop off their mail ballots at their polling station on Election Day. And about 40 states are offering some sort of drop boxes where voters can return ballots, though it may depend on the county where you live.
Only two states — Tennessee and Mississippi — don’t allow for the hand delivery of ballots. Kentucky doesn’t allow people to hand-deliver ballots but does have drop box locations. Missouri, for some reason, makes a distinction between absentee voters (those who have a valid excuse) and people who just prefer to vote by mail. Only absentee voters can hand-deliver ballots; mail voters must send through the mail.
But as always, check the rules of your state, or call your local election officials, to find the best drop-off option.
If you requested a mail ballot and haven’t received it, or if you have a mail ballot and haven’t turned it in yet, you can still vote in person. Many states, like Pennsylvania, require you to bring your mail ballot to the polling station and turn it in to poll workers. If you don’t have a ballot — you requested one but never got it, or you threw it out, or your dog chewed it up — that’s also okay. But, as in Pennsylvania, you may have to vote via provisional ballot, which will count as long as election officials can verify you didn’t already vote by mail. This is just a safeguard against people voting twice, which is illegal, despite what people are saying.
A few states, such as New York, automatically let your in-person vote override your mail vote, but definitely check your state’s rules first. Other states, like Florida, ask that you bring in your ballot, but if you don’t have it, election officials will let only let you cast a ballot in person if they can verify you haven’t already submitted a vote by mail. Some states, like Michigan, may ask voters who don’t turn in their ballots to sign an affidavit canceling any mail ballot before they can vote.
If you’ve sent in your ballot already, or are planning to drop it off as soon as you finish reading this, do sign up for ballot tracking, if it’s available where you live. Many other states let you track the progress of your ballot on a voter portal on a state or local election site. This will tell you whether election officials have received your ballot, and, in some cases, it will let you know whether it’s been rejected or accepted.
If your ballot has been rejected, some states allow you to go through what’s called a “cure process,” and many other states have adopted procedures to cure ballots during the pandemic. This process allows voters to fix any mismatched or missing signatures, or other possible mistakes that might otherwise prevent their vote from being counted. In many places, election officials are supposed to contact voters directly, but if anything seems amiss with your mail-in vote, you can always call the election office yourself.
Otherwise, plan to vote in person as soon as you can
Voting in person is always an option for those who haven’t cast their ballots yet. If possible, you should do it now, or as soon as you can, rather than waiting until Election Day on November 3.
About 40 states offer some form of early in-person voting, and much of it is happening this week. The dates and times vary by state and county, so check them out here. Lines have been long in some places for early voting, but they could be far worse on Election Day, and if you for some reason can’t wait in line on November 3, you might miss your chance to vote at all.
But if you can only vote in person on Election Day, then stick to that plan and do it!
For those concerned about the Covid-19 risk of voting in person, public health officials say it’s relatively safe, and about as risky as going to the grocery store. You should still take precautions, though, like wearing a mask, trying to stay 6 feet apart from others while standing in line and inside the polling place, and washing your hands or using hand sanitizer once you’ve voted.
If you’re still worried, check with your local election officials to see what kinds of precautions they’re taking at your local site. This is another reason to vote early, and to try to do it during off hours, when the polls might be less crowded.
As Vox’s Dylan Scott reported, voting by mail may be the safest option from a public health perspective, “but whether it’s simply too late for you to vote by mail or you prefer to vote in person to eliminate the possibility of any mistakes in your ballot being processed, you can vote safely in person.”
There is still plenty of time to cast your ballot. The United States could see unprecedented turnout this election, but that still requires everyone who’s eligible to get out and vote. So go and do it, now.


vox--2020-10-27--The Philadelphia police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr., explained

Philadelphia is reeling after two police officers shot and killed a 27-year-old Black man named Walter Wallace Jr. on Monday afternoon .
During the encounter , which was captured on video , both officers had their guns drawn as Wallace , who was reportedly experiencing a mental break , advanced toward the officers with a knife , though the knife is not visible in the video .
By Monday night , West Philadelphia , the site of heated Black Lives Matter protests in late May and early June , had become grounds for hours of unrest over the police shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police department to release body camera footage of the incident as others question whether the city ’ s new system for responding to behavioral health crises was put into effect on Monday .
Activists with groups like Reclaim Philadelphia have long demanded the defunding and dismantling of the Philadelphia Police Department , which they say has a police union contract that allows for the surveillance , harassment , displacement , and incarceration of Black and Latinx communities in the city .
What we know about the police killing of Walter Wallace Jr .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police Department , officers made their way to the 6100 block of Locust Street in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood of West Philadelphia after receiving a report about a man with a knife .
A live video posted to Instagram on Monday afternoon by a bystander sitting close by in a car on the block shows what took place in the moments before officers fired their weapons .
Wallace , first standing on the sidewalk , moves toward officers who are standing in the middle of the street .
As Wallace advances toward them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wallace with their guns pointed toward him .
Wallace pursues the officers to the other side of the street , in between parked cars and back into the street , for about 25 seconds .
During this time , Wallace ’ s mother follows Wallace in an attempt to shield him and stop him from advancing toward the police .
Other bystanders scream for both Wallace and the officers to stop .
Officers can be heard yelling , “ Back off , man !
” and “ Drop the weapon !
” Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follows behind Wallace before officers scream , “ Move !
Move !
Move !
” to him as they prepare to use their weapons .
Once Wallace is back in the street , each officer fires several rounds of shots ; Wallace falls to the ground immediately .
His mother and other bystanders run to his side , visibly angry with the police for shooting him .
In the video , Wallace is seen standing several feet away from the officers when they shoot him .
“ I ’ m yelling , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the gun , ’ and everyone is saying , ‘ Don ’ t shoot him , he ’ s gon na put [ the knife ] down , we know him , ’ ” Maurice Holloway , a witness , told the Philadelphia Inquirer .
“ Why didn ’ t they use a Taser ?
” Wallace ’ s father , Walter Wallace Sr. , told the publication .
“ His mother was trying to defuse the situation.
” He added , “ He has mental issues .
Why you have to gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kenney , who spoke to the family Monday night , said the video of the incident “ presents difficult questions that must be answered.
” The two officers , whose names have not been released , were removed from street duty and the PPD ’ s Officer Involved Shooting Investigation Unit has launched an investigation into the shooting , which Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said will fully address residents ’ questions about the fatal shooting .
Both officers were wearing body cameras .
Ahead of the unrest , Outlaw said she planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the community and members of Wallace ’ s family to “ hear their concerns.
” “ While at the scene this evening , I heard and felt the anger of the community .
Everyone involved will forever be impacted , ” Outlaw said .
The fatal shooting led to a night of unrest across West Philadelphia neighborhoods A large crowd assembled at the scene of the police killing Monday evening , with gatherers alleging excessive use of force on the part of the two officers .
Protesters eventually moved to Malcolm X @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lives Matter ” and Wallace ’ s name .
At a nearby police station , protesters were met with police officers who were dressed in riot gear and formed lines with shields and barricades .
Hundreds of people also traveled to West Philly ’ s 52nd Street commercial corridor where vandalism and looting ensued , creating a scene that mirrored the unrest that took place in West Philly after the police killing of George Floyd in May .
According to police , at least 30 officers were injured in the protests , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer , who was run over by a black pickup truck in the early hours on Tuesday , was hospitalized and in stable condition with a broken leg later in the morning .
As police attempted to control the crowd , violence broke out .
In various videos online , officers could be seen beating protesters with batons .
In another video , a Black woman is pinned to the ground as one officer repeatedly punches her in the face , with several officers forming a blockade around the assault .
City Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district where Wallace was killed , demanded that the police department immediately release the body camera footage from both officers .
“ The public deserves a full , unvarnished accounting of what took place today , ” Gauthier said .
The killing took place about a week before the presidential election , when Philadelphians will vote on a ballot measure to determine whether the city will restore its police oversight commission .
Critics have long argued that the commission , however , would have no real power over the police department , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The body was also underfunded , and investigations into police misconduct took years .
Pennsylvania , and Philadelphia , is at the center of the presidential election , with some predicting the state could be the tipping point in determining who wins .
Trump has seized on this reality by advocating for poll watchers in Philadelphia , and Donald Trump Jr. sensationalized the situation in the city on Tuesday morning , suggesting that people vote for Trump to avoid “ more BLM riots in Pennsylvania.
” For activists , Wallace ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for greater attention to victims of police violence who have mental health conditions , like Daniel Prude , who was fatally shot by police in Rochester , New York , on March 23 while experiencing a mental health crisis .
Activists have demanded that resources be redirected from police officers to emergency response systems and experts who are actually equipped to address such situations .
At the start of October , Philadelphia announced it had launched a program to flag 911 calls related to people experiencing a behavioral health crisis .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday .
But as local PBS station WHYY points out , the police department has already trained nearly half of its officers in crisis response , and the department hopes to have a behavioral health specialist accompany officers on calls by the end of the year .
“ Had these officers employed de-escalation techniques and non-lethal weapons ... this young man might still have his life tonight .
Had these officers valued the life of this Black man — had they treated him as a person experiencing mental health issues , instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spared our collective outrage , ” Gauthier said in a statement , adding , “ In this moment of reckoning and pain for West Philly , we need accountability , we need justice , and we need it now.
” Help keep Vox free for all Millions turn to Vox each month to understand what ’ s happening in the news , from the coronavirus crisis to a racial reckoning to what is , quite possibly , the most consequential presidential election of our lifetimes .
Our mission has never been more vital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to empower you through understanding .
But our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources .
Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers , your support will be a critical part of sustaining our resource-intensive work .
If you have already contributed , thank you .
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Thousands of protesters made their way through West Philadelphia on Tuesday, marking the second night of unrest after the police killing of 27-year-old Walter Wallace Jr. on Monday afternoon.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Malcolm X Park earlier in the evening for a demonstration, where crowds chanted Wallace’s name and activists spoke about demanding real change. Following the gathering, crowds dispersed across the city. While protests started off peaceful, groups were met with police officers in riot gear, who formed lines to barricade the protesters and shield the police precinct.
Just before 10 pm, the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management issued a warning to residents in select districts to stay home because those areas were “experiencing widespread demonstrations that have turned violent with looting.” However, much of the violence came from police, as officers used pepper spray to control crowds and beat protesters with batons in West Philly’s commercial corridor. Officers arrested looters across the city; more than 90 people have been arrested since Monday. While Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf gave the National Guard permission to activate in the city on Tuesday, they were not deployed.
Additional protests are planned for Wednesday as activists demand that the police department fire the officers who shot Wallace.
In video footage of Wallace’s encounter with police, both officers had their guns drawn as Wallace, who was reportedly experiencing a mental break, advanced toward the officers with a knife, though the knife is not visible in the video. By Monday night, West Philadelphia had become grounds for hours of unrest.
Community leaders are calling for the police department to release body camera footage of the incident as others question whether the city’s new system for responding to behavioral health crises was put into effect on Monday. Meanwhile, activists with groups like Reclaim Philadelphia have long demanded the defunding and dismantling of the Philadelphia Police Department, which they say has a police union contract that allows for the surveillance, harassment, displacement, and incarceration of Black and Latinx communities in the city.
What we know about the police killing of Walter Wallace Jr.
According to a report from the Philadelphia Police Department on Monday, officers made their way to the 6100 block of Locust Street in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood of West Philadelphia after receiving a report about a man with a knife.
On Tuesday, reports revealed that police had responded to three calls of disturbances at the residence that day. Shaka Johnson, the attorney for the family, said at a press conference on Tuesday that the police were made aware of Wallace’s mental health condition, that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was taking lithium for it. According to Johnson, Wallace’s brother called for an ambulance for assistance with Wallace who was experiencing an episode, but the police showed up instead.
A live video posted to Instagram on Monday afternoon by a bystander sitting close by in a car on the block shows what took place in the moments before officers fired their weapons.
Wallace, first standing on the sidewalk, moves toward officers who are standing in the middle of the street. As Wallace advances toward them, the officers walk backward away from Wallace with their guns pointed toward him. Wallace pursues the officers to the other side of the street, in between parked cars and back into the street, for about 25 seconds.
During this time, Wallace’s mother follows Wallace in an attempt to shield him and stop him from advancing toward the police. Other bystanders scream for both Wallace and the officers to stop. Officers can be heard yelling, “Back off, man!” and “Drop the weapon!” Another bystander, a young Black man, follows behind Wallace before officers scream, “Move! Move! Move!” to him as they prepare to use their weapons.
Once Wallace is back in the street, each officer fires several rounds of shots; Wallace falls to the ground immediately. His mother and other bystanders run to his side, visibly angry with the police for shooting him. In the video, Wallace is seen standing several feet away from the officers when they shoot him.
“I’m yelling, ‘Put down the gun, put down the gun,’ and everyone is saying, ‘Don’t shoot him, he’s gonna put [the knife] down, we know him,’” Maurice Holloway, a witness, told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“Why didn’t they use a Taser?” Wallace’s father, Walter Wallace Sr., told the publication. “His mother was trying to defuse the situation.” He added, “He has mental issues. Why you have to gun him down?”
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, who spoke to the family Monday night, said the video of the incident “presents difficult questions that must be answered.” The two officers, whose names have not been released, were removed from street duty and the PPD’s Officer Involved Shooting Investigation Unit has launched an investigation into the shooting, which Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said will fully address residents’ questions about the fatal shooting. Both officers were wearing body cameras.
Ahead of the unrest, Outlaw said she planned to join Kenney to meet with members of the community and members of Wallace’s family to “hear their concerns.”
“While at the scene this evening, I heard and felt the anger of the community. Everyone involved will forever be impacted,” Outlaw said.
On Tuesday, both Outlaw and Kenney met with community members at a West Philly church to answer questions about the police shooting and the city’s actions. Attendees demanded that Outlaw explain why the officers hadn’t yet been fired. “I’m going to be honest, I don’t have an answer for you,” Outlaw said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The fatal shooting led to two nights of unrest across West Philadelphia neighborhoods
On Monday evening, a large crowd assembled at the scene of the police killing, with gatherers alleging excessive use of force on the part of the two officers. Protesters eventually moved to Malcolm X Park, where they chanted “Black Lives Matter” and Wallace’s name.
At a nearby police station, protesters were met with police officers who were dressed in riot gear and formed lines with shields and barricades.
A caravan of dozens of cars and protestors are driving up Walnut protesting the murder of Walter Wallace #Philadelphia #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/OxTwamfV0i — Sharmin Hossain (@sharminultra) October 27, 2020
Hundreds of people also traveled to West Philly’s 52nd Street commercial corridor where vandalism and looting ensued, creating a scene that mirrored the unrest that took place in West Philly after the police killing of George Floyd in May.
According to police, at least 30 officers were injured in the protests, including from thrown bricks and rocks. One officer, who was run over by a black pickup truck in the early hours on Tuesday, was hospitalized and in stable condition with a broken leg later in the morning.
As police attempted to control the crowd, violence broke out. In various videos online, officers could be seen beating protesters with batons.
In another video, a Black woman is pinned to the ground as one officer repeatedly punches her in the face, with several officers forming a blockade around the assault.
City Council member Jamie Gauthier, who leads the district where Wallace was killed, demanded that the police department immediately release the body camera footage from both officers. “The public deserves a full, unvarnished accounting of what took place today,” Gauthier said.
The killing took place about a week before the presidential election, when Philadelphians will vote on a ballot measure to determine whether the city will restore its police oversight commission. Critics have long argued that the commission, however, would have no real power over the police department, as commission recommendations were historically overlooked and ignored. The body was also underfunded, and investigations into police misconduct took years.
Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia, is at the center of the presidential election, with some predicting the state could be the tipping point in determining who wins. Trump has seized on this reality by advocating for poll watchers in Philadelphia, and Donald Trump Jr. sensationalized the situation in the city on Tuesday morning, suggesting that people vote for Trump to avoid “more BLM riots in Pennsylvania.”
For activists, Wallace’s death further underscores their calls to push for greater attention to victims of police violence who have mental health conditions, like Daniel Prude, who was fatally shot by police in Rochester, New York, on March 23 while experiencing a mental health crisis. Activists have demanded that resources be redirected from police officers to emergency response systems and experts who are actually equipped to address such situations.
At the start of October, Philadelphia announced it had launched a program to flag 911 calls related to people experiencing a behavioral health crisis. It is unclear whether this initiative was in use on Monday. But as local PBS station WHYY points out, the police department has already trained nearly half of its officers in crisis response, and the department hopes to have a behavioral health specialist accompany officers on calls by the end of the year.
“Had these officers employed de-escalation techniques and non-lethal weapons ... this young man might still have his life tonight. Had these officers valued the life of this Black man — had they treated him as a person experiencing mental health issues, instead of a criminal — we might be spared our collective outrage,” Gauthier said in a statement, adding, “In this moment of reckoning and pain for West Philly, we need accountability, we need justice, and we need it now.”


vox--2020-10-27--The 15 Silicon Valley millionaires spending the most to beat Donald Trump

Donald Trump has poked the bears that are Silicon Valley billionaires .
Over the last four years , the tech industry ’ s very richest have gotten far more political than they have ever been , channeling their money and energy into the world of partisan campaigning .
They ’ ve hired full-time political aides to manage their investments .
They ’ ve traded notes and organized to pool their money for maximum impact .
And they ’ ve become vocal public critics of the president , so incensed by the Trump presidency that they ’ ve eschewed the longstanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics .
Some of the biggest Silicon Valley celebrities are indeed staying out of the race , but here are the 15 Democrats of Silicon Valley who are most responsible for the current political awakening .
Recode reviewed all public federal campaign contributions this cycle through October 15 .
While they are backing different groups , one striking commonality is how little they had donated prior to Trump ’ s 2016 run .
It ’ s new territory for almost all of them : Prior to then , these 15 people together had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal campaign contributions .
Over the last two years ?
That figure is over $ 120 million .
Prior to the 2016 race , these 15 people together had donated about $ 7 million in total federal campaign contributions .
Over the last two years ?
That figure is over $ 120 million .
Some caveats to this list : Determining who qualifies as “ Silicon Valley ” is more subjective than you ’ d think ( Does it apply to everyone who physically lives in the San Francisco Bay Area , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders who live in New York or Seattle ? )
but we focused on people whose money principally comes from founding or investing in tech companies .
This list also doesn ’ t tally all political donations .
It doesn ’ t include gifts to state or local candidates .
And , most importantly , the sums don ’ t include the tens of millions of dollars — likely even hundreds of millions — that these donors are spending on outside groups that aren ’ t required to disclose their backers .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ousting Trump are impossible to assess in total , meaning it is also impossible to assess the scale of their influence in American democracy .
That influence could pay off in a Biden administration that will have to wrestle with how aggressively to regulate the tech companies that have helped create these fortunes .
The psychiatrist has come out of nowhere over the last four years to be one of the ascendant Democratic megadonors of the Trump era .
The former wife of tech mogul Steve Jurvetson , she has focused her donations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost single-handedly financed a super PAC that spent big to support Elizabeth Warren ’ s presidential bid in its final weeks , pumping $ 15 million into that last-ditch effort .
And in a sign of her power , she was the one chosen to host Barack Obama when he made his sole Silicon Valley fundraising trip of the cycle last fall .
Moskovitz is one of the most thoughtful figures in Silicon Valley in terms of his philanthropy , and his political giving is similar .
A founder of Facebook alongside Harvard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political team have scoured the academic literature to try to deduce where megadonors can get the greatest possible “ return ” on their investments .
And his brainy dive into political science research has led him to Future Forward , a super PAC that is focusing on last-minute television ads just before voters head to the polls .
Moskovitz has been closely associated with the group for much of the calendar year , and recent reports disclosed that he has put at least $ 22 million into the little-known group .
No megadonor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party than Hoffman , the billionaire founder of LinkedIn .
Hoffman has been trying to move the Democratic Party into the digital age , and to do so has been willing to fund unorthodox projects that push the envelope in ways that some other Democratic donors find discomfiting .
One of the most unusual expenses from Hoffman has been the $ 4.5 million that he has spent on his own to create anti-Trump memes .
He and his aides have also become the port of call for other major tech donors , building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hoffman a powerful figure in Silicon Valley politics .
Operatives consider getting on Hoffman ’ s list of recommended groups to be a major coup .
In recent weeks , Hoffman has been emailing his network to encourage them to donate to Biden transition efforts , according to messages seen by Recode .
Jeff Lawson , the co-founder and CEO of the $ 45 billion software company Twilio , and his wife , Erica , had only given about $ 1,000 to federal candidates before the 2016 race .
But in a reflection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Lawsons soon after his election started cutting checks to dozens of Democratic congressional candidates and state parties .
This fall , they started really digging deep , including giving $ 6 million between them to Future Forward .
Ballmer is of Seattle , but she ’ s the wife of former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer — one of the richest people in the world .
Ballmer ’ s total comes almost entirely from the $ 7 million she donated to Everytown for Gun Safety , a gun-control group started by Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first full-time employee at eBay — had never given more than a few thousand bucks before Trump was elected .
But this year , the billionaire philanthropist started funneling his fortune into Democratic efforts , including $ 4.5 million into Senate Majority PAC , the main Democratic super PAC aiming to retake the Senate .
Schmidt is the consummate Democratic powerbroker , having helped Google curry favor with the Barack Obama administration back when he was Google ’ s CEO .
So , unlike others on this list , Schmidt is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions into groups like Future Forward in addition to hosting fundraisers for the Biden campaign directly .
It will be interesting to see what role Schmidt may play in a Biden administration if Biden wins .
Bankman-Fried is one of the most unusual megadonors of the cycle .
A 28-year-old cryptocurrency trader who would often sleep in his office overnight on a bean bag , Bankman-Fried , like Moskovitz , identifies as an “ effective altruist.
” That means he ’ s trying to use his money for the greatest possible good — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Future Forward .
Hastings , the founder of Netflix , has long been involved in politics — he has been a major funder of education reform efforts , and he helped raise money for Pete Buttigieg during the primary .
He and his wife , Quillin , are now funding more than ever , including $ 2 million to Senate Majority PAC .
And that $ 5.3 million figure doesn ’ t even include the millions more that the couple is spending this year on California ballot initiatives and local politics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for them .
Livingston is one of the co-founders of Y Combinator , the iconic Silicon Valley startup accelerator , alongside her husband Paul Graham .
And she cut the biggest check by far of her career this fall when she gave $ 5 million to a group called Tech For Campaigns , which places tech workers inside Democratic campaigns across the country .
Moritz , a legendary venture capitalist at Sequoia Capital , had only donated $ 70,000 in his life to politics before Trump was elected .
But since 2016 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a liberal group focused on digital anti-Trump advertising , and he and groups associated with him have donated over $ 1.5 million to its affiliated super PAC .
Moritz has also emailed his associates in Silicon Valley to encourage them to support Acronym .
A fun fact : Moritz ’ s longtime co-leader at Sequoia , Doug Leone , is one of the few big donors from tech to Trump , which should make for some interesting conversations between the two of them .
Probably the least well-known person on this list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called Artista .
He gave $ 2 million over the last year to Acronym .
A billionaire perhaps more widely known for his quixotic campaign to maintain his private access to a Bay Area beach , Khosla has given most of his donations to American Bridge , the leading super PAC that focuses on anti-Trump opposition research .
Will you help keep Vox free for all ?
The United States is in the middle of one of the most consequential presidential elections of our lifetimes .
It ’ s essential that all Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information on what the outcome of the election could mean for their lives , and the lives of their families and communities .
That is our mission at Vox .
But our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources .
Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers , your support will be a critical part of sustaining our resource-intensive work .
If you have already contributed , thank you .
If you haven ’ t , please consider helping everyone understand this presidential election : Contribute today from as little @ @ @ @

Donald Trump has poked the bears that are Silicon Valley billionaires.
Over the last four years, the tech industry’s very richest have gotten far more political than they have ever been, channeling their money and energy into the world of partisan campaigning. They’ve hired full-time political aides to manage their investments. They’ve traded notes and organized to pool their money for maximum impact. And they’ve become vocal public critics of the president, so incensed by the Trump presidency that they’ve eschewed the longstanding Silicon Valley tradition of staying out of politics.
Some of the biggest Silicon Valley celebrities are indeed staying out of the race, but here are the 15 Democrats of Silicon Valley who are most responsible for the current political awakening. Recode reviewed all public federal campaign contributions this cycle through October 15.
While they are backing different groups, one striking commonality is how little they had donated prior to Trump’s 2016 run. It’s new territory for almost all of them: Prior to then, these 15 people together had donated about $7 million in total federal campaign contributions. Over the last two years? That figure is over $120 million.
Prior to the 2016 race, these 15 people together had donated about $7 million in total federal campaign contributions. Over the last two years? That figure is over $120 million.
Some caveats to this list: Determining who qualifies as “Silicon Valley” is more subjective than you’d think (Does it apply to everyone who physically lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, no matter the industry? What about tech leaders who live in New York or Seattle?) but we focused on people whose money principally comes from founding or investing in tech companies.
This list also doesn’t tally all political donations. It doesn’t include gifts to state or local candidates. And, most importantly, the sums don’t include the tens of millions of dollars — likely even hundreds of millions — that these donors are spending on outside groups that aren’t required to disclose their backers. So Silicon Valley megadonors’ true contributions to ousting Trump are impossible to assess in total, meaning it is also impossible to assess the scale of their influence in American democracy.
That influence could pay off in a Biden administration that will have to wrestle with how aggressively to regulate the tech companies that have helped create these fortunes.
Karla Jurvetson: $27.5 million
The psychiatrist has come out of nowhere over the last four years to be one of the ascendant Democratic megadonors of the Trump era. The former wife of tech mogul Steve Jurvetson, she has focused her donations on gifts to female candidates; she almost single-handedly financed a super PAC that spent big to support Elizabeth Warren’s presidential bid in its final weeks, pumping $15 million into that last-ditch effort. And in a sign of her power, she was the one chosen to host Barack Obama when he made his sole Silicon Valley fundraising trip of the cycle last fall.
Dustin Moskovitz: $25 million
Moskovitz is one of the most thoughtful figures in Silicon Valley in terms of his philanthropy, and his political giving is similar. A founder of Facebook alongside Harvard classmate Mark Zuckerberg, Moskovitz and his political team have scoured the academic literature to try to deduce where megadonors can get the greatest possible “return” on their investments. And his brainy dive into political science research has led him to Future Forward, a super PAC that is focusing on last-minute television ads just before voters head to the polls. Moskovitz has been closely associated with the group for much of the calendar year, and recent reports disclosed that he has put at least $22 million into the little-known group.
Reid Hoffman: $14.1 million
No megadonor has become more controversial in the Democratic Party than Hoffman, the billionaire founder of LinkedIn. Hoffman has been trying to move the Democratic Party into the digital age, and to do so has been willing to fund unorthodox projects that push the envelope in ways that some other Democratic donors find discomfiting. One of the most unusual expenses from Hoffman has been the $4.5 million that he has spent on his own to create anti-Trump memes. He and his aides have also become the port of call for other major tech donors, building a full-scale political operation that has made Hoffman a powerful figure in Silicon Valley politics. Operatives consider getting on Hoffman’s list of recommended groups to be a major coup. In recent weeks, Hoffman has been emailing his network to encourage them to donate to Biden transition efforts, according to messages seen by Recode.
Jeff and Erica Lawson: $8.2 million
Jeff Lawson, the co-founder and CEO of the $45 billion software company Twilio, and his wife, Erica, had only given about $1,000 to federal candidates before the 2016 race. But in a reflection of how Trump has energized Silicon Valley, the Lawsons soon after his election started cutting checks to dozens of Democratic congressional candidates and state parties. This fall, they started really digging deep, including giving $6 million between them to Future Forward.
Connie Ballmer: $7.6 million
Ballmer is of Seattle, but she’s the wife of former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer — one of the richest people in the world. Ballmer’s total comes almost entirely from the $7 million she donated to Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun-control group started by Mike Bloomberg.
Jeff Skoll: $7.4 million
Like Lawson, Skoll — the first full-time employee at eBay — had never given more than a few thousand bucks before Trump was elected. But this year, the billionaire philanthropist started funneling his fortune into Democratic efforts, including $4.5 million into Senate Majority PAC, the main Democratic super PAC aiming to retake the Senate.
Eric Schmidt: $6 million
Schmidt is the consummate Democratic powerbroker, having helped Google curry favor with the Barack Obama administration back when he was Google’s CEO. So, unlike others on this list, Schmidt is not new to this. He has put millions into groups like Future Forward in addition to hosting fundraisers for the Biden campaign directly. It will be interesting to see what role Schmidt may play in a Biden administration if Biden wins.
Sam Bankman-Fried: $5.6 million
Bankman-Fried is one of the most unusual megadonors of the cycle. A 28-year-old cryptocurrency trader who would often sleep in his office overnight on a bean bag, Bankman-Fried, like Moskovitz, identifies as an “effective altruist.” That means he’s trying to use his money for the greatest possible good — which likely has led him to donate to Future Forward.
Patty Quillin and Reed Hastings: $5.3 million
Hastings, the founder of Netflix, has long been involved in politics — he has been a major funder of education reform efforts, and he helped raise money for Pete Buttigieg during the primary. He and his wife, Quillin, are now funding more than ever, including $2 million to Senate Majority PAC. And that $5.3 million figure doesn’t even include the millions more that the couple is spending this year on California ballot initiatives and local politics, which have long been a political priority for them.
Jessica Livingston: $5 million
Livingston is one of the co-founders of Y Combinator, the iconic Silicon Valley startup accelerator, alongside her husband Paul Graham. And she cut the biggest check by far of her career this fall when she gave $5 million to a group called Tech For Campaigns, a digital- and tech-focused Democratic group.
Michael Moritz: $3.9 million
Moritz, a legendary venture capitalist at Sequoia Capital, had only donated $70,000 in his life to politics before Trump was elected. But since 2016, Moritz has gotten heavily involved with Acronym, a liberal group focused on digital anti-Trump advertising, and he and groups associated with him have donated over $1.5 million to its affiliated super PAC. Moritz has also emailed his associates in Silicon Valley to encourage them to support Acronym. A fun fact: Moritz’s longtime co-leader at Sequoia, Doug Leone, is one of the few big donors from tech to Trump, which should make for some interesting conversations between the two of them.
Ken Duda: $3.7 million
Probably the least well-known person on this list, Duda founded a public software company called Arista. He gave $2 million over the last year to Acronym.
Vinod Khosla: $3.1 million
A billionaire perhaps more widely known for his quixotic campaign to maintain his private access to a Bay Area beach, Khosla has given most of his donations to American Bridge, a Democratic super PAC running anti-Trump ads.