Somewhere in rural northeastern Pennsylvania, there’s a polling place staffed almost entirely by my family. Dad (judge of elections), Mom (certified poll-watcher) and Aunt A. (poll worker) report steady, longer-than-average lines from the very start of the day—including a good number of people waiting outside when Dad rolled up to open the polling place. On their lunch break, Mom and Dad also said there were lots of new and inactive voters.
I’ve lived abroad most of my adult life, so I’ve never worked an election. But I really, really appreciate everyone who does. GOTV folks are crucial, as are ballot-curers and other volunteers, but the local folks who give a whole day to help others cast their ballots are really special. Even the ones who aren’t related to me. If you’re out there doing this work today, thank you.
Open thread for your reports from the field or whatever else you’ve got.
Betty Cracker
Kudos to your family and all election workers. They are the unsung heroes of democracy.
Old School
Election workers are fantastic people.
I was going to vote before work this morning, but the long lines made me to decide to wait until tonight. I’m thrilled to see the large turn-out though.
OldManGamer
(It been a long time since I’ve posted with any regularly)
In Virginia, Turnout up since 2020, with lots of first time voters who are taking advantage of same-day registration (permitted for the first time this year in a federal election). Lots more demand for provisional ballets than expected, so sites are having to request more ballots. Visually, first time provisional voters are trending woman or college students.
Lurker #42
I’ve never come clean with where I’m from although I don’t post often enough for anyone to care.
Love to hear your family is here in PA and helping! And thanks for the perspective from across the pond.
Don’t think we’ll know the results tonight, but the good guys are going to prevail eventually here.
Raoul Paste
A few Andy Borowitz column titles:
US releases strategic alcohol reserve on night before election
Trump enraged after RFK Jr’s brain worm endorses Harris
(I saw these over at the Orange Satan)
J. Arthur Crank
Let’s hear it for Mama and Papa Judson! I hope the people at their polling place collectively kick Trump in the nuts, repeatedly.
rusty
A huge thanks to all the volunteer poll workers that make democracy work.
Danielx
Ten minutes in and out. Apparently a LOT of people voted early. Election workers great, as they always are in my experience.
KatKapCC
I was a poll worker a few times many years ago, and it was a LONG and tough day, but honestly, also a little fun. Plus, it helps get you through the damn day because you’re being kept busy!
Rose Judson
@J. Arthur Crank: Their county went blue in ’16 and ’20 – surprisingly large minority population for such an out-of-the-way place. LOTS of new Latino arrivals in the past decade. I’m sure a few of them are pissed-off Boricuas.
Chief Oshkosh
I hope your parents, and all poll workers, have a safe day today. Someone already hit an election judge in the face yesterday in Illinois.
24-yo white male, 74-yo election judge. What a jerk.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/24-year-man-punches-election-judge-face-waiting/story?id=115508484
Dude-bro or militiaman? Hard to tell.
Kathleen
Pls thank your family on my behalf. I always thank the poll workers. Every morning I go to my little neighborhood coffee shop for coffee and bagel. This morning a poll worker was in front of me (coffee shop is very close to the polling place in my neighborhood) and the barista thanked her and gave her a free coffee! I thought that was so cool!
scav
Kudos to everyone behind the tables and even for all those people hovering outside of every ‘L station and often several other Chicago corners, chivvying people to the booths. (I hid behind my Voted sticker as a talisman of protection.)
TBone
A lovely additional PA contribution by Susie Madrak (Independence Hall tour):
https://youtu.be/M8egp_3ewfs?si=OdR4hYCiegfnS40-
japa21
Thank you Rose. Been doing this for a long time. This is the first election our badges do not have or names or party affiliations. The GOP has a lot to answer for.
Rose Judson
@japa21: They sure do. Thanks again for working today.
Argiope
Credentialed inside observer in a student-rich OH polling place. We’ve been busy. Over 1000 votes, majority young people, which isn’t surprising in a college town. I need more coffee. All is smooth so far.
jackmac
Voting was reported “brisk” in my far west suburban Chicago precinct although I completed the whole process in less than 10 minutes. Before leaving, I walked to the center of the gymnasium/polling place and loudly thanked the judges for their hard work today. “You’re awesome,” I said. They all smiled.
satby
For about 10 election cycles I was an election judge in Chicago. Our precinct normally had 80% turnout always, and it was a minimum 14 hour day. But it was fun; you got to see all your neighbors (and in my case, cousins and my sister), people brought in pizza and cookies, and it was a heavily Democratic precinct so the elections were uncontroversial. The tabulated vote rolls were posted on the doors that night when the ballots were sent downtown for all to see.
Sometimes I miss it.
TBone
Moar gratitude:
https://crooksandliars.com/2024/11/george-soros-pawn-larry-krasner-not-taking
Marleedog
Mrs Marleedog is an election judge, as they are called in Maryland. She has already worked 2 full day shifts during early voting, and now election day today. Polls open at 6 AM and close at 8 PM. They have to arrive a half hour before and stay until every single vote is reconciled usually around 9 or so. They remain sequestered in the meantime. It is a long grueling day. The elections in Maryland are well run and rigorously safeguarded with multiple checks and cross checks to make sure every vote is properly tallied.
Melancholy Jaques
A lof of passion out there. And Ohio isn’t even a swing state!
Baud
Front line Americans. Appreciate you all.
rikyrah
Chicago Board of Elections Tweet.
As of Noon
729,075 total
EV, MV, Election Day so far
Spanky
@Marleedog: Good on the Mrs.
I was an election judge in the Obama years and then in the TEA Party years. Those were not good years down here in Confederate Southern MD.
I’m afraid that even though MVP and Angela Alsobrooks are likely to carry the state, our local contests are going to go to the bad guys, including a trio of nutcases for the school board. FSM help our kids and teachers.
Another Scott
@Melancholy Jaques: Zooks!
I assume his insurance won’t cover him in his civil lawsuit for running over some pedestrian family because his giant flags blocked his vision.
Yay?? :-/
Cheers,
Scott.
Dagaetch
@Marleedog: hey, my mom is also an election judge in Maryland! I’m super proud of her for doing it.
rikyrah
@Lurker #42:
I believe we will know the results tonight. I hope so, because, of all kinds of reasons, a major one being…it would be a big FU to the MSM
Another Scott
Yay for the folks in the trenches!!
Also, a reminder that land doesn’t vote. Don’t be fooled by bad maps (from November 2020, scroll down):
Forward!!
Cheers,
Scott.
artem1s
busier than normal at this precinct inCLE. gotta go
catclub
@Another Scott: informative maps can be amazing.
Just ask Edward Tufte.
R-Jud
@artem1s: Godspeed!
Lurker #42
@rikyrah: Hope so! Not expecting it since too many mail/absentee, even if the day-of votes look to be breaking KH’s way they’ll want to wait until the absentee/mail ballots are counted.
Leto
So got out of class, took our son to vote (got him registered a few weeks ago and it’s his first time), got some lunch, came back home and took the doggo for a walk. Time for a brief relaxation before I jump back into school work.
Marleedog
@Spanky:
You got that right. If everyone thinks of Maryland as deepest darkest blue, then how do we explain back bench teabag traitor Andy Harris? I would love to see a competent, serious challenge to our abysmal representation in MD CD1.
@dagaetch. Whereabouts? As alluded by Spanky we are in the Neo-Confederate part of the state, culturally, a world away from urbane and sophisticated Montgomery County
dr. luba
I’m on lunch break in Michigan. Lots of voters this morning, slower during the day, a rush around lunch, and then we’ll have more when work gets out
The last few elections we haven’t had long lines at close.
Due to all the voting reforms (passed by ballot initiative), we have absentee voting for all, early voting and same day registration now. Also pretty much automatic voter registration when you get or change a driver’s license. You can also vote your absentee ballot in the precinct. No real need for provisional ballots any more.
Because of 45 and all the threats, we’ve got lots of extra people working the precinct, as well as police keeping an eye on all the polling stations.
The 2008 election was a crazy busy one; this year is quite laid back in comparison. But I’m in a wealthy suburb in a state which now makes voting easy. It’s amazing what you can do when you get rid of GOP control.
FelonyGovt
Thanks to your family, Rose, and to all the jackals and their family members doing this important work. My dad was a volunteer at the polls in Brooklyn before he passed in 1987. I never had to worry about him back then.
Beth in VA
I wish I knew for sure that high turnout is good for the Democrats. Hope so!!!
Sheila in nc
Election judge here. Too busy to update now. Some sporadic voters. But we had robust early voting so today’s is less busy than we had anticipated.
Avalie
Steady stream of voters here where I am poll watching in NV. Very organized, very positive vibes here!!
Ruckus
Someone mentioned voting today.
I live in Los Angeles county and voting opened on last Wednesday. Limited precincts but not that far away. My local polling place opened on Saturday and I voted then. But then this is LA county and we have nearly 10 million residents, so one day voting would work about as well as shitforbrains did as president. IOW not well at all.
Marigold
I’m so proud of my sweetheart.
One of my husband’s coworkers loathes TFG, but she told him that she couldn’t bring herself to request a Democratic ballot. He confirmed with me that the general election doesn’t have party ballots, and when he told her that no one would know, he said it visibly took weight off her shoulders.
It’s Ohio, so not a swing state, but every little bit helps.