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Election Day voting unfolded largely smoothly across the nation Tuesday with only scattered reports of delays from extreme weather, ballot printing errors and technical problems.
Most of the hiccups occurring by midday were “largely expected routine and planned-for events,” said Cait Conley, senior adviser to the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, in a press briefing. She said the agency was not currently tracking any national, significant incidents impacting election security.
In swing-state Pennsylvania, early reports that Republican poll watchers were not allowed into some polling sites were soon resolved. A Pennsylvania state judge ordered polls to remain open for two extra hours in Cambria County, which voted 68% for former President Donald Trump in 2020. The county sought the extension after a software malfunction affected ballot-scanning machines, though county officials confirmed no one was turned away from the polls and said all ballots would be counted.
A technical malfunction in Champaign County, Illinois, and challenges with e-pollbooks in Louisville, Kentucky, also delayed voting, but those issues were soon fixed and voting was back up and running. In Arizona's Maricopa County, one voting location was slightly delayed when a worker forgot to bring a key.
In Missouri, flooding made one St. Louis area polling site hard to reach and knocked out power to another, requiring poll workers to turn to a generator to continue election operations. Still, in various states affected by rain, voters were enthusiastically huddling under umbrellas as they lined up to cast their ballots.
“We’ll be like post office workers: in rain or snow or sleet,” voter Mary Roszkowski said after she cast her ballot in windy Racine, Wisconsin, wiping raindrops off her face.
In Georgia, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said there were some reported bomb threats to polling places, but all were deemed non-credible and authorities were investigating. In Maine, at least three high schools that served as polling places were subjected to false reports of shooters, but the polls remained open as police confirmed the calls were hoaxes.
“Voting continued uninterrupted. It’s a testament to the careful planning and communication between clerks and law enforcement,” Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows told The Associated Press.
Helping voting run relatively smoothly on Election Day was the fact that tens of millions of Americans had already cast their ballots. Those included record numbers of voters in Georgia, North Carolina and other battleground states that could decide the winner.
As of Tuesday, AP tracking of advance voting nationwide showed more than 82 million ballots already cast — slightly more than half the total number of votes in the presidential election four years earlier. That's driven partly by Republican voters, who were casting early ballots at a higher rate than in recent previous elections after a campaign by Trump and the Republican National Committee to counter the Democrats' longstanding advantage in the early vote.
Early in-person and mail voting proceeded without major problems, besides some typical glitches expected in any election. That included in the parts of western North Carolina hammered last month by Hurricane Helene. State and local election officials, benefiting from changes made by the Republican-controlled legislature, pulled off a herculean effort to ensure residents could cast their ballots as they dealt with power outages, lack of water and washed out roads. That appeared to continue on Tuesday, with the North Carolina Board of Elections reporting no voting issues.
Besides the hurricanes in North Carolina and Florida, the most worrisome disruptions to the election season so far were arson attacks that damaged ballots in two drop boxes near the Oregon-Washington border. Authorities there were searching for the person responsible.
The absence of any significant, widespread problems has not stopped Trump, the Republican nominee, or the RNC, which is now under his sway, from making numerous claims of fraud or election interference during the early voting period, a possible prelude to challenges after Election Day.
Trump and Republicans also have warned about the possibility that Democrats are recruiting masses of noncitizens to vote, a claim they have made without evidence and that runs counter to the data, including from Republican secretaries of state. Research has consistently shown that noncitizens registering to vote is rare. Any noncitizen who does faces the potential of felony charges and deportation, a significant disincentive.
One case of noncitizen voting was caught during early voting last month and resulted in felony charges in Michigan after a student from China cast an illegal early ballot.
This is the first presidential vote since Trump lost to Joe Biden four years ago and began various attempts to circumvent the outcome and remain in power. That climaxed with the violent Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol to halt certification of the results after Trump told his supporters to “fight like hell.”
Even now, a solid majority of Republicans believe Trump's lie that Biden was not legitimately elected, despite reviews, audits and recounts in the battleground states that all affirmed Biden's win. A survey last month from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed Republicans remain much more skeptical than Democrats that their ballots will be counted accurately this year.
Seeking to rebuild voter confidence in a system targeted with false claims of widespread fraud, Republican lawmakers in more than a dozen states since 2020 have passed new voting restrictions. Those rules include shortening the window to apply or return a mail ballot, reducing the availability of ballot drop boxes and adding ID requirements.
On the last weekend before Election Day, Trump continued to falsely claim the election was being rigged against him and said a presidential winner should be declared on election night, before all the ballots are counted.
Vice President Kamala Harris urged voters not to fall for Trump’s tactic of casting doubt on elections. The Democratic nominee told supporters at a weekend rally in Michigan that the tactic was intended to suggest to people “that if they vote, their vote won’t matter.” Instead, she urged people who had already cast ballots to encourage their friends to do the same.
Through four years of election lies and voting-related conspiracy theories, local election officials have faced harassment and even death threats. That has prompted high turnover and led to heightened security for election offices and polling sites that includes panic buttons and bullet-proof glass.
While there have been no major reports of any malicious cyberactivity affecting election offices, foreign actors have been active in using fake social media profiles and websites to drum up partisan vitriol and disinformation. In the final weeks, U.S. intelligence officials have attributed to Russia multiple fake videos alleging election fraud in presidential swing states.
On the eve of Election Day, they issued a joint statement with federal law enforcement agencies warning that Russia in particular was ramping up its influence operations, including in ways that could incite violence, and likely would continue those efforts well after the votes have been cast.
Jen Easterly, the nation’s top election security official, urged Americans to rely on state and local election officials for information about elections.
“This is especially important as we are in an election cycle with an unprecedented amount of disinformation, including disinformation being aggressively peddled and amplified by our foreign adversaries at a greater scale than ever before,” she said. “We cannot allow our foreign adversaries to have a vote in our democracy.”
© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
96 Comments
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UChosePoorly
What up, all! I am predicting a Harris-Walz win today.
Norm
Glad to hear that it’s going smoothly so far.
But I can imagine that today will be the Black Friday of the voting season in terms of disinformation.
You’re sure to see it here today from the usual suspects. All accusations with no proof.
And I guess that when the polls close, Trump will declare himself the winner and demand a halt to the counting.
Still, hoping for — but not expecting —continued smooth sailing.
dagon
Long day and night ahead and good luck to the poll workers.
Intimidation of people in minority areas by GOP 'poll watchers' has been an issue for decades.
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/georgia-north-carolina-early-voting/
plasticmonkey
You're joking, right?
Go Harris! Go party of sanity!
UChosePoorly
High on my list are reproductive rights for women, voting rights, support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion, and just a general repudiation of fascism, authoritarianism, patriarchy, and the landed gentry, but I repeat myself. We aren't going back to the Trump ways. We are going to bury the MAGA movement. It won't happen this year or the next, but it will happen.
sakurasuki
Keep on dreaming, that's not what exit polls shows.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/us-election-2024-result-donald-trump-is-winning-six-battleground-states-exit-poll-shows/articleshow/114893039.cms
falseflagsteve
Odds on a Trump win are growing by the hour.
UChosePoorly
What up, ffs. Do you personally think Trump is going to win?
Underworld
I'm predicting a Harris win.
UChosePoorly
@Underworld - as am I. EC will likely be close, but the PV will not be.
sakurasuki
It's time to face reality, exit polls already shows theirresult
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-election-2024-donald-trump-leads-kamala-harris-in-all-swing-states-6938403
Jay
Can you kindly point to the wars started/participated in during the Trump administration?
Anything?
Norm
The “red mirage” has started. The same as Election Day 2020.
If anyone is up for a challenge, I would propose ignoring the two who always come in tandem. All talk, no proof.
Doing that might keep this thread open longer, which is a good thing.
Have a good day, everyone.
Dango bong
Thanks for giving us great Japanese news. You cover this election more than the one here in Japan
Dango bong
where is that poll lady that said Trump would lose Iowa? I bet we never hear from her again...
FizzBit
Harris doesn't have a chance.
Time to cry
UChosePoorly
How you doing, FizzBit? What's your prediction?
Dango bong
you mean hoping? she has very little chance
UChosePoorly
Dango bong - I guess I am putting you in the 'Trump' column. Thanks for making a prediction.
dbsaiya
Blue or red, everyone should respect the poll workers who have to contend with all kinds of people who show up during this contentious election. They are ordinary citizens doing their job so don't go around making lies that endanger their lives.
Bad Haircut
Democrat supporters have been high on hopium for some time now, but people in the know know it's all over for them, and the come-down is going to be very painful. The Democrats picked a dud candidate, a phoney in every way who couldn't connect with swinging voters and has alienated a good proportion of the party's traditional base too.
UChosePoorly
Bad Haircut - So you think Trump will win?
Bad Haircut
I think so, but no idea what the margin will be.
UChosePoorly
Thanks for your prediction, Bad Haircut!
chotto_2
Wishing all US citizens the best for their country today.
Hope it goes positively.
UChosePoorly
First results in KY and IN starting to come in now.
marc laden
If Trump wins then the crazy leftiiiiies will do anything and everything to sabotage it
But Trump already said after voting that whatever be the out come he will be the first to accept it. And he already urged all his supporters to be calm and peaceful. No violence .. he clearly said it now.
Ricky Kaminski13
Anyone that spent enough time here at JT could also be forgiven for believing Harris is a shoe in. The real world out there however may have something very different to say. We have seen about a 4:1 bias in favor of the democrats just with checking likes/dislikes for the comments. Makes you wonder the gaijin demographicin Japan. Is it all the cosplayers and anime folk?
Hehe, just teasing.
We shall see. Go democracy!
lincolnman
Our MAGA-friends here are responding as typical for those ensconced within the alt-reality far-right bubble....
This will end the same as 2020 - they'll be fed a steady diet of "Trump winning" falsehoods - until their "decision desk" weights in and kills all the fun with a gut check back to reality...
Then the whining starts, actually it's already started...and we'll see if the MAGA-masses take out their guns and start a full-blown violent insurrection...
Peter Neil
trump did not say he would accept the results.
bass4funk
Appreciate that.
bass4funk
Will the left accept a Trump win, I didn’t anything from the left. Nothing
Peter Neil
trump screaming on social media already about “massive cheating” in all caps.
election people and police say they have idea what he’s talking about.
Tokyo Guy
"Voting went smoothly until it started to appear, based on exit interviews, that many people had voted for Kamala Harris. At this point every federal and local judge and sheriff got a text message from the GOP, which simply stated "you know what to do and we know where you live"".
Cards fan
That is not what he said. He said he would only accept the results if the elections were fair. The last elections were fair, and he still denies those results. https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/02/politics/donald-trump-accept-2024-election-results/index.html
Yrral
Blacks , Hispanic and Gays and Asians, African, Caribbean,Indians,Native American White European and Whites and other minorities will usher Harris to victory,their is not enough White Republican to ever win the Presidency again in America
Bob Fosse
“Even now, a solid majority of Republicans believe Trump's lie that Biden was not legitimately elected, despite reviews, audits and recounts in the battleground states that all affirmed Biden's win.”
The ‘Arizona audit’ by the cyber ninjas cost 9 million dollars only to conform a Biden win.
Peter Neil
musk and trump huddling down together, sending army of paid “volunteers” to cure ballots with problems only if they are for trump.
lincolnman
The last plea of desperation...
"A Donald Trump Election Day text blast came tinged with desperation—the GOP nominee’s campaign team slammed his own supporters for not turning out in great enough numbers four years ago to earn victory over Joe Biden.
“If just 1% more of President Trump’s supporters responded to texts like this in 2020, we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in today,” read the campaign text, sent out this afternoon. “The fact is, Democrats have the money, the media, and the full weight of the DC establishment behind them. And at this moment, the Democrat Machine is out in full force for Kamala. She will have gained millions of votes by the time you’re done reading this message. If we’re going to keep up, we need you to show up and vote.”
“Please don’t be the reason we wake up tomorrow with President-Elect Kamala Harris,” the text added. “Doing nothing is not an option.”
https://www.yahoo.com/news/panicked-trump-team-sends-text-223337902.html
Just like he has done all through his campaign - he "blames" and insults those he is trying to court...
It's a sure sign he knows he's lost - just as his own internal polling has told him...
Just wait MAGA-friends, the first thing he'll do when he realizes he's lost is double-down on calling you "basement dwellers" and blame YOU...
bass4funk
That's why they have lawyers on standby and some lawsuits have already been filed.
Depends on who you are asking. The police are not there to be political under any circumstance, they can't even say whom they are voting for, and that is a good thing for them to be neutral.
ok1517
Still very early for any predictions, but .......
VP Harris will soon Madame President and Trump experience a humiliating defeat!
Mark my words!
@marc laden,
"he already urged all his supporters to be calm and peaceful"
Isn't that what he also said in other words on 6 January?
@false
"Odds on a Trump win are growing by the hour."
Where did you find that? Any insider information or just spreading MAGA propaganda?
Tokyo Guy
As far as it is actually possible to see this neutrally, I think it could be argued that this isn't about who's the better candidate, as it is about which party has the superior (effective) strategy.
The republican strategy is hardly a secret: try and stop people voting and rely on litigation, disinformation, negativity, and so on, to keep the voting numbers down.
The democrat strategy is to encourage as many people to vote as possible.
So basically it comes down to turnout: who can control the level of turnout better?
bass4funk
Not necessarily, she has been losing a lot of minority votes 6-8% is very bad for her which is something that hasn't happened ever for a Democrat.
That is not true, you still have more whites, but you also have some whites in rural areas that don't get out and vote and that is why the reason to push these people to get them out to vote, but adding the growing number of Black and Latino men voting helps Trump
Some dude
On the theory that the closer the election gets, the wilder the trolls are, I now predict that we will see people claiming that Trump has won California and New York.
Ah_so
A majority of foreigners in Japan from Western countries educated to university level and possess passports, which puts them in the demographic of those more likely to support the Democrats.
Underworld
Interesting to note that Nate Silver gave Harris, very slightly higher odds of winning at his last prediction. Essentially a toss up.
stormcrow
I’m with her.
Go Kamala!
NOMINATION
All those races vote for Trump too.
Sanjinosebleed
E-voting has to be the dodgiest system in the world! So easily hacked and changed. Hard paper voting is the only non questionable system.
Whilst scary as hell I think Trump is a shoe in!
NOMINATION
Not me! I know a lot of college educated Americans that live here and voted for Trump.
Sanjinosebleed
Why don't they hold voting on the weekend? Surely it would be easier for people to go!?
wallace
Before a single election is called.
Some dude
Not me! I know a lot of college educated Americans that live here and voted for Trump.
I've met two (who openly stated that they were Trump supporters) in twenty years of living here. The great majority of Americans I've met here hate him.
Ken
The current Repub party supports racism, spreading misinformation, suppression of women's right, suppression of foreigners rights, stealing government documentation, values money and guns over life and safety and the list could go on even longer
lincolnman
He'll next tell us that E. Jean Carroll, Liz Cheney, and Mike Pence will all be voting for Trump...
And the Palestinians will all vote for Netanyahu...
Welcome to MAGA-election-delusion...
Blacklabel
Landslide incoming!
Cards fan
There isn't any "evoting" system in the US. This doesn't happen. Rightwing nonsense.
Oh really? I guess you're unaware what happened during the 2000 elections. Great point!
Cards fan
Landslide incoming!
For Harris, sure. No one wants poor old Donald.
bass4funk
If you see any irregularities, absolutely
bass4funk
Wrong on every single point.
Dems value money, conservatives value the Second Amendment
No, that is why we love the Second Amendment
And still can't touch the Blue list extension.
Underworld
Sanjinosebleed
Which is why the GOP doesn't want it. They prefer if fewer people vote.
wallace
bass4funk
Before a single election is called.
What irregularities have you seen and in which states have court cases been filed?
4Tno
Leftist tears coming soon.
lincolnman
I just love it when Fox News face-plants...
"A Republican Trump voter stunned **Fox & Friends Tuesday morning when he told the conservative morning chat show that he believes Kamala Harris is going to win North Carolina in the presidential election.**
The show sent the co-host of its weekend edition, Will Cain, out to a diner in Concord, North Carolina that was packed with MAGA diehards optimistic about the prospects of former president Donald Trump.
When Cain asked everyone present to raise their hand if they thought the Republican nominee was going to win their state, every single person extended an arm upward.
Except one. A Trump-loving man named George.
“I’ve been to the polls two or three times with my children who are first time voters—and they voted the correct way,” noted George, emphasizing his staunch Trump support. “And every time I was there I was outnumbered 20, 30 to one and in some cases it was worse than that.”
https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-friends-diner-segment-backfires-when-trump-voter-gives-candid-prediction/
And just like that truth gets injected into the far-right fantasy bubble...
Fox News crashing and burning - just like their preferred candidate...
bass4funk
Not me, get real other people and it doesn't matter what you believe, that is irrelevant, what is however relevant is that lawyers are present and the GOP is on it, not like last time and that helps to stop or correct any irregularities, so that is a good thing.
Peter Neil
can't wait for trump to be inaugurated jan 20th.
he slaps huge tariffs on the rest of the world. inflation skyrockets in about 4 months as americans start paying for it in higher prices.
the stock market crashes as elon musk makes good on his promise to collapse the economy and bring financial pain to everyone in the u.s. (except tesla)
construction, agriculture and food production collapses as immigrants are rounded up and deported.
fox news blames the mess on liberals.
Underworld
bass4funk
What irregularities have you seen and in which states have court cases been filed?
What do you mean? There were over 60 challenges to the election by Trump last time.
Japantime
It is always funny when all the Americans I meet say that they hate Trump, but when it comes time to vote they always vote for him. He seems to be the popular choice so far in the results.
wallace
bass4funk
What irregularities have you seen and in which states have court cases been filed?
So you know nothing about irregularities or where court cases have been filed. LOL.
TokyoLiving
Well, the day has come, the most decadent media show on the planet will begin...
Who will win? It is not known which of the two is worse, but it is preferable for Kamala to win, however if the little narcissist Trump does not accept his defeat he could start a civil war..
That is the overrated "democracy" of the US..
Let the circUS begin !!!..
UChosePoorly
Florida and Georgia results starting to come in!
Ken
So are you going to tell me there is not a single Republican that is racist or spreading lies? I really worry about if you suffered from a traumatic head injury at this point and I'm not saying that as a joke. Timeout from praising the party that you want to win. But you seriously believe every point I said was wrong?
Blacklabel
“he won but it wasn’t a landsliiiiiide” lol
bass4funk
What do YOU mean?
I am not talking about last time.
I don't need to; that's the lawyer's job. I am just glad that they are present and can immediately jump into action.
Peter Neil
don't wear yourselves out. it'll likely be days before the results are known. it took four days after in 2020.
Underworld
bass4funk
There were over 60 challenges to the election by Trump last time.
Really, because you said:
* that lawyers are present and the GOP is on it, not like last time *
Underworld
Peter Neil
2020 was unusual. Many mail-in votes due to Covid. Took a lot longer than normal.
lincolnman
Well, Trump has given his supporters marching orders....
"Former President Trump railed against Fox News on Tuesday morning for playing clips of a speech Oprah Winfrey gave in support of Vice President Harris.
Calling Oprah a “divider” who should be “ashamed of herself,” Trump took aim at the top-watched cable news channel for covering the talk show host’s remarks.
“You know who else should be ashamed of themselves is Fox,” Trump told reporters as he was voting in Florida on Friday morning. “‘Cause I’ve seen Oprah on Fox about 50 times making the same statement, and I think it’s a disgrace.”
Trump added “everybody thinks Fox is so pro-Trump. They’re not pro-Trump at all.”
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-rips-fox-news-election-185918710.html
There you have it MAGA-friends - Trump has spoken - time to turn off Fox...they're the "enemy"...
Wonder if we'll see all those Fox links from them like we've seen in the past few days?
ROFL...
bass4funk
You were talking about the lawsuits of 2020, I was not talking about 2020
burgers and beers
Whomever wins, it will be good to have the election circus finally over and out of the way. Hopefully the level of aggressive comments ( largely by the half dozen pro Harris accounts ) on JT will calm down a little too.
wallace
Trump will once again lose the popular vote.
wallace
The 2020 court cases cost Rudy Giulianihis cash and career and Trump never paid him.
Underworld
burgers and beers
Who do you predict will win?
I haven't noticed that. My observation is that most pro Harris accounts are well reasoned and quite calm.
burgers and beers
Why don't they hold voting on the weekend? Surely it would be easier for people to go!?
Yeah, wonder that too. Would be way more logical. What is the reason for that?
TokyoLiving
Meanwhile Lord Putin and Lord Xi watching the show going according to their world plans..
https://tenor.com/es/view/freezer-drink-wine-gif-13816684
bass4funk
Not so sure about that, he is not doing too bad with them
Blacklabel
People won’t vote on the weekend.
college and pro football games all day.
burgers and beers
Who do you predict will win?
It's very tight so could be either. Since it's too close to call, no prediction from me. The incoming numbers will give everyone a good indication in the next couple of hours.
Our observations differ on that point. The daily "fascist dictator " hysterics were kinda hard to miss. Still, it will over soon.
lincolnman
Wow, Dr Phil just did a "Mike Pence"....
"Dr Phil McGraw has revealed that his appearance at Donald Trump’s controversy-laden New York City rally in late October came as “an act of rebellion” against Kamala Harris.
While speaking on a recent episode of Piers Morgan’s **Uncensored talk show, the popular TV personality and former psychologist, 74, walked back on his apparent endorsement of Trump.**
“I’m just not here to endorse Donald Trump. I do not like celebrity endorsements,” McGraw said in a teaser clip posted to X.
The Dr Phil host went on to tell Morgan that he doesn’t like a lot of what the former president says or does, explaining that his speech at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally was more so “an act of rebellion on my part.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/dr-phil-walks-back-presidential-endorsement-one-week-after-speaking-at-trump-rally/ar-AA1tyZ7e?ocid=windirect&cvid=6595a414b4ad4bfbb4f72cd5469cebcc&ei=15
The rats are fleeing the sinking ship!
RichardPearce
It is interesting that things that would be declared major problems, signs of the population viewing the ENTIRE GOVERNMENT as unrepresentaive, or even a dictatorship if they occurred in half a dozen countries are magically minor issues and the work of isolated deluded extremists because they happen in the US.
NOMINATION
DeLorean time machine?
NOMINATION
You mean he did a "Tulsi Gabbard" or "Robert Kennedy Jr"?
Some dude
I wonder if Y'all Qaeda, Meal Team Six and the Gravy Seals are "standing by" for instructions.
Underworld
burgers and beers
Who do you predict will win?
That's no fun...
NOMINATION
People were definitely boarding up their stores in many of the major cities. Pretty sure it isn't MAGA they are worried about.
BB
Why the vote is Tuesday goes back to 1845, when agricultural drove the economy, going to church was big, and it sometimes took a day or so to ride to a polling station. Wednesday was market day for the farmers, so it made sense to let people travel Monday to vote on Tuesday. Also, early November is after the harvest, so.