Sending my fellow American hosts some positive vibes

Laura2592
Level 10
Frederick, MD

Sending my fellow American hosts some positive vibes

Just been a weird few days in the US. Everyone is living in election purgatory. No matter what your affiliation or beliefs, I hope we can all keep our heads and remember that we have more in common than we do differences. Sending all of you good, positive thoughts.

 

And for my friends around the world, how humbling is it that an Irish podcast I listen to knows more about my political system than I have any clue about Ireland's, that my customer in Australia sent me a message with a hug this morning hoping we are all okay, that my husband's family in Mexico is praying for us?

 

Thank you all and hoping for the best no matter what the outcome.

 

 

58 Replies 58
Helen350
Level 10
Whitehaven, United Kingdom

Never off the BBC News in the UK @Debra300 ! Been watching 3 days solid now! Move BBC coverage than Covid/UK lockdown at present!

We have many of our top political correspondents reporting on your elections at the moment; so we can get our versions, without having to watch Fox, CNN, NBC or your ABC. 

Yes, you are very correct @Debra300, for the WWW has allowed us to stream, either via radio, TV or our devices, many worldwide news agencies. We can watch news here from many countries and foreign correspondents reporting from so many different agencies and platforms. It allows a much wider, unilateral  interpretation of events.

Dimitar27
Level 10
Sofia, Bulgaria

The US elections are laying quietly somewhere in the deep dark zone of our news feed and I don't feel any need to dig in such sticky political mud.

Today one friend from US told me: "People here are voting without showing ID. There is so many fake votes...".

I told him, that this is nothing. Here in BG, some ID's are voting without the people. 🙂

 

Sounds like your US friend is one of those who falls for baseless false rhetoric, i.e. total lies. @Dimitar27

I didn't show my ID to vote. 

@Emilia42 and your vote was not fake.

Debra300
Top Contributor
Gros Islet, Saint Lucia

@Emilia42,

Now that it's getting cold, and the tourists are heading back to CT and NY, it should be kind of easy to recognize the remaining 25 full-time Maine residents, and an ID check isn't necessary.😀

Don't just believe what I say, check the Airbnb Help Center

You're probably right @Debra300 😉

@Emilia42  what did you show the people before  you had your ballot? you didn't just walk into a room not knowing anyone empty handed and cast a ballot....please explain

thanks

@Clara116 I did exactly that. Give them my name and they gave me a ballot.

@Clara116  If you're implying you just walk into a polling place, pick up an empty ballot, and then cast it....it's nothing like that!

 

In NC you must be registered first. When you go to vote, you state your full name and address before they will give you a ballot that is scanned and tracked. I couldn't just walk into another polling place and do the same thing over and over because it would show I already voted.

@Suzanne302 I wasn't the one implying that at all. I was questioning Emilia 42 about saying that. Just FYI

In the US you need to show ID or not to vote, depending on your state. Some states have enacted this requirement. Others have not. The reason? There are a lot of people who may not have an ID. Maybe they are disabled or elderly and do not drive so they let their license lapse and never got it renewed, especially during COVID. Maybe they are poor and can't afford the fees to get an ID (they typically aren't free). Maybe they live in a remote location and its very difficult to get someone to take them to get a state ID or driver's license. Maybe they don't read well or at all and can't fill out the forms.

 

In many states you DO need to be registered to vote. You can pick a party to affiliate with or you can be independent. Once you register, you can go to a polling location in your district and provide them with identifiable information (if not an ID, you need to have the correct address and full name on the registration). When you go in you are tracked through the registration log and watched the entire time. Once you vote your name is deactivated and you can't vote again.

 

Most people really don't relish voting. Long lines and lots of hassle on a Tuesday. I personally don't know anyone who would make the effort to defraud with extra votes just because its generally not the most fun experience you can have, especially if you are worried about close contact with others.

Debra300
Top Contributor
Gros Islet, Saint Lucia

@Laura2592,

You make very good points.  A few years ago, I started to vote early to avoid long lines on the actual election day.  I did so on October 24, which was a warm day, and was snug as a bug in my house this past Tuesday, when it was more than 20F cooler.

 

 

Don't just believe what I say, check the Airbnb Help Center

@Laura2592 @Debra300 @Emilia42 

 

Here in Oregon we haven't had any in-person voting in 20 years. Vote by mail (or ballot-box-drop-off) only. Works great.