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HOW TO NOT PANIC ON ELECTION DAY: A thread.
American friends, as you might’ve gathered, tomorrow is election day. This election in particular is unprecedented and we are going to see disinformation reach its all time apex. Let’s talk about what to expect tomorrow.
American friends, as you might’ve gathered, tomorrow is election day. This election in particular is unprecedented and we are going to see disinformation reach its all time apex. Let’s talk about what to expect tomorrow.
First thing’s first: try to limit your doomscrolling/refreshing/flipping through channels. No information of any value will come out before polls close, so use live coverage as a snapshot instead of anything salient. If you’re able to, go for a walk or do some kind of exercise.
When polls close, you are going to see a lot of conflicting information. Some states will have numbers posted fairly soon after—these will most likely be exclusively or entirely votes from in-person, election day voters.
Mail ballots may not be counted in some states until Wednesday. So do not fret if it’s 10/11 pm and Trump is winning every swing state. It could happen, but it’s not reflective of the true vote totals. Some states are notoriously slow counters.
Most states will be called on election night. Your safe states like CA, HI, OK, AR, etc. will go to their respective candidates because there is no doubt that any of those states could go another way.
However, there are quite a few swing states that may remain outstanding on election night. I’m looking at PA, TX, NC, FL, AZ, and maybe even WI as states that could be counting well into Wednesday.
Seeing an unfilled electoral college map may cause some anxiety, but it is better that we get as many votes in as possible before making hasty calls. The less chaos and confusion, the better. That means we have to take it slow and await fuller results.
As for the likelihood of intimidation at the polls tomorrow: unfortunately, it may happen. No telling how likely exactly, but this is something that certain folks have prepared for. DO NOT PUT YOUR LIFE IN DANGER TO VOTE. Call your voter protection hotlines and/or the police.
Do not take isolated incidents as indicative of nationwide trends. If one person in one precinct tries to cause trouble, do not try to map that onto a nationwide voter intimidation effort. Remain as calm as possible throughout the night.
If you’re choosing to use intoxicants: consume responsibly. Drink water and limit your intake. Please do not wind up in the hospital for drinking too much on election night, mmkay? Just has to be said because I know many will be partaking in certain activities tomorrow.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, only get your information from trusted, verified sources. Disinformation will hit its peak tomorrow night. Do not do the dirty work of trolls for them. Do not retweet unverified claims. Do not assume anything based on a single tweet.
Keep your eyes on the Associated Press, New York Times, Washington Post, and journalists in your area. There will be a lot of sensationalism and it’s best to avoid amplifying that as best as possible. If something seems too crazy to be true, it probably is.
Feel free to reach out with any questions. No dumb questions either. I am happy to help in any way. I can. Stay safe, be calm, and do everything in your power to amplify truth. See you on the other side.
