The States: Where We Wish Texas Would Secede Already

[LynahFan]

Does someone definitively know how the CA recall works if neither yes or no gets >50% of votes cast (due to abstentions of question 1)? All the descriptions, including on the CA Sec of State’s FAQ page) just ambiguously say that he’ll stay if a majority of voters say no and leave if a majority of voters say yes, which is not helpful.

[Handyman]

Obviously I am hardly an election expert but I dont think Question 1 can have less than 50% because I dont think they count abstentions. If you choose not to vote or not to answer question 1 you do not figure into the math. (they will show you in polling however) To win you need a majority of the people who answered Question 1.

On things like referendums abstentions matter cause they are often counted as "No" but this is more like a runoff election where only 2 candidates are on the ballot. (only Question 1 obviously) It is an either/or situation there is no third option. You either want him recalled or not.

BTW if I am right that is friggin stupid. Abstention should be considered a "No" vote because he is the sitting Governor it should be a (slight) burden on the recallers to win. If people don't want to recall him (abstention means they have no opinion which is not a vote to recall) then it should be shown as such. If I am right and abstention just takes the vote out of the total that screws with the math and could make it EASIER to recall if there is any apathy on the Dem side...which is why every celebrity in Hollywood is tweeting about the recall pushing people to vote.

Again though...I could be 100000% wrong.

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

Texas house finally passes voter suppression bill, nyt headline states that Texas gop is close to hard fought victory.

[LynahFan]

Obviously I am hardly an election expert but I dont think Question 1 can have less than 50% because I dont think they count abstentions. If you choose not to vote or not to answer question 1 you do not figure into the math. (they will show you in polling however) To win you need a majority of the people who answered Question 1.

On things like referendums abstentions matter cause they are often counted as "No" but this is more like a runoff election where only 2 candidates are on the ballot. (only Question 1 obviously) It is an either/or situation there is no third option. You either want him recalled or not.

BTW if I am right that is friggin stupid. Abstention should be considered a "No" vote because he is the sitting Governor it should be a (slight) burden on the recallers to win. If people don't want to recall him (abstention means they have no opinion which is not a vote to recall) then it should be shown as such. If I am right and abstention just takes the vote out of the total that screws with the math and could make it EASIER to recall if there is any apathy on the Dem side...which is why every celebrity in Hollywood is tweeting about the recall pushing people to vote.

Again though...I could be 100000% wrong.

These are the exact thoughts that went through my head that got me wondering. Now, I expect there won’t be many (intentional) abstentions. These are the only two questions on the ballot, so if you aren’t planning to answer #1, you probably won’t bother turning in a ballot - but it’s looking tight enough that it could come down to a handful of votes, in which case it really matters if Newsome’s target is just more no than yes votes, or 50% of all ballots submitted.

[aparch]

Vehicular Manslaughter is A-OK in South Dakota. Just gotta pay the state less than $5k in fines.
https://www.npr.org/2021/08/27/10316...a-deadly-crash

"Accidents happen, people die."

*edit* How many Car/Deer crashes deposit the deer's eyeglasses in the backseat of the car that hit them?

They revealed gruesome details, including that detectives believed Boever's body had collided with Ravnsborg's windshield with such force that part of his eyeglasses were deposited in the backseat of Ravnsborg's car.

[St. Clown]

Looks like Minnesota state fair opening day attendance was down just over half- 61k people instead of the usual 120-135k.

My wife and I were at the fair yesterday due to the rainy forecast. We had scheduled the day off from work months ago, and were playing a game of wait-and-see. Well, with the rainy forecast, we decided to go early and leave early, before it would normally get busy. The rain mostly held off, but still the crowd never really showed while we were there. We mostly stayed out of the buildings, just stopping by outdoor venues, except for a quick run into the bathrooms and one other building. Each time we entered a building we wore a mask.

Looking at the numbers now, yesterday's attendance was 77k, 80k fewer people than the same day 2019.

https://www.mnstatefair.org/about-the-fair/attendance/

[French Rage]

These are the exact thoughts that went through my head that got me wondering. Now, I expect there won’t be many (intentional) abstentions. These are the only two questions on the ballot, so if you aren’t planning to answer #1, you probably won’t bother turning in a ballot - but it’s looking tight enough that it could come down to a handful of votes, in which case it really matters if Newsome’s target is just more no than yes votes, or 50% of all ballots submitted.

Yeah with only two questions I'm trying to figure out what abstention even means. I would think they would require an answer on #1 for #2 to count. And I would assume a completely blank ballot means no ballot. But I guess it's not made explicit.

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

About 2k gathered today at Minnesota state capital to argue against mandates and chanted “my body my choice.”

I hope they all OD on horse paste

[Handyman]

Yeah with only two questions I'm trying to figure out what abstention even means. I would think they would require an answer on #1 for #2 to count. And I would assume a completely blank ballot means no ballot. But I guess it's not made explicit.

If I read right you can answer Question 2 without answering Question 1 OR answering no to the Recall. That is why the Libs are saying to just say no and ignore 2.

[Kepler]

If I read right you can answer Question 2 without answering Question 1 OR answering no to the Recall. That is why the Libs are saying to just say no and ignore 2.

Is Newsome a choice for Q2? If so the right answer is No / Newsome. If no, then the right answer is No / whoever the leading D is. The most important thing is to deny the fascists a foothold in CA because of a fluke.

[LynahFan]

Is Newsome a choice for Q2? If so the right answer is No / Newsome. If no, then the right answer is No / whoever the leading D is. The most important thing is to deny the fascists a foothold in CA because of a fluke.

This. If you abstain from #2, some MAGA mouth breather will become CA gov with just 7% of the vote - in an off-cycle recall election.

(No, Newsome is not a choice and you aren’t even allowed to write him in.

[Handyman]

Is Newsome a choice for Q2? If so the right answer is No / Newsome. If no, then the right answer is No / whoever the leading D is. The most important thing is to deny the fascists a foothold in CA because of a fluke.

No he isn't and as Lynah said you cannot write him in. Just like in the GA runoff your vote didn't count if you voted for anyone but them.

The right answer is "No/Blank". You fill out no and then mail the ****er and be done with it.

[Kepler]

The right answer is "No/Blank."

No that's a terrible idea. You have to protect against the possibility the recall succeeds, so if you are permitted vote No / the leading Dem to stop the Nazis.

[Handyman]

That isnt how it works. You vote no and leave blank. That is literally what the Dems are telling people to do.

If you write in a name you risk someone else getting elected.

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

Can’t imagine how the average CA voter thinks if we can’t even agree on best route lol