PA News Update

[H2O Man]

My cousin works the polls in PA. She has been for decades. She just messaged me, and said that it has been the highest voter turnout she has ever seen thus far. Out of hundreds and hundreds of voters, she said only five were wearing maga hats.

[berksdem]

1. In PA as well...

spoke with a poll worker in my area and she said that same thing. Come on PA!!!! We need to go blue!!!!

[MadameButterfly]

2. The significance of this depends on where in PA

[Lysol2020]

6. Not really

Because we need the blue folks to turnout and vote regardless of location in PA. I see your point, but as long as turnout is high, even in blue areas of the state, we should be fine.

[Self Esteem]

15. The significance does depend on what we're talking about.

Turnout in 2016 was up in Trump counties than Clinton counties. One could just look at the blanket idea that turnout is up and think that's good for Dems.

But not always.

In 2016, turnout in Pennsylvania was up nearly four points over 2012, an election Obama won the state fairly comfortably.

Yet Trump won in 2016 with higher turnout.

Four years later, turnout was up 5 and he lost barely.

It all depends where that surge in turnout is coming from.

In 2020, Biden actually did worse percentage wise than Hillary in Philadelphia but netted more voters because turnout was higher there than in 2016.

If this person is in a county that Trump won by 40 points in 2020, higher turnout could hurt Democrats, especially if that turnout isn't being seen in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.

[Wiz Imp]

48. The counties that Trump won by huge 40% margins are all low population counties

So increased turnout in those counties is not really going to hurt Democrats. There aren't many votes to be gained there for either party.

[Self Esteem]

50. I just showed how it could "hurt".

The best example is 2016 and 2020. Hillary did better than Biden in Philadelphia in terms of overall percentages but turnout was higher in Philadelphia than it was in 2016 so Biden actually netted more votes.

Moreover, turnout was higher in 2016 in Pennsylvania than 2012. Did that higher turnout help Hillary more than the lower turnout supposedly hurt Obama in 2012?

That's why the where matters the most.

Turnout was up in 2016 vs 2012 but not up in the places Hillary needed it.

[Wiz Imp]

61. You apparently missed the part where these counties have very few people in them

The county with the biggest margin for Trump in 2020 was fulton county with just under 8000 voters total. You really think they're going to add several hundred additional Trump voters there? Sorry, but it ain't happening. If they add any, it may be a couple dozen which is not going to hurt.

[Self Esteem]

66. Turnout was up in 2016 compared to 2012 in PA.

Who won with higher turnout in 2016?

[MadameButterfly]

72. My point is that if there are only 5 MAGA hats out of hundreds of voters

in a very blue district that doesn't mean we are winning. If only 5 MAGA hats in a red or swing district, that's a big deal.

[oasis]

3. Kamala kicking ass in PA!

[JustBeGood]

4. However....

I thought voters are not allowed to wear candidate merch?

[jcgoldie]

9. they arent supposed to

[H2O Man]

10. Good question!

In 2016, I was wearing the 1964 (Robert) Kennedy for Senate tie-clip. One poll worker said it wasn't allowed. The two others said it was okay.

I asked my cousin, and await her answer. I can only speculate, but because the felon was selling the hats in between being an official candidate, and they do not have his name on them, they might get a pass. The only other thing I can think of is that poll workers are walking on egg shells.

[Deminpenn]

14. They can wear it, but not inside the poll

You have to cover or remove it before entering the poll and while inside.

[spinbaby]

38. Except it's not enforced

I voted this morning in Washington, just south of Pittsburgh. There was a guy decked out head to toe in Trump gear. The poll worker putting ballots in the machine shook the magat’s hand and thanked him for coming in.

[RobinA]

16. I Thought That

until 2016 when I walked into my usually sleepy polling place and saw it crawling with people in "lock her up" t-shirts. Since then I vote by mail.

[rubbersole]

21. I wore my "Bernie '16" tee shirt to early vote in New Smyrna Beach, FL...

..nobody said anything. I did get a few knowing smiles.

[FSogol]

26. Doesn't that depend on the state rules? n/t

[appleannie1]

30. Technically you are right. We would make them leave, take it off or turn it inside out, then they could return and vote

It is a PA rule. As long as their preference was visible, they could not vote. Remove it and they could.

[unweird]

32. Was told it was ok as long as it didn't name a candidate or party

Wore a ‘Don’t Vote Weird’ tshirt with a flannel over top. Poll worker on smoke break before going in and in chat she shared that, saying the tshirt was ok so… flannel off and strode in to vote. Afterwards added my ‘I Voted’ to the cap so it now says ‘I Voted UNWEIRD’ by golly.

[Tarc]

36. I just wore blue from head to toe today

No political slogans of any kind, but I hope the point got across.

[Wednesdays]

5. "Five were wearing maga hats."

They're not supposed to wear maga hats to the polls. So, there may very well be more MAGAts than that.

Having said that, if it's a huge turnout, that should benefit Democrats more than MAGA.

[W_HAMILTON]

17. It varies by state and PA allows political attire.

Source: https://www.phillyburbs.com/story/news/local/2024/11/04/can-i-wear-a-maga-hat-to-the-polls-can-i-wear-a-harris-shirt-to-vote-in-pennsylvania/76044515007/

[Dock_Yard]

49. Typical for PA ... sloppy governance, too trusting in these times

The home of the "only a rear vehicle registration tag is required" idiocy.

And far too many dangerous highway intersections.

At least they require two-party permission of interpersonal recording. More states should.

[BlueInPhilly]

57. Hey now

How about you don’t thrash my state since you don’t live here and you’ve only been a DU member for 3 months?

[Dock_Yard]

67. I've visited PA enough over 7 decades ...

... to stand by my 2 points of criticism.

Why don't you argue my 2 specific points, rather than bring up silly, irrelevant retorts?.

[BlueInPhilly]

73. They are irrelevant

So what if we only one plate in our cars?
As for the highways and roads - all states have them.

And they have nothing to do with the election. Again, do not thrash my state. You've "been to PA enough" is such a laughable statement. If you are just trolling, please go to X or whatever they call it now. DU is sacred space for a lot of us.

[malaise]

7. Rec. Rec. Rec

😀😀

[gab13by13]

8. Daughter voted this morning

Allegheny county in the Hampton township suburb. It took her 50 minutes to vote and her poll worker told her turnout was 3 times what it was in 2020.

[regnaD kciN]

34. That last point is somewhat meaningless...

…since, thanks to COVID, lots of people voted by mail that election.

[jimfields33]

63. Having a global pandemic will result in that.

[Saoirse9]

11. That's encouraging

I think I might open a bottle of wine and get drunk tonight and watch West Wing reruns.


I am sad that we lost my Aunt in Pittsburgh before she could have voted for Kamala. I know she would have relished a trump defeat.

[H2O Man]

41. I've got most

of my indoor chores done, and all of the outdoor ones finished. It's supposed to be in the mid-70s today, so I'll probably sit outside for a while. When I got the mail today, I noted the freaks across the road had taken down their felon flag and yard signs.

[Saoirse9]

44. I sure hope that means

your neighbors voted for Kamala. Or at least refrained from voting.

[OnDoutside]

59. Could be that they want people to forget

that they're MAGA gobshites asap ?

[LisaL]

12. I don't know about PA, but we can now wear our MAGA hats in OH while voting,

per our republican SOS. Not that I have a MAGA hat or would want to wear it, obviously.
Our SOS send a directive to poll workers, saying people can wear their MAGA hats to polling places.

[Polybius]

13. That may be because wearing any campaign literature/symbols is illegal when you vote

Those 5 with MAGA hats are morons. Hopefully, they were told to remove their hats.

[W_HAMILTON]

18. Not true.

It varies by state and PA allows for political attire.

Source: https://www.phillyburbs.com/story/news/local/2024/11/04/can-i-wear-a-maga-hat-to-the-polls-can-i-wear-a-harris-shirt-to-vote-in-pennsylvania/76044515007/

[Polybius]

20. Wow, that's crazy

Here in NY it's been illegal forever, I always thought that it was a federal law.

[malthaussen]

23. There are actually surprisingly few Federal voting laws. The States keep a tight grip on them. n/t

[Xavier Breath]

37. Sadly, there seems to be many place where you can.

Our asshole SoS (Ohio) clarified that yesterday. He said that you cannot wear anything supporting a specific candidate or issue, but anything "associated" with them is ok. In other words, 'Trump' hat no, 'MAGA' hat yes. Again, there's no fucking difference!!!

[galapagos]

19. My wife voted this morning in heavily Republican Dover Township, York County

She said she was in and out like usual. Hopefully, this is a sign that Republican enthusiasm is low. I can't wait until I get off of work and vote against Trump, McCormick, and Scott Perry!

[kansasobama]

22. How is Philly area

Thanks

[H2O Man]

39. I'm waiting to

hear from another cousin in Philly.

[regnaD kciN]

53. Can't verify this, but, on Threads...

…I saw a journalist reporting that turnout in Philly was projected to pass that from 2020 by 1:00 P.M.

[Passages]

24. Love it.

Happy day.

[Initech]

25. Come on PA! Let's do this!

[RandySF]

27. What part of PA?

[H2O Man]

40. Northeast.

Almost always pretty strong for Democrats.

[Voltaire2]

28. My spouse is a ballot clerk in my NH town.

She just told me she has never had lines this long.

Something’s happening here.

[Metaphorical]

29. Turnout

High turnout is no guarantee that the Democrats are likely to win, BUT it does increase the odds that the vote will be representative, which usually does favor the majority party. Republicans rely upon voter suppression for precisely that reason. They are more consistent voters, and during elections with low turnout, that consistency usually favors them. Note that this is only a guideline, and like so much else, that tends to evolve over time.

[SallyHemmings]

31. Reporting from a Chester County precinct

I’m a poll watcher. In this precinct 1/4 of the eligible voters, did so by mail. At this point, 60% have voted.


Three men wore trump hats…two of them had trouble putting their ballots in the machine. SMH

[unweird]

33. First time to actually have to wait to vote

Typically it’s walk on in and vote. Today we had a little but of a line. We were 126-7 to vote at 11am.

[Bluejeans]

35. I live in Ohio and haven't seen a MAGA hat except once in 3 to 4 months

I'm starting to think the bloom is off the MAGA rose at least in the Dayton Ohio metro area. I haven't seen a MAGA hat except once in the last 3 to 4 months. Yesterday was the first time in at least six months that I've seen anyone flying Trump flags off the back of their pick-up truck. You see a few Trump bumper stickers, but nowhere as many as in 2016 and 2020. In the rural area between Bellbrook and Xenia there's not as many Trump flags and yard signs as in 2016 and 2020 .

[Freethinker65]

42. Just got a spam text for $20 pleading for money (for "Harris" )because it looks like Trump has won PA already.

[BumRushDaShow]

43. I am in Philly

and voted by mail near the beginning of the month. Haven't had chance to check and do a deep dive into the local media reporting but the quick report of turnout here in the city has literally been a blackout. They are talking about everywhere else - the suburbs, New Jersey, the state of Delaware.... probably to try to keep the "horse race" thing going. I'm sure it's huge.

One of my sisters lives in a rim county of Philly - Delaware County - and she texted a pic of this guy at a big intersection not far from her (she is in Upper Darby) -





In 2020 and 2022, Democrats took complete control of the Delaware County Council (there is no "set aside" for a minority party so they have all 5 seats I believe).

[SallyHemmings]

52. Delco!!!!!

[BumRushDaShow]

55. I did finally turn on the radio about 15 minutes ago (KYW)

and they had a reporter at Ben Franklin High in the Spring Garden neighborhood and those in line said they had never seen it that busy, with a huge line early this morning before the polls opened. So we are doing our part in the city so far!

[DaBronx]

56. Kudos to this gentleman

If I lived closer I'd bring him snacks.

[LAS14]

45. Where we vote a MAGA hat wouldn't be allowed. No kind of political statement can be worn. nt

[hay rick]

46. In most cases Election Day turnout trends Republican.

Trump made voting on Election Day a loyalty test in 2020. While Trump walked away from that rhetoric this cycle, many of his followers have stuck with that practice. More registered Republicans than registered Democrats will almost certainly vote on Election Day. Democrats prevail by building up a lead in early and mail balloting. The other unknown factor in looking at turnout is crossover voting. I want to believe that will be significant this year.

[MartyTheGreek]

47. Some early Butler, PA Return Rate Voter Mailings - Very Red Area

Dems returned 87.8% Ballots Requested. Rep 84.4% - How many are Rep Secret and Crossover voters?

Dems voted early in PA 55.7% Rep 32.8%

Here's a couple links. You can filter by State. Check upload times. Check the gender spread on certain states, second link below.

https://election.lab.ufl.edu/early-vote/2024-early-voting/2024-general-election-early-vote-pennsylvania/

https://www.l2-data.com/earlyreturn/

[Oldiebutgoodie]

54. Philly turnout from 2 voters

Friend lives in South Philly, trump does better there. 10:45 she said no line.
I voted downtown at 12:30, 30-40 in line, mostly young women.

[spanone]

51. K&R

Good sign.

[soandso]

58. I thought political apparel was prohibited?

[BumRushDaShow]

60. Niece is texting me right now (she is a freshman at Temple U in Philly)

and texted a pic of the HUGE line on campus to VOTE!!! She said the line is going around the block!!!

GenZ is voting!!!!!

[Homoudont]

62. MSNBC

MSNBC was there interviewing people in that line at Temple University. Only 7 machines in one of the most densely packed Democrat precintics in PA. 2+ hour wait. How many kids and locals are just not going to vote because they couldn't plan for the turnout. The hosts were really mad about the whole situation.

In another note they interviewed an African American college female and she said she was till undecided. She was waiting in a 2+ hour line and wouldn't tell the reporter who she was voting for. I hope her voice wasn't being suppresed my a nearby partner. Either way once she goes into the booth her vote is condidential.

[BumRushDaShow]

64. There may be multiple Divisions (precincts) there in the area

not just the one for the whole campus as this is a school in the middle of a city neighborhood. Philly has about 1709 Divisions/Precincts around the city with each one covering about 1000 - 4000 or so population.

I wouldn't worry about them giving up. Many of these kids were out there marching in BLM protests in the area (including my niece) back in 2020 & 2021 and they are used to standing for a long time. Hell... my niece was just down on the Parkway last night with her friends in a HUGE line to get to hear VP Harris!

ETA - she just texted a short clip where she is near the door to go in. It is Absolutely BEAUTIFUL weather here - temp in the low 70s, clear skies, no rain or cold.

[Homoudont]

65. Paul Rudd (sP)

They showed Paul Rudd handing out waters to student in line. Nicole Wallace asked for students Venmos that were handing out snacks to help replenish the snacks. She asked to Venmo money so she could get some pizzas into the long line.

[BumRushDaShow]

70. Some of the polling divisions around the city

have BBQs set up and tables of food and snacks for voters plus, entertainment.

Philly is partying!

And my niece said it took her 2 hours but she voted!!!

The local news also showed an overhead shot of Villanova University out in suburban Philly (Delaware County) and they had a line around the buidling.

[Homoudont]

71. Villanova

We always referred to Villanova area as the main line. Techically in Delco but no one from my area of Delco would include that area as Delco.

[Democratnik]

68. Westmoreland county PA

Checking in from the far eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. I just voted about 4:00 PM. There was a twenty minute long line. Lots of women, but I don't know what any of that means, lots of crazy maga wives around here.

I did see as I was leaving that the line was getting noticeably longer.

In 2008, the line to vote was a couple of hours, same location. Of course, that was before mail in voting.

[liberalla]

69. WOW, that's really fantastic! Only 5? Amazing!

I'm so glad your cousin called and you shared the news here!

[mahina]

74. Thank you for this H2Oman!!!