(Photo by Lucas Sankey on Unsplash)
I’m so thankful that millions and millions of voters peacefully and forthrightly made their voices heard in the United States midterm elctions, making clear that we stand for democracy, decency, and neighborliness.
This post is part of One-Liner Wednesday, brought to you be Linda Hill, a Canadian blogger-friend. Find out more here: https://lindaghill.com/2026/11/04/one-liner-wednesday-procrastination-hurts/
Vote for Democracy #60
(Photo by Lucas Sankey on Unsplash)
Dropping off our ballots at the election office was a breeze.
We had filled out our absentee ballots at home and followed all the instructions for signing, dating, sealing the inner and outer envelopes. We were also lucky that our ballots this cycle were relatively short with no propositions.
The two hardest parts were finding a parking place in the vicinity of the County Office Building and having to go through metal detector and pocketbook check, which I had forgotten would be part of the deal.
At the Election Office, a friendly clerk was happy to take our ballot envelopes. She opened the outer envelopes and verified our signatures with the voter rolls. We were happy that she did this because it meant there wouldn’t be any problems with having our votes counted.
We asked when they would be tallied because New York State laws used to be that all absentee ballots were held for more than a week after election day before being counted. Because of the pandemic, a lot of laws had changed, so we weren’t sure what would happen now. She told us that they opened the accumulated absentee ballots on Tuesdays and Fridays. This allows them to mark the received ballots in the system so that no one can show up at the polls on election day pretending to be us. They can begin counting the ballots on election day, so our votes will be part of the tallies reported after the polls close. We were happy that they would be part of the count on the day, especially because a couple of our races will probably be close. The more absentee ballots arriving early, the less likely that we’ll have to wait an extended time for results.
This is the first time in ages that we have voted by absentee ballot, but my surgery date will have us out of state for not only election day but also the early in-person voting dates. (We were grateful that we finally have early in-person voting in New York, which was a silver lining of the 2020 vote during the pandemic.)
So, another reminder for US citizens to check and make sure you are registered and have accurate information on the polling/ballot policies that apply to your home precinct. Make your plan and vote! It’s very important to make your voice heard. It takes all of us to make democracy work effectively.
*****
Linda’s prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday this week is “breeze.” Join us! Find out more here: https://lindaghill.com/2026/10/02/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-october-3-2026/
Vote for Democracy #59
(Photo by Lucas Sankey on Unsplash)
Today is National Voter Registration Day in the United States. The United States does not have the greatest participation in elections, so it’s good to have a day to focus on this.
Some things you can do today:
Registration: If you are not registered, it’s a great day to do it! The National Voter Registration Day site has a page which links you to the proper procedure to register in your state or to update a registration if you’ve had a name or address change. You can also check out your local election office. When searching, look for web addresses that end in .gov. Do NOT visit VoteSafe! It is a scam that will take and sell your information and will not give you accurate voting information.
Plan to Vote: If you are registered and have checked to make sure that your registration is accurate, make a plan to vote. Depending on your state, you may receive or request a ballot be sent through the mail which can then be filled out and mailed back or dropped off at an election office, dropbox, or polling place. You might have in-person early voting in a centralized location in the days or weeks leading up to election day. You might want to vote in person at your precinct’s polling place on Election Day, which is Tuesday, November 3 in 2026. For in-person voting, whether early or on Election Day, double-check on your polling location and hours.
For example, I know that I will be out of the state on Election Day, so I have already put in a request with my county’s election office to have a ballot mailed to me. I plan to fill it out, carefully following all the instructions, and bring it in person to the election office before I leave town. If I’m not well enough to bring it in person, I will put it in the mail but weeks early to avoid possible mail slowdowns.
Community Outreach: Encourage others to register and/or make their own plans to vote. See if you can help at a registration drive. Let people know that voting is important for our democracy. Offer help to anyone who might have a barrier to voting, such as a need for transportation, computer help searching for official election information, caregiving responsibilities, etc.
In many other democracies, registration is automatic and voting is mandatory. The United States makes things much more complicated and our participation rate bears that out. For our democracy to function better, we need to hear from everyone through our free speech rights and from citizens through their votes in local, state, and national races and referenda.
Please share your experiences with registering and voting in the United States or in democracies throughout the world in the comments here and/or at whatever opportunity presents itself. Let’s make our voices heard!
Vote for Democracy #57
(Photo by Lucas Sankey on Unsplash)
The United States is facing even more serious challenges to our election system.
The US Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in Callais has set off a spate of redistricting in southern states which, while they are being labeled as partisan, are effectively race-based, even though primary elections are very close, or, as in Louisiana, already underway. All of these states are looking to cut down the number of Democrats and Black elected officials.
This morning, the Virginia Supreme Court struck down the April vote that would have redistricted that state and potentially added more Democrats to the US House of Representatives in the midterm elections in November.
It’s very discouraging because Trump and the Republicans are actively trying to stay in power through manipulating the electoral system, even though their policies are increasingly harmful and unpopular.
It’s time for citizens to take back their electoral power. Given that new district lines will make it more difficult for Democrats and people of color to elect their preferred candidates, voter turnout will be crucial. It may, though, not be sufficient to overcome these new obstacles. Voters who are registered as Republicans need to vote against all Republican nominees who favor these unfair and unconstitutional policies and help elect officials who believe in the principle of one person, one vote and who will uphold our civil liberties and rights.
I admit that this is a discouraging time in our efforts to uphold democracy but we must keep working on it. As Joyce Vance titled her recent book, Giving Up Is Unforgivable.
(Photo by Lucas Sankey on Unsplash)
Today is observed as Presidents’ Day in the United States.
I am old enough to remember the days before the Monday Holiday Bill, which moved a lot of federal holiday dates to create long weekends.
At that time, February held the observance of two of our greatest presidents, George Washington on the 22nd and Abraham Lincoln on the 12th. These were combined to create Presidents’ Day, celebrated on the third Monday in February.
Therefore, Presidents’ Day is not intended to celebrate all the US presidents but, specifically, Washington and Lincoln.
May people reflect on the character and accomplishments of these two great presidents and use that reflection to inform their choices for public servants in the present and future.
To any member of the US Congress voting to cut health and food assistance to their constituents in order to give huge, permanent tax cuts and subsidies to the very wealthy, including fossil fuel companies: You can expect that your voters will choose a candidate in the next election who will represent their interests, not those of millionaires and billionaires who only care about their own riches and not the common good or the planet.
Join us for Linda’s One-Liner Wednesdays! Find out more here: https://lindaghill.com/2025/07/02/one-liner-wednesday-take-me-out/
a political fantasy
(Photo by Lucas Sankey on Unsplash)
As I watch with growing alarm the parade of unqualified and corrupt cronies that DT is nominating for his administration, I have started to indulge in a political fantasy regarding Congress.
As has become more obvious with each passing day, DT is planning to grab all the political power possible to make money for himself and his already exorbitantly rich cronies, to cut government services for the citizenry, and to keep Congress and the courts from checking him.
The Republican majorities in both houses of Congress are very slim, so it will only take a small number of members to keep the Republicans from enacting legislation that DT demands.
During part of the Andrew Cuomo administration in New York, the State Senate swung from many years of being majority Republican to majority Democrat. However, several Democratic senators formed their own independent caucus, resulting in the Republicans still being able to maintain majority control.
I call on all Republican members of Congress who are non-MAGA and care about our democracy and governing for the good of the people to establish a caucus independent of the Republicans. Even if there were only a handful in each house willing to do this, it would give control of legislation to the Democrats and prevent gutting Social Security, our health care system, government services, and our tax system. It would also make it more likely that the Senate would reject DT’s nominees for positions that are meant to destroy the departments or agencies that they would head.
Maybe they could be called the Constitution Caucus. Or the Independent Conservative Caucus. Or the Protect Democracy Caucus. Or the Political Courage Caucus.
Whatever they chose to call themselves, they could join with Democrats to craft and pass reasonable budgets and legislation and keep the United States from degenerating into a kleptocracy, plutocracy, autocracy, oligarchy, or any of the other forms of government that are threatening us.
The United States Constitution established a federal democratic republic.
Congress needs to fulfill their duties to keep it.
It’s time for Republican members of Congress to step up and take a stand for the Constitution and the American people. While it’s true that these members could be primaried in their next election, these next two years are crucial for the country to continue to have a functioning federal government.
So, Congressional Republicans of conscience and courage, step up! I know I am indulging in a political daydream but, sometimes, fantasy can become reality.
Aftermath – part 1
(Photo by Lucas Sankey on Unsplash)
My apologies for the long gap from United States Election Day and this post. We’ve been having a lot happening on the health front here and my limited brainpower had to tend to that over blogging. This post will concentrate on the aftermath of the election itself, not dealing with things like Trump’s staffing decisions and policy pronouncements for his impending administration.
If you have been reading this series, you know that I am upset and worried that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz lost the election. I am, however, grateful that my district (New York 19) elected Democrat Josh Riley over incumbent Republican Marc Molinaro and kept in place State Senator Lea Webb and Assemblymember Donna Lupardo, both of whom were instrumental in the passage of the ban on carbon dioxide fracking in our state.
While I am very worried about the impact that Trump and MAGA Republicans will have on the country, I was encouraged by the reaction from organizations with which I am involved, commentators and experts that I read, and from Vice President Harris herself that we would all continue to work to protect democracy, people, and the planet, especially those who are most vulnerable. Because I have a long history working on environmental/climate and social justice issues, I was comforted to receive so many supportive messages from trusted people and organizations. Many are already making plans within their expertise to protect our civil rights, enforce environmental laws, expose corruption, etc.
I have been somewhat puzzled by those who are saying that the Democrats failed in their message and policy ideas. They tend to say that the Democrats should have talked about fighting inflation, increasing affordable housing, health care, labor issues, and affordability in general, but the thing is, they were talking about those things – over and over for months. Somehow, though, these people missed it.
I think the biggest reason for Trump’s victory, narrow as it was in that more people voted against him than for him, is that there was a massive amount of mis- and disinformation in the campaign. Much of it came directly from the Trump campaign itself but there was also a lot coming from our Republican campaigns, PACs and superPACs, and from foreign entities, including Russia, China, and Iran. For example, Russia put out a fake video purporting to show non-citizens voting in the state of Georgia in the days before the election. There was also a flood of mis/disinformation coming through Elon Musk’s X, as well as other online platforms. Besides Musk, other billionaires and rich heads of companies spent heavily on behalf of Trump and Republicans.
Because our NY-19 House of Representatives district was so hotly contested, we saw this sort of misleading information effort in action. We got mail every day for weeks with lies about crime statistics, immigration, economics, reproductive rights, and more, trying to get votes for the Republican incumbent. Everything was designed to invoke fear and grievance.
Enough people in our district saw through these tactics to elect the Democratic challenger, who was also able to tout his hometown roots, but, nationally, the disinformation held enough sway that Harris lost. There also appeared to be a lot of voters, especially non-college-educated, young, male, lower-income ones, who voted for Trump without having much information at all. One of the most popular Internet searches on election day was about if Joe Biden was running, which seems incredible to those of us who follows news consistently, but apparently there were a lot of people heading to the polls without even knowing who the main party candidates were. There have also been reports of many Trump voters being surprised to find out that he actually intends to follow through on his rhetoric regarding tariffs, deportation, cutting government services, etc.
I can understand how some of the Trump voters fell for the lies and felt they needed a strongman to protect them from these perceived, if not actually real, threats. Unfortunately, fearmongering and grievance can work. I am disturbed, however, by those who voted for Trump because the racism, sexism, and/or Christian nationalism appealed to them. There was so much hateful rhetoric during the campaign and there have been increased threats and harassment against women, people of color, non-Christians, and members of the LGBTQ+ community both during the campaign and since the election. Some of this has impacted people that I know personally while others have been large-scale, such as threatening texts and emails sent with racist or homophobic messages.
I am grateful that the Biden-Harris administation is dedicated to the peaceful transfer of power and we don’t have to worry about violence in the streets or in Washington from Harris’s supporters as we saw from Trump’s after his loss in 2020, especially on January 6, 2021.
I’m afraid that Trump will pardon all the people who committed crimes in connection with Jan. 6th, which he has re-cast as a “day of love,” even though we all saw the violence and destruction in the Capitol that day.
Don’t fall for Trump’s lies.
Find knowledgeable, factual sources and stand up for truth.
Millions of others will be standing with you.
I had thought I’d write another post in my Vote for Democracy ’24 series on Wednesday.
Or Thursday.
Or today, but I’m not ready yet.
I’m usually decent at writing in close proximity to events, but not now. As it happens, we’ve had some major developments on the family health scene and most of my limited brainpower has been going there.
I’m grateful for the many people who have been writing compassionate, reflective, supportive pieces about the election results and the path forward. I appreciate the show of love and community.
I’ll join in when I’m able.
Peace,
JC
The recipe for Election Cake (from Dylan Hollis’s Baking Yesteryear) that my daughter made in honor of the US Election Day yesterday is so old that it is uses yeast rather than baking powder or soda.
This delicious post is brought to you as part of Linda’s One-Liner Wednesday. Join us! Find out more here: https://lindaghill.com/2024/11/06/one-liner-wednesday-road-trip/
