Delayed Election Results and Your News Sources

Where Do You Get Your News?

Most of those who recognize the incompetence of the President, his lies and his unconstitutional actions, and those of whom he has appointed, get much of their news and opinions on that news from MSNBC and CNN.  This can lead to an overly optimistic opinion as to the outcome of the November election.   Newspaper and magazine readership is way, way down, so TV and the Internet assume greater importance, and the major TV networks just do not carry that much news. 

A gigantic number of voters depend on unreliable news sources (Fox News, Sinclair radio outlets, much of talk radio) for their news and opinion.  These voters were enough to win the electoral college for Trump in 2016.  These sources are closely identified with the Trumpublican party.  (There is no longer a Republican party.)  On the other hand, CNN and MSNBC … and public radio and TV as well … despite being condemned by the President as ‘fake news,’ are far more objective.   So it's important what your news sources are, and regardless of where you stand, to avoid an unwarranted feeling of optimism.  

A Potentially Endless Election

In sixteen States (including D.C.) “vote by mail” ballots postmarked before Election Day but received after Election Day can be counted toward the State’s final totals.  State law governs how long this might be and under what circumstances they can be counted.

In view of this, here is a list of the States where the final count of the State’s votes can be in doubt for as much as fourteen days after Election Day determining the disposition of the State’s electoral votes.   And of course, litigation can extend this period much further as can potential violence.  In my opinion, both litigation and violence will play roles and in all likelihood, the final decision will be made long after Election Day by the Supreme Court on one selected case involving the electoral votes of one State which will make the difference in the election's result.    During that period, until the Supreme Court acts, there may be a role for the military in preserving the Constitution, which they are sworn to do.

 

State        Number of Electoral Votes       How Long After Election Day Mail in Votes 

                                                                     Postmarked before the Election will be Accepted

Alaska                  3                                                         11

California            55                                                        3            

D.C.                      3                                                          7

Illinois                  20                                                        14

Kansas                 6                                                          3

Maryland            10                                                        10

Mississippi          6                                                          5

Nevada                6                                                          7 or 3

New Jersey         14                                                        2

New York            29                                                        7

North Carolina   15                                                        3

Texas                    38                                                        5

Utah                     6                                                          7 or 14

Virginia                13                                                        3

Washington          12                                                        5
West Virginia       5                                                          5


North Carolina, Texas and Virginia, States where the final results may depend on these 'vote by mail' ballots, are the ones to watch!   I can't see them making much of difference in the other States listed. 


(After 231 years, I feel our democracy needs a tune-up.  Fortunately, we have that in the Constitution’s provision regarding Amendments.) 

JL