Americans Are Already Voting In Two Dozen States-- Many Have No Need To Hear Debates

 

Tomorrow, early early voting ballots are mailed to people who requested them in Missouri. And on Thursday, they'll be mailed out in Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi and North Dakota. (On Thursday, Illinois voters can also vote in person.) Voters are already casting ballots in 23 states! Ballots have already been mailed out in North Carolina, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Minnesota, South Dakota, West Virginia, Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming. And early in-person voting has begun in Minnesota, South Dakota, Virginia, Wyoming, Michigan, New Jersey and Vermont.

Millions of Americans have already made up their minds are aren't waiting to watch or listen to the debates before voting. According to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll released yesterday, The Donald's disapproval number is 53% (45% approve). Asked who they would vote for today, 51% said Biden and 43% said The Donald. and when asked who they would vote for for Congress, 42% of registered voters said Democrats and 39% said Republicans.

As of Friday, 7% said they had already voted-- 4% by mail and 3% in person-- and 45% said they plan to vote early (27% by mail and 18% in person). Just 42% of respondents said they plan to wait until Nov. 3 to vote.

It's worth mentioning that another poll released yesterday, Ipsos' for ABC News, found that 69% don't have confidence in The Donald vouching for a coronavirus vaccine, including 16% saying "not so much" and 53% saying "none at all." This question alone-- something that has never come up in an American election before-- could determine who wins the presidency.

Over the weekend, CNN reported (above) that people stood on line for hours to vote. A local electionofficial in Faifax County Virginia told CNN that in 20 years they had never seen this many people show up on the first day. As far as the The Donald's and the GOP's decision to fight the election by intimidating voters... if has begun. Business Insider reported that supporters of The Donald staged a rally during early voting in Fairfax County on Saturday, "in a stunt that an election official said had intimidated voters and disrupted voting. It was only the second day of early voting and the Trumpist neo-fascists were blocking the entrance to the polling place. Some voters, and elections staff, felt intimidated by the crowd and were provided escorts past the Trumpists. Imagine what would have happened if they were black.

The Donald had called on his fascist-oriented supporters to act as "poll watchers" to guard against election fraud.

Already some observers say that the escalating tensions could spill over into election day violence.

Russ Travers, who served as acting director of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre until March, told ABC News last week: "I fear there are a lot of people out there with very warped views of reality and a lot of guns who could willingly take up their weapons in defense of what they believe is the President and the constitution.

"That, I think, is a worrisome possibility that is growing as the political rhetoric gets more and more severe."

In a statement Saturday, Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano said that those seeking to intimidate voters would be prosecuted.