Anyone else having serious anxiety this week about Trump declaring himself the winner on Tuesday night no matter what the actual results are and just watching the doomsday scenario unfold? I’ve read about every possible scenario if this happens and all of them end up with another 4 years. This has consumed my thoughts today.
Oh yes. My friends are all counting down the days to the election and I’m just terrified. I think it’s going to be terrible no matter what
Captain Catnip I'm out of my lane since I'm not in HR or anything remotely close, but I thought employers had to allow provisions to let their employees vote? Or is that only a company of a certain size like FMLA? Or have I just been lucky and mine have been generous all this time...
I planned on voting in person, and that would have been fine except A co-worker now has covid and while we still have to go to work even though none of us have had our two negatives I'm leery to go because I don't trust anyone there to be honest they did not test positive
Post by StrawberryBlondie on Oct 28, 2020 17:02:41 GMT -5
There's a Trump sign in my general neighborhood and I can't tell if it's real or a parody. It seems to be pro-Trump in words but the picture looks to be the one where he was mocking the journalist in 2016(?).
This is terrifying! I am aghast at the state of our country right now.
Every weekend, this Trump train, an ever growing line of trucks (mostly), drives from conservative Placer County through our town and on into Sacramento. I thought they were aggressive until I saw this video. 😥
Yeah we have had Trump parades like every day. It’s super annoying for homeowners who get to hear the honking and drivers who are stuck in traffic.
I don’t get the point other than a pissing contest.
Captain Catnip I'm out of my lane since I'm not in HR or anything remotely close, but I thought employers had to allow provisions to let their employees vote? Or is that only a company of a certain size like FMLA? Or have I just been lucky and mine have been generous all this time...
In the US you do legally have to give employees time off in order to vote, but only if they cannot go when the polls are open. So if an employee works a 10 or 12 hour shift and that shift is during the only time polls are open on Election Day, the employer has to allow the employee up to two hours of time off to vote. Most employees won’t fall into the category, but I could see nurses, Dr, first responders etc needing time off because their shifts tend to be longer.
But there are voters waiting in line for many hours. 2 hours won’t do them a bit of good.
Can i vent in here how inconvenient my county is making mail /early voting? The office is only open 9-430. Other counties have extended hours, or a box in some areas, etc. But my county doesn't. I'll have to mail it, which OK, I'll do that, but would prefer to drop it off but can't because I work.
Why haven't you mailed it yet? This sounds really crappy of the county, but I don't see the point of hanging onto it until now, either. If you have limitations on when you can get to the polls, it is partly your responsibility to figure out how to make sure your ballot gets returned. The election is in 6 days. Whether it's fair or not, returning your ballot late puts your vote at risk.
What hours do you work? Can you drop it off right at 9am on your way into work or leave work early to make it there before 4:30? Do you work all hours the polls are open on election day? I think most states have voting for at least 11-13 hours so unless you are working all those hours, you should at least be able to bring it in that day.
As far as laws about giving people time off to vote, I think it depends on the state. My employer is super flexible in general, but I think we'd give a major side eye to someone requesting time off on election day to vote when we have a full week of early voting available, including weekends and extended weekday hours so there is really little reason someone shouldn't be able to get over and vote during non-work hours. If your state doesn't have those options, I would guess they have a law about letting people have time off work to vote. I'd check with your state.
Can i vent in here how inconvenient my county is making mail /early voting? The office is only open 9-430. Other counties have extended hours, or a box in some areas, etc. But my county doesn't. I'll have to mail it, which OK, I'll do that, but would prefer to drop it off but can't because I work.
Why haven't you mailed it yet? This sounds really crappy of the county, but I don't see the point of hanging onto it until now, either. If you have limitations on when you can get to the polls, it is partly your responsibility to figure out how to make sure your ballot gets returned. The election is in 6 days. Whether it's fair or not, returning your ballot late puts your vote at risk.
What hours do you work? Can you drop it off right at 9am on your way into work or leave work early to make it there before 4:30? Do you work all hours the polls are open on election day? I think most states have voting for at least 11-13 hours so unless you are working all those hours, you should at least be able to bring it in that day.
As far as laws about giving people time off to vote, I think it depends on the state. My employer is super flexible in general, but I think we'd give a major side eye to someone requesting time off on election day to vote when we have a full week of early voting available, including weekends and extended weekday hours so there is really little reason someone shouldn't be able to get over and vote during non-work hours. If your state doesn't have those options, I would guess they have a law about letting people have time off work to vote. I'd check with your state.
I just got the ballot today. I planned on voting in person, but a coworker got covid and my employer is being really shady and not letting customers or anyone know, so I don't trust them to not get a positive test and lie about it.
I can vote in person, I just am afraid at this point that I'll end up getting covid in between and not knowing, thus passing it along when I go in person.
I work in a different county and live no where near my county seat to drop it off. I work 9:15-5:15 every day, and they refused to even close until we all got 2 negative tests. It's a shit show.
Why haven't you mailed it yet? This sounds really crappy of the county, but I don't see the point of hanging onto it until now, either. If you have limitations on when you can get to the polls, it is partly your responsibility to figure out how to make sure your ballot gets returned. The election is in 6 days. Whether it's fair or not, returning your ballot late puts your vote at risk.
What hours do you work? Can you drop it off right at 9am on your way into work or leave work early to make it there before 4:30? Do you work all hours the polls are open on election day? I think most states have voting for at least 11-13 hours so unless you are working all those hours, you should at least be able to bring it in that day.
As far as laws about giving people time off to vote, I think it depends on the state. My employer is super flexible in general, but I think we'd give a major side eye to someone requesting time off on election day to vote when we have a full week of early voting available, including weekends and extended weekday hours so there is really little reason someone shouldn't be able to get over and vote during non-work hours. If your state doesn't have those options, I would guess they have a law about letting people have time off work to vote. I'd check with your state.
I just got the ballot today. I planned on voting in person, but a coworker got covid and my employer is being really shady and not letting customers or anyone know, so I don't trust them to not get a positive test and lie about it.
I can vote in person, I just am afraid at this point that I'll end up getting covid in between and not knowing, thus passing it along when I go in person.
I work in a different county and live no where near my county seat to drop it off. I work 9:15-5:15 every day, and they refused to even close until we all got 2 negative tests. It's a shit show.
I think if you wear a mask and stay distanced, there's a very small risk of transmitting Covid by voting in person, IF you even get it.
TR I realize I'm probably being extra paranoid, but with the shady shit at work I'm just kind of mentally fried.
No, I get it. And I appreciate everyone trying to be as safe as possible. But in this weighing of benefit vs. risk, I think the benefit to voting strongly outweighs the slight risk in this case.
Why haven't you mailed it yet? This sounds really crappy of the county, but I don't see the point of hanging onto it until now, either. If you have limitations on when you can get to the polls, it is partly your responsibility to figure out how to make sure your ballot gets returned. The election is in 6 days. Whether it's fair or not, returning your ballot late puts your vote at risk.
What hours do you work? Can you drop it off right at 9am on your way into work or leave work early to make it there before 4:30? Do you work all hours the polls are open on election day? I think most states have voting for at least 11-13 hours so unless you are working all those hours, you should at least be able to bring it in that day.
As far as laws about giving people time off to vote, I think it depends on the state. My employer is super flexible in general, but I think we'd give a major side eye to someone requesting time off on election day to vote when we have a full week of early voting available, including weekends and extended weekday hours so there is really little reason someone shouldn't be able to get over and vote during non-work hours. If your state doesn't have those options, I would guess they have a law about letting people have time off work to vote. I'd check with your state.
I just got the ballot today. I planned on voting in person, but a coworker got covid and my employer is being really shady and not letting customers or anyone know, so I don't trust them to not get a positive test and lie about it.
I can vote in person, I just am afraid at this point that I'll end up getting covid in between and not knowing, thus passing it along when I go in person.
I work in a different county and live no where near my county seat to drop it off. I work 9:15-5:15 every day, and they refused to even close until we all got 2 negative tests. It's a shit show.
Ah, got it. In that case, I'd just tell your employer you're going to be late to work one day and drop it off in the morning. Since you now have a mail-in ballot, you are kind of stuck voting that way but I'd still drop it off in-person. Unless you think you will get fired for being late to work one day, my opinion is your work can just deal with it.
I guess also if your state won't be processing mail in ballots until election day anyway, you can just go with your original plan and drop it off on election day. Unless you are extremely ill and can't do that, I think if you are careful about mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing, there is little chance you will transmit the virus to others even if you are infected. Many voting locations also have curbside, outdoor, or other isolated areas to allow people who need to stay away from others to vote - I would take advantage of that option if you think there is a strong chance you could be carrying the virus.
I also think you should move to a new area It sounds like you've had a lot of COVID related bullshit in your life, and that sucks. I'm sorry!
So, in my old county (where we just sold our house!), some guy showed up to early voting without a mask. I guess they didn’t let him in. He is suing. My first thought was he must be a MAGAT, and of course, he is now claiming the mask wasn’t an issue until he said he was republican. MUH RIGHTS?! Probably also argues that voting is a privilege, not a right and supports other voter suppression efforts 🙄 yeah, I judge.
Prevailing theory is that because COVID is going off in the Midwest, that’s why voters are fleeing Trump. Polls also show Biden way up in Minnesota and Michigan, and 51-49 in Iowa.
I just got the ballot today. I planned on voting in person, but a coworker got covid and my employer is being really shady and not letting customers or anyone know, so I don't trust them to not get a positive test and lie about it.
I can vote in person, I just am afraid at this point that I'll end up getting covid in between and not knowing, thus passing it along when I go in person.
I work in a different county and live no where near my county seat to drop it off. I work 9:15-5:15 every day, and they refused to even close until we all got 2 negative tests. It's a shit show.
Ah, got it. In that case, I'd just tell your employer you're going to be late to work one day and drop it off in the morning. Since you now have a mail-in ballot, you are kind of stuck voting that way but I'd still drop it off in-person. Unless you think you will get fired for being late to work one day, my opinion is your work can just deal with it.
I guess also if your state won't be processing mail in ballots until election day anyway, you can just go with your original plan and drop it off on election day. Unless you are extremely ill and can't do that, I think if you are careful about mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing, there is little chance you will transmit the virus to others even if you are infected. Many voting locations also have curbside, outdoor, or other isolated areas to allow people who need to stay away from others to vote - I would take advantage of that option if you think there is a strong chance you could be carrying the virus.
I also think you should move to a new area It sounds like you've had a lot of COVID related bullshit in your life, and that sucks. I'm sorry!
You do realize that not all employers let you just tell them you’re taking time off, right?
Ah, got it. In that case, I'd just tell your employer you're going to be late to work one day and drop it off in the morning. Since you now have a mail-in ballot, you are kind of stuck voting that way but I'd still drop it off in-person. Unless you think you will get fired for being late to work one day, my opinion is your work can just deal with it.
I guess also if your state won't be processing mail in ballots until election day anyway, you can just go with your original plan and drop it off on election day. Unless you are extremely ill and can't do that, I think if you are careful about mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing, there is little chance you will transmit the virus to others even if you are infected. Many voting locations also have curbside, outdoor, or other isolated areas to allow people who need to stay away from others to vote - I would take advantage of that option if you think there is a strong chance you could be carrying the virus.
I also think you should move to a new area It sounds like you've had a lot of COVID related bullshit in your life, and that sucks. I'm sorry!
You do realize that not all employers let you just tell them you’re taking time off, right?
I mean, what's the other option at this point? Say you're sick. Say you have a dental emergency. Say you have a doctor appointment. I don't know. If she doesn't have a plan to vote and can't mail in her ballot, what else is there other than figuring something out or not voting?
You do realize that not all employers let you just tell them you’re taking time off, right?
I mean, what's the other option at this point? Say you're sick. Say you have a dental emergency. Say you have a doctor appointment. I don't know. If she doesn't have a plan to vote and can't mail in her ballot, what else is there other than figuring something out or not voting?
Of course she has to figure something out. But just saying “oh tell your work you’ll be late” is fairly, I don’t even know. Privileged? It’s why people are fighting for better voting laws & rights. It’s a shitty choice of keeping your job or voting. Lots of people are in that position, and it’s crap.
I just got the ballot today. I planned on voting in person, but a coworker got covid and my employer is being really shady and not letting customers or anyone know, so I don't trust them to not get a positive test and lie about it.
I can vote in person, I just am afraid at this point that I'll end up getting covid in between and not knowing, thus passing it along when I go in person.
I work in a different county and live no where near my county seat to drop it off. I work 9:15-5:15 every day, and they refused to even close until we all got 2 negative tests. It's a shit show.
Ah, got it. In that case, I'd just tell your employer you're going to be late to work one day and drop it off in the morning. Since you now have a mail-in ballot, you are kind of stuck voting that way but I'd still drop it off in-person. Unless you think you will get fired for being late to work one day, my opinion is your work can just deal with it.
I guess also if your state won't be processing mail in ballots until election day anyway, you can just go with your original plan and drop it off on election day. Unless you are extremely ill and can't do that, I think if you are careful about mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing, there is little chance you will transmit the virus to others even if you are infected. Many voting locations also have curbside, outdoor, or other isolated areas to allow people who need to stay away from others to vote - I would take advantage of that option if you think there is a strong chance you could be carrying the virus.
I also think you should move to a new area It sounds like you've had a lot of COVID related bullshit in your life, and that sucks. I'm sorry!
You are making a lot of assumptions here and it’s borderline calling for bootstraps. She’s allowed to complain about this, it’s a pain. This point it being made nationwide. And do we really have to play the “if you live in a red area, just move” again?
ETA: I see this has already been touched so never mind.
In the US you do legally have to give employees time off in order to vote, but only if they cannot go when the polls are open. So if an employee works a 10 or 12 hour shift and that shift is during the only time polls are open on Election Day, the employer has to allow the employee up to two hours of time off to vote. Most employees won’t fall into the category, but I could see nurses, Dr, first responders etc needing time off because their shifts tend to be longer.
But there are voters waiting in line for many hours. 2 hours won’t do them a bit of good.
Not to mention that assumes virtually no commute. When I lived in PA I met a ton of nurses who routinely were unable to vote. Pills were open 7-7, shifts at the hospital were 7:30-7:30. Nurses often didn’t have their schedule in enough time to qualify for a mail in ballot (thankfully PA changed laws on that), but anyone who commuted more than about 20 minutes basically couldn’t vote. So a two hour window doesn’t always help.
Hell, my H used to commute 2.25-2.5 hours each way because his office was in an inconvenient part of Manhattan (there are parts of the city within 45 minutes of us). Thankfully his company is amazing and NJ opens polls at 6, so he would hit the polls right at 6 and if he caught a later train he just stayed a bit later. Privilege in a nutshell honestly, between decent voting hours (though still a state that doesn’t offer in person early voting, which is bullshit) and a job that allowed for flexible hours.
Captain Catnip, in my state people can drop off advanced ballots in different counties and they’ll get sent to the right place with a note that it was received in X County by the due date. It may be worth a call to your elections board to see if that’s the case for you as well, if there’s a more convenient place to drop in the county in which you work.
Another idea I had when I was reading your posts is that in addition to a mask, you could wear a face shield if you decide to vote in person. Or, my state offers curbside voting where you call and they bring the ballot out to you and then stand back while you fill it out and take it back inside for you.
Captain Catnip- Do you live in a state where someone can drop it off for you? Either way, I'd hope that your local Dem office can help you get it turned in somehow. What a pain in the ass.
Captain Catnip I'm out of my lane since I'm not in HR or anything remotely close, but I thought employers had to allow provisions to let their employees vote? Or is that only a company of a certain size like FMLA? Or have I just been lucky and mine have been generous all this time...
In the US you do legally have to give employees time off in order to vote, but only if they cannot go when the polls are open. So if an employee works a 10 or 12 hour shift and that shift is during the only time polls are open on Election Day, the employer has to allow the employee up to two hours of time off to vote. Most employees won’t fall into the category, but I could see nurses, Dr, first responders etc needing time off because their shifts tend to be longer.
This is actually state-specific. I found a pretty good breakdown of the laws by state: