News Information and Media Site: Merry democracy eve

THE BIG STORY

Trump made it clear he wants the Supreme Court to shut down vote counting after Election Day

First, you should know: Because of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a giant spike in early and mail-in voting nationwide — particularly among Democrats.

Because of how some key states like Pennsylvania count votes, that might mean that the election winner is not determined on election night.

Essentially, the deal is this: the states that count absentee ballots late may show initial results that have Donald Trump winning, only for Joe Biden to overtake him as more votes come in.

There's nothing about this that would suggest fraud or illegality, and it's not unusual for some states to take days to finalize a vote count. Trump, though, is now loudly insisting otherwise.

The president used a string of rallies on the last weekend of campaigning to aggressively accelerate his campaign to spread distrust in the US election and legal systems. Trump insisted there would be "bedlam" if the winner was not declared on Tuesday.

A voter uses the drive-thru option to vote in Richardson, Texas. Lm Otero / AP

STAYING ON TOP OF THIS

Dozens of Trump supporters "ambushed" a Biden campaign bus driving on a Texas highway

Videos posted on social media — by members of the so-called "Trump train" and Democratic officials and volunteers — showed dozens of vehicles waving Trump flags pursuing and surrounding a Biden-Harris campaign bus as it made its way from San Antonio to Austin to drum up enthusiasm at polling stations.

Neither Joe Biden nor Kamala Harris were on the bus.

Three Democratic campaign events were canceled in Texas over "safety concerns" after the incident. The Texas Tribune reported that the FBI is investigating.

SNAPSHOTS

People marching to the polls in North Carolina were arrested and pepper-sprayed by police. "I saw several children choking from the spray," a witness told BuzzFeed News. "People had to choose whether to continue to the polling station or go wash their eyes and skin."

The Texas Supreme Court won't toss out 100,000 drive-thru votes in the state's most populous county, but a federal case is pending. Republicans in Texas are seeking to invalidate ballots cast in Harris County through a curbside voting program.

People can vote without masks in almost every state. We spoke to election officials in all 50 states, and nearly everyone said the same thing: We want you to wear a mask, but we won't stop you from voting if you refuse.

They don't trust the government or the police to protect them after the election so they're taking matters into their own hands. Activists, right-wing militants, racial justice organizations, and everyday voters have been preparing themselves for the possibility of widespread and violent civil unrest.

Sean Connery, the Scottish actor who introduced the world to James Bond, has died. The iconic actor's family told the BBC that he died in his sleep while in the Bahamas and that he "had been unwell for some time." He was 90.

NEW OBSTACLES

Voting is always a nightmare for people without secure housing. Thanks to the pandemic, it just got harder.

If you are unhoused, you still have the right to vote in all 50 states. Being homeless is not supposed to bar you from participating in the democratic process.

But that's the right in theory. In practice, it is another thing. For people living on the streets, voting has been a challenge for a long time. And thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, it may only be more difficult this year: Advocates say the pandemic has thrown more obstacles into voters' ways.

From an increased reliance on mail-in ballots, to the threat of infection in crowded polling places, to ever-changing and confusing new voting regulations — these hurdles become much higher for voters who don't have a permanent home.

Lam Thuy Vo reported on the reality of voting for people without secure housing.

SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE

First time voters are being celebrated with cheers and applause at polling stations

This election season has packed plenty of tension and anxiety. I hear you. That's not easy to contend with. I have no solution for that, but it's important to name it.

What I do have is: a reminder that voting is a right, and it can be a joyous thing to exercise it. Especially if you're doing so for the first time.

That joy is being communicated. A lovely story: Americans voting for the first time are being greeted with encouragement and applause at polling stations — and the young people casting their ballots say the cheers are so encouraging to receive.

Send an encouraging message to a friend who needs it today,

Elamin

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📝 This letter was edited and brought to you by Elamin Abdelmahmoud and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.

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