Are voting today. If you haven’t voted yet, you may still have time, especially in Nevada. If you are in line, when polls close, you are supposed to be allowed to vote.
Polls close at the following times:
Maine - 8pm ET
Nevada - 7pm PDT
North Dakota - 7pm CDT
South Carolina - 7pm ET (closed now)
Voters are grappling with very serious issues.
Maine is a must-win state for Democrats if they hope to take back the Senate. The leading candidate in the Democratic primary, Graham Platner, has admitted that he had a tatoo associated with the Nazis. Beyond that, there are allegations that he physically mistreated former girlfriends, texted with multiple women during an earlier time in his marriage and is on record saying some very offensive things.
“I was just a wreck of a human being,” he told The Times.
He sought therapy and has apologized for some incendiary posts on Reddit, urging Mainers not to judge him for ‘the worst thing I said on the internet, on my worst day 14 years ago.’”
For example:
“In 2013, he posted that women afraid of rape should not get so drunk that they ‘wind up having sex with someone they don’t mean to,’ a remark for which he has since apologized.”
The New York Times reports that Platner says these behaviors stem from challenges in his earlier life, including “post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and drinking tied to multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
There are important races on the ballot in every state, not just Maine.
Voter participation in primaries and off-year elections (which is what midterms are considered by the way) tends to be low, but South Carolina broke records in their Early Voting with more than 300,000 people casting ballots. A lot of the turnout likely stems from frustration with the economy and other social issues - but the upside is that people are getting involved in the decisions that directly impact their lives.
Voting is the first step.
Beyond that it’s important to get involved in monitoring and protecting the election.
For example: You could still observe the election today in Maine, Nevada, & North Dakota. None of which require a certificate.
You can screenshot election results as they come in.
You can observe the audits and help us assess whether they’re meaningful or just theatrics.
It’s a groundbreaking national network of election observers training to monitor & protect the midterms.
It’s the most comprehensive, nonpartisan, data-based, election verification program in U.S. history. The goal is to give volunteers an opportunity to actively participate in their local elections, in order to increase confidence in election results, identify trouble spots and reduce the chance that U.S. elections will be plunged into chaos, or even violence, following an election.
We’ve researched the statutes on election observation in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. We’re developing video training modules to help you understand the process. And we have teams in 9 regions - to help support and guide you in the process. We have over 500 observers signed up now in 25 states.
Your Generosity Supports Our Work
The first time you observe an election, it can be a little unnerving. It’s normal to have some nerves, and not be 100% sure of what you’re supposed to do.
That’s why it’s great to get involved now during the primaries. So you’ll be ready for November. Here are the upcoming state primary dates. There are also some run-offs coming.
Oklahoma June 16
Virginia June 16
New York June 23
Utah June 23
Maryland June 23
Colorado June 30
Arizona Aug. 4
Kansas Aug. 4
Michigan Aug. 4
Missouri Aug. 4
Washington Aug. 4
Tennessee Aug. 6
Hawaii Aug. 8
Connecticut Aug. 11
Minnesota Aug. 11
Vermont Aug. 11
Wisconsin Aug. 11
Alaska Aug. 18
Florida Aug. 18
Wyoming Aug. 18
Massachusetts Sept. 1
New Hampshire Sept. 8
Rhode Island Sept. 8
Delaware Sept. 15
We have a better understanding what happened in the 2024 and 2020 elections, as we put protections in place for the 2026 midterms. If you find our work valuable, please subscribe and make a donation as well! All donations are tax-deductible.
We are raising $500,000 in order to roll out full protection for the midterms. We’ve raised over $70,000 for this program and we ask you to do your part. So please go to SMARTelections.us, or use the QR code below, and make a donation.
Anything that you can afford is greatly appreciated, and thank you for all that you do.
We appreciate you.
Think for yourself, or others will think for you without thinking of you.
~ Henry David Thoreau
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