We started noticing on November 1 that Twitter was rolling out notices reminding us that “it takes time to count all the votes.” Like this:
So we’re starting this shit again I see pic.twitter.com/juwUZU0ATC
— Amanda Milius (@AmandaMilius) November 1, 2022
ABC News went even further, suggesting that a “red mirage” might appear on election night but dissipate after mail-in votes were counted (unfortunately they were right on that one). In any case, the media made sure we knew it was going to be “election week” and not “election day.” A Nevada election official has told us it might take until November 18 to finalize the ballot count.
Here’s Michael Tracey with a history of the media’s march to ensure that waiting for vote totals was normal:
NYT: don't worry, it's totally "normal" that several major states in the wealthiest country on earth are chronically incapable of counting votes within a remotely reasonable timeframe. Because these days, criticizing any aspect of election procedure makes you an "insurrectionist" pic.twitter.com/4lquiwnc74
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) November 11, 2022
NYT on Florida's vote-counting procedure in the 2000 election: Don't worry everyone, this is totally normal
Or… a year later the NYT was reporting that because the 2000 election in Florida was so irreparably "fouled-up," no one will ever know for sure "who got the most votes" pic.twitter.com/FRXLhUp6IP
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) November 11, 2022
Unfortunately, the NYT hadn't invented the term "election denier" yet in 2004. I'm sure it would've been applied equally to everyone who questioned the Ohio election results that year, with no regard to partisanship pic.twitter.com/SFYbFEuTnm
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) November 11, 2022
Democrats objected to George W. Bush being certified the winner because the Diebold voting machines in Ohio were switching votes. Twenty percent of voting machines not working where the Secretary of State is on the ballot? No story there.
As late as 2006, whenever Dems lost a close race in Florida, it was alleged that Jeb Bush was engaged in malfeasance to help his brother. NYT quoted an enraged "election denier" lawyer who'd worked for Al Gore in 2000: “There is a spontaneous combustion of outcry in this county" pic.twitter.com/mvuLB70HTK
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) November 11, 2022
This editor remembers vividly an elderly couple in 2000 pleading before a committee, nearly in tears, because they thought they might have mistakenly voted for George Bush, because the Democratic candidate is always on the top of the ballot but they switched the order and they got confused and punched the wrong hole. That’s what a farce 2000 was.
California's the weirdest for me; STILL has the lowest count at <55% (and isn't expected for 3 weeks) even though the state is comparable to NY, TX, and FL in size (which all were well above 90% by the next morning) and has called most of its races somehow…
— Milk Without a Face (@SisypheanClown) November 11, 2022
Brazil counted 110 million in 90 minutes
— Dark Llama (@DarkLlama12) November 11, 2022
You're holding people to a standard they don't hold themselves to, it will never work.
— CPT Jellico Laser Eyes (@GPWRespecter) November 12, 2022
It may not have been normal, but it's now the New Normal.
— marooned (@usedatoms) November 11, 2022
It's absolutely unreasonable to have some states finish counting on elections night by 11pm and have others take a week or more.
— 🇺🇸Chris 🇺🇸 (@Rimer_Chris) November 11, 2022
Aside from the past two years in the U.S., when/where has this ever been normal?
— Aaron 🇺🇸❤️🔥 LGB (@DntAssQuestions) November 11, 2022
This chaos is only "normal" in the US. In almost every election in Europe we know the official result at election day or the day after. And in lots of European countries like Germany electronic voting is not allowed. So it's all paper ballots by mail or in-person.
— Plebejer ❁ (@444333account) November 11, 2022
California at 60%, three days later. Not serious people
— Båtsman (@b075m4nn) November 12, 2022
I love seeing people defend what is, at best, mediocrity.
— Tony (@TonyL1138) November 11, 2022
But it is normal, people say, because some states have laws where they can’t open the mail-in and dropbox ballots until 7 p.m. on Election Day. That’s a stupid law and it should be changed. We refuse to accept this as “normal.”
Notable: As we searched for the “Related” post, Twitter popped up a message telling us, “Know the facts: You can find official information on voting and elections by visiting vote.gov, a tool available from the US government and the US Elections Assistance Commission.”
***
Editor’s Note: Republican voters deserve answers and accountability for the failed red wave.
Related:
Nevada election official says it could take until November 18 to finalize results https://t.co/k10fx17wEY
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) November 10, 2022
Join the conversation as a VIP Member