Good News: The Election is Almost Over
@DeborahDiane (40844)
Laguna Woods, California
October 10, 2016 8:35pm CST
For the past two years, most of us in the United States have been dealing with a very contentious presidential election cycle.
As a result of the bitter political climate, we have seen an increase in overt racism and violence, including watching the number of KKK chapters in the US during the past two years increase from around 70 to nearly 200.
We have also had to listen to, and in some cases explain, some pretty raw, inappropriate comments made by at least one of the presidential candidates.
We have had to endure childish name-calling and insults, including comparing the size of a candidate's hands to other body parts.
It seems as if politics in the US could not get much lower or more disgusting. 
But, the good news is that the election is almost over ... finally!
The official election day is in just 28 days.
However, by Wednesday, October 12, half of the voters in this country will have received their mail-in ballots or be allowed to vote early.
While not all states allow early voting, here in California more than half of all voters either vote by mail or go to an early voting location.
My husband is currently going through the sample ballot with me and we are deciding which candidates and propositions will get our vote.
We should receive our ballot in the mail by Wednesday and will probably mail it in by Friday.
For our family, the election really is almost over ... and I couldn't be happier! 
Are you planning to vote early? Are you glad the election is almost over?
But, the good news is that the election is almost over ... finally!
The official election day is in just 28 days.
However, by Wednesday, October 12, half of the voters in this country will have received their mail-in ballots or be allowed to vote early.
While not all states allow early voting, here in California more than half of all voters either vote by mail or go to an early voting location.
My husband is currently going through the sample ballot with me and we are deciding which candidates and propositions will get our vote.
We should receive our ballot in the mail by Wednesday and will probably mail it in by Friday.
For our family, the election really is almost over ... and I couldn't be happier!
Are you planning to vote early? Are you glad the election is almost over?20 people like this
22 responses
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Oct 16
I'll be glad when the election is over so we can stop hating people for their political beliefs, and go back to hating them because they're jerks! LOL {I saw that on Facebook}
Or this one: Democracy is this really system where people yell at each other online for six months, and then let the people of Ohio and Florida pick the president!
I will be casting my vote during the early election.
5 people like this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Oct 16
@DeborahDiane I've never been a fan of early voting, because what happens if something happens to the candidate you voted for between the time of early voting and election day? What happens if in between that time the candidate drops out of the race, or information surfaces that they committed some unforgivable act, or something like that? Then you've wasted your vote because once you submitted that early ballot, you can't take it back! We have early voting here in Florida two weeks prior to the actual election, so I'll usually go the day or two before the general election to cast my vote, but never any earlier than that!
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Oct 16
@moffittjc - Yes, you make a good point about the risks of early voting. However, I have been voting early for at least 30 years and only once did I think I might have changed my vote ... on a proposition, not a candidate ... if I had waited longer. The advantages of early voting is that more people tend to participate in voting, whether they are planning a trip, having surgery, or whatever. I think the benefits out-weigh the risks.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
12 Oct 16
@moffittjc - Ha Ha! I loved those Facebook quotes. I think as many people as possible will vote early. I feel sorry for people who are not allowed to vote early!
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
11 Oct 16
Oregon is all vote by mail and as soon as the ballots are here, we will drop them in the box just a few blocks away ASAP. I am sure your state and mine will vote blue.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
11 Oct 16
@jstory07 If you are a registered voter, you receive a ballot in the mail. You can register online in Lane County, not sure about Douglas.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
12 Oct 16
@jstory07 - My husband and I have been voting by mail in California for the past 10 years. We love it. We sit down together, discuss the candidates and ballot issues, then we vote and mail it off. It is a pleasant way to vote.
@Juliaacv (56227)
• Canada
11 Oct 16
Although I am not American, I am looking forward to this election being over also.
Its to the point where you don't want to look at the television in fear of finding out how low he stooped today......
What I cannot get over is, for the size of the population of the US, this, these 2 lying idiots is the best that could surface out of all of those people in that country?
Its a pretty sad state of affairs if you ask me, Donald Trump has already stated that he doesn't want to trade with any other countries, although I doubt he understands how perplex it is to manufacture all that is needed to sustain the current marketplace.
And I cannot see any political leader wanting anything to do with either of them, they both are so untrustworthy and unprofessional, and have proven it on numerous occasions.
But......like you said its down to counting the days left and then come what may.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
12 Oct 16
@Juliaacv - I know that a lot of people don't like Hillary Clinton and I agree that she has told lies. In truth, as a former Secretary of State, I'm sure that she had to lie about some of her emails in order to protect them from foreign eyes. In fact, unlike the U.S. government servers, there is no evidence her server was ever hacked. The only way foreign governments have ever seen any of her emails is because the Republicans forced her to make them public ... now everyone can see them. I think that some of them had to be deleted to keep them private, or the Republicans would have exposed all our secrets.
I honestly believe she is a competent, intelligent woman who has been to most of the countries in the world and knows many of the world leaders. She understands how the government works; she knows how the constitution works; she wants to promote programs that help women and children; her programs can be done and balance the budget at the same time.
I am very comfortable with the person I support.
She's not perfect, but she is not a racist, sexist or narcissist, either!
5 people like this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
15 Oct 16
That is why I am voting for Johnson who does not know where Aleppo is. O, no, me Canadian, too!
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
18 Oct 16
@antonbunot - Ha Ha! We have enough problems without the Canadians voting in our crazy election! LOL
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
12 Oct 16
@marlina - I am sure that our neighbors from both Mexico and Canada are tired of hearing about this election. I know that most American citizens are tired of it! I sure am.
2 people like this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
14 Oct 16
The election is almost over . . and Hillary will soon take oath as the next president of the USA! Am I right? No?!
2 people like this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
14 Oct 16
@DeborahDiane Back to his office in Trump Tower figuring out what went wrong in his campaign . . . and the rest is what I wrote in my latest post.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
15 Oct 16
@antonbunot - I'll have to check out that post.
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
14 Oct 16
@antonbunot - Unless something happens to drastically change things, it does appear that Hillary will win. Wonder what Trump will do next?
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
11 Oct 16
My ballot has not arrived yet. It's making me crazy.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
12 Oct 16
@ElizabethWallace - I though for sure I would have my ballot today, but no luck. Hopefully, it will be here tomorrow. I can't wait to vote!
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
12 Oct 16
@DeborahDiane Me too. I heard on the news that the absentee ballots "dropped" yesterday, but where?
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Oct 16
@ElizabethWallace - I did not receive my ballot today, either. Perhaps tomorrow? I'm getting impatient!
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
11 Oct 16
I wish people will give 3rd parties a chance.... Oh it wont happen so I guess the choice is to choose the lesser of the two spawns of Satan.
I have American relatives and I told them to give 3rd parties a chance but they said their vote will be wasted because the 3rd parties dont have the exposure needed to get votes.
I have American relatives and I told them to give 3rd parties a chance but they said their vote will be wasted because the 3rd parties dont have the exposure needed to get votes.1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
12 Oct 16
@DeborahDiane Jill Stein would have kicked the butt of those 2 had she been allowed to debate but it wont happen.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
12 Oct 16
I think Americans do give third parties a chance sometimes. However, when Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate, looked foolish twice on TV, he began to lose support. Third party candidates have to really come on strong to have a chance.
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Oct 16
@CaptAlbertWhisker - You could be right about Jill Stein. It would be interesting to have at least one debate every presidential election year that includes the presidential candidates for all the political parties.
@Bluedoll (16770)
• Canada
12 Oct 16
@DeborahDiane Perhaps Hollywood will have a comeback.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Oct 16
@Bluedoll - Yes, people will be more interested in TV and movies after this election is over ... anything to recover from all the hysteria.
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
12 Oct 16
@Bluedoll - That would be a great idea ... for everyone to take a vacation! Fortunately, our Thanksgiving is just a couple of weeks after the election. A lot of people will take time off that week.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
11 Oct 16
I have never heard that we have that option here in Connecticut. I will vote in November.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
12 Oct 16
@BelleStarr - I have heard that some states do not allow vote-by-mail, yet. I hope eventually it is allowed across the country. It makes it so much easier to vote and I think it increases the percentage of people who vote.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
18 Oct 16
@mom210 - I think the next few weeks, at the very least, will be very crazy! It will be very interesting to see what happens after the election.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
14 Oct 16
@DianneN - I will be on pins and needles until I know for sure that our candidate has won. Then, I think I will definitely need to relax. I have a yoga class on election day, and I think I will need it!
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
12 Oct 16
Even in Canada we are getting bombarde with the daily craziness Deborah and i will be glad when we don't have to listen to it anymore- I'm sorry these are the options for the future of the US- but then I seem to feel this way about ours too at election time! lol!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Oct 16
@MarymargII - Yes, quite a few of our politicians seem to need help!
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Oct 16
@Marymargll - It is interesting to me that people feel the same way all over the world about their politicians. Of course, since we will never have saints and angels to elect, we are stuck with real people ... with all their failings.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
13 Oct 16
@DeborahDiane And a few that need help----ha!
1 person likes this
@Hanyouyomi (2186)
• Dallas, Texas
15 Oct 16
Whoopiety flipping doo. 28 days until Hillary ascends to the threone and become our nation's new messiah. Why Hillary? C'mon y'all seriously think Donald Trump has a chance with everything they're doing to bury him? they're just strining us along o make us think we have a say when the choice has already been made. This is just a show put on to pacify the people and makethem think they have a say.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
18 Oct 16
@Hanyouyoumi - Since I have already voted, I feel as if I am just a spectator until the election is over. Donald Trump made the mistake of even pissing off Fox News ... or he would have had a powerful ally. You can't blow off your advisors and then expect to get support for the establishment ... not even the Republican establishment.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
12 Oct 16
I'm not sure if voting early is a choice here... I think I would if it were possible though. The thing I dislike most about this election is that when it's over one of them will be the president. lol. (No offense to anyone who likes either candidate - I am sure they each have strengths)
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
14 Oct 16
@DeborahDiane I felt like Jeb was dumber than his brother W.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
18 Oct 16
@JamesHxstatic - You make the point that there was no way that Jeb was going to win the hearts of the public. However, I liked some of his ideas, like having a guest worker program. I'd like to see these Republicans who want to build a wall come to California and pick strawberries in the hot sun for the minimum wage! It's not going to happen.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Oct 16
@FayeHazel - Ha Ha! Yes, one of them will end up as president. Fortunately, because we have a government with checks and balances, at least we won't end up with a dictator (although I think at least one of the candidates would like to be a dictator!). There are Republicans who would have gotten my vote ... such as Jeb Bush. But, since he is not a choice, I'm voting for Clinton. She seems smarter and more knowledgeable about the government and foreign affairs than Trump.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
18 Oct 16
@jstory07 - I think it is great that they mail out ballots to every registered voter in Oregon. Here in California we have to ask to have a ballot mailed to us, but more and more people are doing that every year.
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 Oct 16
It really has gone on way too long, hasn't it?
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
12 Oct 16
@PatZAnthony - This election cycle has gone on waaaay too long. I think the primary season starts too early, which means candidates have to declare their intention to run a year or longer before the actual election. It is ridiculous.
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
12 Oct 16
@LadyDuck - I agree that the whole world will be happy when this election is over. It has been insane!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
14 Oct 16
@shshiju - Yes, there has been a lot of controversy in our election. I will be glad when it is over.
@everwonderwhy (7355)
•
11 Oct 16
I don't know what's with me: I intently watched Israel's campaign through elections on 17th March 2015. I'm watching U.S.A's, as well.
I'm watching U.S.A's, as well.1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
12 Oct 16
I think the world is looking at this US election and thinking we are crazy.
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
13 Oct 16
Yes finally you all shall feel everything settled around you
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
18 Oct 16
@amitkokiladitya - I will be glad when the election is over.
