Items

Yesterday
What does it say?

"I voted"!

Today
What does it say?

"I've used up my control strategy and now I'm left to crap my pants in anxiety."

2020-10-26

You're Fired [PRIVATE -DUPLICATE]

I worked the polls at Nevitt Forest Elementary during the 59th presidential election. The lines were crowded at 6:00 prior to the polls official opening at 7:00. The energy in the voting room was definitely mixed--some determined, some anxious, and some angry at the previous conditions of Trump administration of 2017-21. Although the energy of the election results are still mixed today still, this meme reflects one of the more amused and joyous reactions of the election turnout. Thus, using one of Trump's infamous lines of his famed tv show Celebrity Apprentice, this meme pokes fun at the importance of public ratings not only in pop culture but in politics as well.

2020-11-07

You're Fired

I worked the polls at Nevitt Forest Elementary during the 59th presidential election. The lines were crowded at 6:00 prior to the polls official opening at 7:00. The energy in the voting room was definitely mixed--some determined, some anxious, and some angry at the previous conditions of Trump administration of 2017-21. Although the energy of the election results are still mixed today still, this meme reflects one of the more amused and joyous reactions of the election turnout. Thus, using one of Trump's infamous lines of his famed tv show Celebrity Apprentice, this meme pokes fun at the importance of public ratings not only in pop culture but in politics as well.

2020-10-08

2020 Election

The picture above is a photo that I took of myself after mailing my absentee ballot for the 2020 election. This was something that was especially exciting amidst the difficulties that Covid-19 had caused in the United States and around the world. Due to the pandemic, most in-person voting was not happening that year. Instead, most people mailed in ballots. As a college student, I needed to register for an absentee ballot in order for me to vote in my home state of New Jersey. I remember that I did this while I was stuck at home over the summer. For me, during the summer of 2020, I did not feel as though I was accomplishing anything. Registering for my absentee ballot was one of the only things that I actually accomplished during this time. In addition, there was much unrest in the country, as well as on social media, that motivated me to register as well. As a 20 year old, this was the first Presidential election that I could vote in, which made it especially important for me. During the summer, with all of the unrest in the country, I was interested to see the areas in which I agreed with my parents, and the areas in which we disagreed. In such a disaster of a year, I wanted to be able to say that I had voted in the election, at the very least. It is my civic duty after all. I think that this photo is extremely interesting because it is a true time capsule. I am wearing a mask, which characterizes the Covid pandemic. The filter proudly states, “Just Voted!!!” and “Elections 2020”. There is a joy that is evident on my face; there is something exciting about being able to vote in your first presidential election. Throughout my life, I have learned about elections and have always wanted to take part. In the 2016 election, my high-school peers and I, who were nearly competent citizens, were forced to watch from the sidelines. There is also something particularly interesting about an election in an extremely difficult time. It felt important in a way that regular years might not.

2020-10-30

Race and social justice in the 2020 presidential election

In the interview, Rashawn Ray discussing race and voter suppression. He discusses the history of voter suppression and how it can be used against various communities of color and how it is being used today. He also discusses the many ways this practice affects communities and our country as a whole.

2020-10-13

Voting by Mail in Moab Utah

When I was planning my trip, one consideration I had to make was how I was going to vote. I requested my absentee ballot very early and decided I would have my mom mail it to me to pick up through general delivery wherever I ended up being at the time. Where I ended up being was Moab Utah, exploring Arches and Canyonland National Parks. This picture shows me dropping my ballot in the dropbox in Moab to send it back to Connecticut. I think this object is indicative of 2020, specifically the presidential election. Though elections are always important, this one was especially so and will have a significant impact on the future of this country. This object demonstrates the importance of voting by mail in this election, but also in general, as I would have needed to vote by mail if I were on this trip in a normal election cycle as well. I would say that my personal experience is also emblematic of my generation’s determination to exercise their right to vote.

2020-10-29

Election Week Anxiety

Due to the massive number of American voters who decided to cast mail-in ballots, coupled with the unprecedented voter turnout, American’s did not get an answer on Wednesday morning as to who the next POTUS was going to be. This uncertainty, along with the climbing covid-19 numbers, meant a lot of citizens were feeling overwhelmed and anxious about what the next few days, and perhaps weeks, would entail. Crisis hotlines in the US saw a spike in calls related to election anxiety. This political cartoon created by Bruce Plante shows the anxiety that the hotline workers themselves might have been experiencing. With call after call coming into these centers, hotline workers do their best to ease the minds of those on the other side of the phone call. This is significant to 2020 because it illustrates the collective emotions voters were facing in the first week of November 2020.

2020-10-30

CDC Tips for Voters

In 2020 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been a pivotal organization in educating the public on how to protect themselves, and others, during the covid-19 pandemic. The CDC periodically releases guidance and updates on how to safely navigate everything from grocery shopping to voting. The CDC released an article titled “Tips for Voters to Reduce Spread of COVID-19”. In the article they encourage voters to know their voter’s rights, even if they are quarantined for covid. With a lot of voter misinformation circulating, the CDC took the proper steps to help voters understand their rights, whilst encouraging measures that help prevent the spread of this rapidly spreading virus.

2020-11-09

HERMIT HERALD VOL 1 ISSUE 76

Biden want to unite country

2020-11-05

Voting and Coronavirus

This picture depicts voters in Las Vegas voting with their masks on, which is what I had to do as well when I went to vote in person. This is an achievable idea for healthy Americans who can leave their houses because they aren’t afraid of getting the Coronavirus, but for a lot of older and immuno-compromised people, it is not likely. This resulted in many people using mail-in ballots to vote, like my grandparents had to, but we find out that some of the mail-in ballots are being “lost” or are being rejected. This is not how America should be run, we are amidst a pandemic with many people who can’t take the risk of getting sick right now to go vote and be in a closed space with many other people. It is our right, and it is our duty as Americans to cast our vote to decide who runs our country, it is unfair that people who voted in a perfectly legal way are being refused to be heard just because they don’t want to/can’t be around other people during a global pandemic.

Picture of five people holding stickers that read "Presidential Election 2020: I voted!" and "Future Voter!".

2020-10-27

Voting During a Global Pandemic: A Student's Experience Voting in Person

The object is an image of my family and I after voting and holding our “I voted” stickers. The eligible voters in my household are my mother, father, younger brother, and myself. After becoming very invested in politics, my youngest brother, who is eight, got a future voter sticker for coming along. Voting, in general, is a significant task, but this year, with the presidential election, mass amounts of people were expected to vote in person and with mail-in ballots. The pandemic heavily altered what an election usually looks like. Voting in person looked very different and had additional procedures to be cautious. When we entered immediately, we were given a hand sanitizer and a disposable glove to touch the voting machines and ballot. The room setup was different as areas to walk marked off, waiting in line to check-in required voters to wait for six-feet apart from each other. The floors were marked to show directions you could walk in. The voting machines were farther apart than usual to keep everyone at a distance. It was strange to experience a COVID-19 election, especially as this has been an anticipated election for a few years now. Last year I could never have imagined voting in a mask and being given a glove to keep the voting machines clean. This year is notable for the difficult circumstances of COVID-19 and a year focusing on the historic presidential election.

2020-10-29

Polling Places Are Closing Due To COVID-19.

The surge of COVID-19 cases across the United States has impacted voting across the country. Not only are some people afraid to vote in person but people are afraid of working at polls, resulting in a shortage of polls workers. Because of poll closures, people are being forced to find new polls. Low-income are being impacted by these closures due to the time it takes to find new polls and the cost of reaching them. Minorities are also impacted because they already faced longer than average wait times before COVID-19 when all polls were open.

2020-09-15

Victoria, British Columbia Byelection Delayed Until 2021

This article explores how cities are dealing with voting during a pandemic, such as using Mail-in voting and possibly delaying elections.

2020-09-06

Les Néo-Brunswickois votent tôt en raison de la pandémie de COVID-19.

Cet article montre comment les élections sont affectées dans le monde. This article shows how elections are being affected throughout the world. Curator's Note: The translation of the title is "New Brunswickers vote early due to COVID-19 pandemic." The translation of the screenshot is "New Brunswick: Early voting unusually popular"

2020-04-07

Covid-19 Polling

During the Covid-19 shutdown in Wisconsin I volunteered with my Air National Guard unit to assist with local polling during the elections. Our unit was deployed to various locations around Wisconsin, we conducted 2 days of training and swore in as public officials. During polling operations, we assisted voters, sanitized voting stations, and ensured that proper social distancing was being adhered to. During the voting I was able to observe the many ways people handle the epidemic. It was difficult not to express my opinion with the people who believe that Covid-19 is a hoax. Luckily for most of the people who visited the polling station the type of person who disobeyed social distancing was few and far between. Almost all the people did believe that voting should have been postponed and so did I, unfortunately being in the position I held I was unable to voice that opinion. Once Polling had closed, we turned over all our ballets to a team devoted to counting and relaying the information. We each conducted a Covid-19 test and patiently waited the next day for our results. A negative test allowed us to return to our normal jobs, whereas a positive test resulted in a 2 week stay in a hotel the city uses for temporary shelter for the homeless. The experience was humbling after seeing how many people Covid-19 has affected and the fear that people have of the disease. I would gladly volunteer again to help my community, and it looks like I will have my opportunity once again with the Democratic National Convention in Wisconsin where we have been asked to help once more.

A red yard sign reading "VOTE HERE. ID required".

2020-08-04

Kansas Primary, August 4, 2020

A scene taken on the day of the Kansas primaries for the US Senate and House of Representatives. With the state caught in COVID's grip, many voters availed themselves of mail-in-ballots, but some voters still preferred to show up to the polls in person, as they did here in southwest Wichita. Nevertheless, this image captures but a small segment of the various challenges that the United States faced in holding federal, state, and municipal elections in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020-06

Tweets from Inside a Prison 6/7-6/13/2020 by Railroaded Underground

These images show the Tweets of a prison inmate using a contraband cell phone to let the public know what it is like inside the nations prisons during the coronavirus pandemic. This week he talks about the "racist violent system", George Floyd, wishes the momentum for change in policing and Black Lives Matter isn't lost, encouraging voting, #ClemancyNow, San Quentin in San Francisco, and being put in the hole after a prison guard handcuffed and kicked him in the face repeatedly.

2020-05

Tweets from Inside a Prison 5/10-5/16/2020 by Railroaded Underground

These images show the Tweets of an incarcerated person utilizing a contraband cell phone to let the outside world know about prison conditions during the pandemic. This week he talks about how mother's are the ones that never give up, Mother's Day, justice, socioeconomic factors that lead to prison, death, politicians, voting, lethal injection, and the words of a six year old child.

5/20/2020

Katherine Schneider Oral History, 2020/05/20

The interviewee is an older blind person who discusses their experience with the pandemic lockdown in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. They discuss some of the challenges with living with blindness and continuing to work online and the non-inclusivity of other disabilities in teleworking and regular life during the pandemic. Additionally, they describe the challenges of being blind and trying to maintain social distance from people when you cannot see them. They also talk about how a good aspect of the pandemic is the sense of community and neighbors helping neighbors by checking in on people. Lastly, they talk about how they feel that people with disabilities are an afterthought during disasters and one way to remedy this is to have people from the disabled community on planning teams to help identify issues such as access to information and emergency planning.

2020-03-31

"Memorandum"

"In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Wahzhazhe Election Board and Staff explored postponing the June election. In consulting with the Attorney General, Clint Patterson, we discovered it is NOT possible."

2020-07-01

Risking exposure to vote

Yesterday I found out via Facebook that someone who works in the Leander city offices has test positive for Covid-19. The city sent everyone home and closed the building to deep clean. Later in the evening I learned that the city will be holding their biweekly city council meeting tonight, in person! To make matters worse we are in the early voting period for several runoff elections and the room where the city holds the city council meeting is also the room where we vote. I personally find this infuriating and unconscionable when other options are available. I was already thinking that my husband and I should go to two separate locations to vote thinking that the chances of us both being exposed are less if we go to different locations. This would hopefully leave one of us healthy to take care of our son. While people across the nation have been advocating for mail in voting Texas has taken a firm stand on the issue and said no. The only people that can request a mail in ballot are those over 65 or a person with a disability. While I plan to vote in the general election come hell or high water, I’m not sure if the runoff is worth the risk. No one should have to choose between voting and their health. Here is a local news article that explains the situation. https://www.kxan.com/news/your-local-election-hq/leander-closes-pat-bryson-municipal-hall-after-employee-tests-positive-for-covid-19-early-voting-still-allowed/

2020-06-06

Changing Attitudes of White America

Excerpt: The big shift is due, in large part, to the changing attitudes of white people. One question, though, is what that might mean politically come November.

2020-05-28

Answering Your Questions

NPR answers questions about Covid-19, reopening, voting, elections and more.

2020-06-09

Voter Rights in a Pandemic

The image on the left shows the voting line in predominantly African American and Democratic portion of Fulton County, GA where complications with electronic ballots created a 4 hour line to vote; the left shows the predominantly white and conservative portion of that county. This is an example of the pandemic's impact on the upcoming elections.

2020-04-16

Frustration with the Wisconsin Spring Election

An editorial in the Crawford County Independent and Kickapoo Scout expresses frustration with the decision to hold an in person election in Wisconsin on April 7th. Many of the poll workers at voting sites were older and at risk if infected.