Election Day Open Thread

At long, long, long last, it's here. The day that will determine if our long national nightmare will get slightly better, get slightly worse, or get much, much worse. After 2016 I think we're all probably appropriately wary of predicting good in advance so we won't be doing that. Well, I won't be doing that. You can do what you want.

It's not just the presidential race that bears watching. House Speaker Mike Johnson will likely learn tonight whether his assembled collection of conspiracy cranks will be keeping control of all congressional investigations—and whether the next two to eight years of our lives see "Hunter Biden's laptop" probes replaced by declarations that Kamala Harris has organized a cabal of (checks notes) extrajudicial squirrel executioners. Sen. Ted Cruz faces another not-implausible chance of facing a permanent vacation. And ballot measures to protect the right to abortion will be decided in numerous states tonight, as Americans of all ideologies learn just what Republicans mean when they "ban abortion"—and hear the now-steady stream of stories about American women who were murdered outright by those bans.

We'll also have to watch for election day attempts at voter intimidation and obstruction. Again.

The first results won't come before 7 p.m. ET, when polls close in Virginia, Vermont, South Carolina and Georgia. For now, you can use this thread to share news, offer predictions, or share what races and ballot measures you're most focused on. We'll be putting up new stories and updates as events dictate, so keep checking in.

Here we go.

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Update: I am so damn tired of these people.

So on one hand you've got a convicted felon who attempted a violent coup rather than give up power last time, and on the other hand eeeeeeeh, I dunno guys, I didn't hear much of a "vision."

WHY ARE YOU A PUNDIT, YOU GYM SOCK? YOU NEED TO FEEL 'VISION' TO GET MOTIVATED TO VOTE AGAINST A VIOLENCE-PROVOKING CRIMINAL? YOU NEEDED TO SEE SOME BULLET POINTS ON HOW YOU'D 'BENEFIT' FROM VOTING AGAINST THAT?

Insufferable narcissistic twerps.

Update:

Update: Don't count your chickens before they've hatched, but ... Iowa may be in play. Yes, Iowa.

Update: Not even 5pm in Florida and Donald's already freaking out. "A lot of talk about massive CHEATING in Philadelphia. Law Enforcement coming!!!" he posted to Truth Social. (There isn't and they aren't.)

Update: Another reminder, as the first exit polls start coming out: They're useless when it comes to predicting outcomes. Early exit polls will be used to understand the electorate after the final vote counts come in, but to do that they need to be weighted to reflect that actual electorate—and that's not something the pollsters can do yet. You'll be better off ignoring them.