7:45 a.m. We get invitations, lots of invitations, for election night events.
One from weedmaps.com caught our eye. There’s a viewing party called the National Cannabis Festival. They explain that voter turnout isexpected to be especially “high,” and this election is a “buzzworthy” event.
The program begins at 5:30 (PST) and includes:
“… great moments in weed history with Abdullah Saeed & David Bienenstock, election night munchies with Pink Fox, hash making withThe Dank Duchess, Ballot Initiative Happy Hour with NCIA, the Home Stoner’s Network and several moments of Zen to keep spirits highthroughout the evening.”
7:30 a.m. It’s weird to see stores like Louis Vuitton and Tiffany and Company barricaded with plywood on Rodeo Drive. The famous shopping district is closed for vehicle and pedestrian traffic through Nov. 4.
But that’s where we are on Election Day 2020.
Sculptures in Beverly Hills Park and the Beverly Hills sign have been covered with tarp.
It is an open question as to what will inspire incidents in the streets, a Donald Trump victory or a Joe Biden victory?
7:20 a.m. One person ready for election day is Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.
In case of problems with election violations including fraud, the county’s top prosecutor has assembled a team ready to get involved.
The team includes:
– 13 attorneys from the OCDA Special Prosecutions, who have been specifically trained in election issues.
– 25 investigators.
– 1 analyst.
– 1 investigative aide.
Spitzer and his team will be working with the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, the California Secretary of State and AttorneyGeneral and the Orange County Registrar of Voters.
A hotline has been established if Orange County residents want to report suspected election violations. That number is 714-501-4593. Suspicious activity can also be reported at 2020.election@da.ocgov.com.
“Your vote is your voice,” Spitzer said. “The power of one vote should not be underestimated, and it is our responsibility as prosecutors to ensure that every vote – and every – voice counts. We have taken every step to safeguard this election and provide Orange County residents with the peace of mind that their voice will be heard when they cast their ballot – whether it is by mail, at a ballot box, or by voting in person. Anyone who chooses to violate any section of the election code in Orange County and interfere with the sanctity of the election will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
7 a.m. So many of us are polarized. As we finally hit Election Day, after four years of dread or excitement or a thousand different emotions,there is one statement we all can agree on:
If the other guy wins, I can’t imagine what the world will be like tomorrow.
That’s what everybody is watching today. How will the side of the guy with fewer votes handle defeat?
Will there be riots? Will police have to intervene? Will roads be blocked by protesters? Will people quietly celebrate or grieve inside their own home with a bottle of wine (a fitting way during a pandemic)?
The Southern California News Group will have reporters fanning out across Los Angeles, the South Bay, Riverside, San Bernardino, the Inland Empire and Orange County. We will provide updates here as events happen. So check back here as the day progresses. Each post will have a timestamp at the beginning to let you know the order that events occur.
We’ll be monitoring what is happening across the country and on social media. So it will either be fun or excruciating.
This election seems to have inspired so many on both sides and in the middle. In Orange County, for example, more than 60 percent of registered voters had already cast a ballot through Sunday. As of Monday afternoon, nearly 12 million Californians had voted; that’s more than half the active, registered voters in the state, California’s Secretary of State shared in a tweet.
That’s a lot of early enthusiasm.
Check back throughout the day for updates.
Source: Orange County Register
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