I voted today on the first day of early voting in Arkansas and had a couple of realizations.

[TomSlick]

First, I did the very thing for which we criticize the MAGATs - I voted a straight party line. I voted for all the Democrats (including one that I know personally and really do not like). I did not vote in two races in which there was no Democratic candidate. I voted against all the matters referred by the GOP-controlled state legislature. In the "non-partisan" Supreme Court election, I voted against the candidate endorsed by the GOP. Voting did not require any thought.

Second, all of the poll workers were black women. I know all of these ladies and they would not tolerate any attempt by MAGAts to interfere with people voting. They are all formidable women that should not be trifled with.

[LakeArenal]

1. I think they have underestimated the will of the people.

We will see soon.

[TomSlick]

2. I harbor little hope for Arkansas for the foreseeable future.

Too many here will never forgive the Democrats for electing a black man to the White House.

I hope that I am wrong.

[LakeArenal]

4. Me too.

[Arkansas Granny]

3. I mailed my ballot today and made my choices using the same criteria.

I don't see Arkansas turning blue any time soon, but it hasn't been that many years ago that most of our elected officials at the federal level were Democrats, so maybe there's hope

[TomSlick]

5. I agree that Arkansas will not be turning blue anytime soon.

I will vote a straight Democratic ticket every time there is an election. It's what I can do and therefore must.

As one Arkansas grandparent to another, good to hear from you Granny.

[Evolve Dammit]

6. That is encouraging, especially the second part.

[kelly1mm]

7. I don't think we can criticize MAGAs for voting straight party line when 'Vote Blue, No Matter Who'

is a prominent theme here on DU. Well we can criticize as they should not be considering R's at all but not on the 'straight line voting' aspect of it once they decide to vote 'red'.

[Mr.Bill]

8. We vote this way because

they created a political war which requires us to do so.

[TomSlick]

12. That and because the GOP has become the party of MAGAts.

Any other option is superior.

[CharleyDog]

9. I too voted on a complete Democratic line, without regard to policies. If a candidate

was endorsed by a Republican in a so-called "non-partisan" role, I voted for the opponent.
Not that I ever really have voted for a Republican, I always researched their policies and history to make my decision, not on their affiliation. Now, only Democrats, from now on

[Joinfortmill]

10. Im with you.

[paleotn]

11. Years ago in NC, some deluded folks.....

outside our polling location were handing out voting guides so that we would, in their words, "know who the conservatives were running for NC supreme court and other judge seats." I thanked them and said, "now I know who NOT to vote for." Needless to say, they weren't happy, but I certainly was. An educated voter is a good voter.

And no...that's not a magat trick. At this point, it's a case of knowing who the fascists are. They're the ones with R at the end of their names.

[Liberal_Vet]

13. I did the same today in Orlando Florida

First day of early voting and a straight Democratic ballot. Val Demings, Charlie Crist, and Maxwell Frost.

[barbtries]

14. that's what i do,

without apology. republicans must be stopped, they're destroying democracy in the USA.

[kelly1mm]

19. Unfortunately this is the same attitude my MAGA inlaws have. 'Liberals must be stopped

or we won't have a country left' is what they say when I try to talk sense into them. Double unfortunately they live in PA (swing state) while I live in MD (solid blue).

[barbtries]

20. it's all but impossible

to argue with delusional, cult-like thinking. you can show them the facts and they won't even believe them. it's maddening, frightening, and depressing.

[calimary]

15. Thank you for the report.

God bless those women working at the precincts. That's a true, genuine, and generous public service. Especially nowadays!

[Arkansas Pilot]

16. Chris Jones is within 10 pts of SHS

Per Hendrix college poll
https://www.kark.com/news/your-local-election-hq/talk-business-politics-hendrix-college-poll-shows-double-digit-leads-for-arkansas-republican-candidates/

[TomSlick]

17. Ten points is a lot. I'm afraid that SHS is a shoe-in.

But hope springs eternal.

[Qutzupalotl]

26. Dobbs mobilized a lot of unlikely voters

who won't show up in polls. And considering pot is on the ballot, and SHS is loathsome…we might have a chance.

[mopinko]

29. i think polls r off by min 10pts.

they were off over 20 in kansas. i think there will be a lot of pollsters thinking about a new career on nov 9.
weed bill will help.

[yaesu]

18. I didn't vote straight ticket but down voted whenever a repuke was the only choice & I voted for

every Democratic candidate running. I did vote for one republican, my nephew running for school board but he was the only one running & there was no political tag.

[soldierant]

21. I mailed my ballot last week and learned today it has been received.

I used pretty much the xame criteria, and have dome for a long time - with less and less thought as the GOP have become more and more extreme. There wwas a time, during my lifetie, when the GOp put up whio were worth considering. That hasn't been true for many years now. Even Lisa Murkowski, who may (or may not) be running as a Republican, gained her place on the ballot by an end run around the party. (and has endorce the Democratic candidate for the House).

For full disclosure, there was a short period when I lived in a state legislative district which was deep red, and there was a GOP primary in which they had pitted a RWNJ against a reasonable person. I took the necessary steps to cross over into that primary and vote for the reasonable person, who did win the primary and the general. I was far from alone, - that contrast was so stark that many frightened Democrats did the same. I have never regretted it. She later became our state insurance commissioner, and I have no cpmplaints about her there either. She just did her job. And that was the only time I have voted for a Republican since the Carter Administration at least.

[Higherarky]

22. What's your view on issue #4?

Also, GO Chris Jones!!

Dreaming here.
🤞

[TomSlick]

23. I voted for it for a couple of reasons.

(1) We need to stop imprisoning folks for marijuana possession.

(2) Legalizing marijuana would set the MAGAT's hair on fire.

[Higherarky]

25. Thanx, Neighbor

🔥

[DownriverDem]

24. I vote a straight D ticket

We voted for a proposal that kept a straight party option in place as well as other voting rights in 2018. Voting for someone in a party you don't agree with is not a good thing to do. You get the party a candidate runs with.

[BComplex]

27. Any person of any party who votes for any republican this election should be

considered too treasonous to be allowed to vote.

I'm TOTALLY fine with nobody ever voting for any republican ever again. I've so had it with mohammed bin salman and putin's USA party.

[Scrivener7]

28. Down the line for me. Makes it easy. Probably will do that for the rest of my life.

Unless some cadre of anti-abortion Democrats starts running. Then I'll abstain from those races.

I'm a one issue voter now. I'm picky. I want dominion over my own body. And I won't accept a bunch of ignorant white guys' decrees over what I am and am not allowed to do with my own body.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

30. I am such a racist ...

Your comment made me imagine all the polls in MT Greene's district being worked by "formidable" black women. Imagine the reactions of the MAGAts as they come to vote.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-came-of-age-in-this-infamously-racist-georgia-county

[TomSlick]

31. My little town has its own unfortunate history concerning the treatment of black people.

After all, I'm in southwest Arkansas. There is no shortage of racists in my area, which explains why it is so deeply red.

I am sure the formidable black woman to whom I referred are keenly aware of the history and they are not going back. I dearly hope that the local MAGAts were caused discomfort by seeing them working at the election.

[Takket]

32. you have my condolences on the upcoming four years of governor fuckabee

[TomSlick]

33. It's going to be dreadful.

The worst of it is that SHS will simply be a lap dog for our MAGAt legislature. The legislature will simply ignore SHS and the governor's veto in Arkansas is meaningless, not that SHS would ever consider vetoing anything passed by the MAGAt legislature.

As bizarre as it sounds, we will miss Asa.