Common Cause, a nonpartisan watchdog group, held a press briefing to discuss the outcomes of the elections held on Tuesday. The organization noted that while the elections ran relatively smoothly, there are still close races that won't be called immediately, and it may take days to count all the votes.
Virginia Solomón, the president and CEO of Common Cause, emphasized the importance of managing public expectations regarding the timing of election results. Solomón highlighted that delays in calling election results are not abnormal and only become an issue when unrealistic expectations are set.
Common Cause provided insights into the election process in key battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, and Georgia, as well as in the large states of Texas and California.
Some of the challenges faced by voters on Election Day, as reported by Common Cause, included:
- Long lines with wait times ranging from 90 minutes to several hours, particularly in districts with high populations of young college students and on university campuses.
- Issues with printed ballots and scanners, leading to some counties extending their polling hours to accommodate voters.
- Instances of voter intimidation and agitation tactics in California and Texas, including requests for voter IDs, disruptions in lines, and improper electioneering in Michigan.
Common Cause's briefing shed light on the various obstacles that voters encountered during the election process, underscoring the importance of patience and understanding as the final votes are tallied.
