How the US counts votes

Follow the results of the 2020 presidential election at: www.vox.com/2020
In a normal presidential election year, many Americans go from casting our vote before work in the morning to turning off the TV before bed, secure in our knowledge of who will lead the country for the next four years. But in 2020, there’s a better-than-average chance that won’t happen.
Even before the coronavirus struck, more Americans each election were either voting early or voting my mail. But in 2020, these numbers are expected to skyrocket, and that means states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which don’t start counting mail-in ballots until election day, probably won’t have results for several days. This year, voters are facing a pandemic, a deliberately underfunded postal service, and the closure of polling locations in battleground states like Georgia, Ohio, Arizona, and Texas.
In this video, we take a comprehensive deep dive into how states count votes. Each of the 3,141 counties in the US has its own rules, but there are some basic steps that are mostly the same across the country. Whether you’re voting in person early, on election day, by mail, or dropping off your ballot, we break down some of the differences and similarities in how and when states collect, verify, process, and count ballots.
Once you understand how votes are counted, it’s clear just how important each vote really is.
Further reading:
Voting by mail and absentee voting (MIT Election Data and Science Lab)
electionlab.mit.edu/research/...
Democracy Diverted: Polling Place Closures and the Right to Vote (The Leadership Conference Education Fund)
civilrightsdocs.info/pdf/repor...
Election night marks the end of one phase of campaign 2020 - and the start of another (Pew)
www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank...
How Quickly Will Your Absentee Vote Be Counted? A State-by-State Timeline (New York Times)
www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...
The Voting Process: From the Ballot Box to the Presidency (NBC News)
www.nbcnews.com/specials/elec...
How Mail-in Voting Works In Ohio: A Step-By-Step Guide (WVU)
www.wusa9.com/article/news/ve...
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Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out www.vox.com.
Watch our full video catalog: goo.gl/IZONyE
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Or Twitter: goo.gl/XFrZ5H

[@Vox]

Follow the results of the 2020 presidential election on Vox: www.vox.com/2020

[@sullivan342]

ok mamas🥶‼️

[@otk-4354]

Yay

[@IDONTKNOWHOWBUTTHEYFOUNDMECOOL]

ok

[@smileyface8434]

ok boomer

[@mohamadhesso2392]

Hey I know this is different topic but can you make a video that explain who Kurds are and why they don’t have country until this day

[@18utkb]

Why is everything so confusing In America?

[@hotdogmakemehappy7337]

MURICA

[@kylefielder9664]

Even the time is month than day compared to most countries that say day then month (for example March 26th compared to the 26th of March)

[@adityasanthosh7697]

They want to Make America Great Again

[@MrKAmsterdam]

It's confusing to ban non-Trumpists from Voting. Even with 60% Biden would have no chance in some states.

[@aslitis1673]

@Levi yeah that's exactly what they said. Not that the voting system ist confusing.

[@Phyto.]

Watching the current affairs of your country is like watching the fall of Rome in real time.

[@acchris029]

@@devsagarcrypto Do you work 24 hours a day?

[@cgt3704]

thats because that is

[@patlab555]

@@devsagarcrypto You don't remember history class in school? Your country is following the exact same path!

[@devsagarcrypto]

@@patlab555 Thats. Why Millions of people from all around the world want to come and live here.

[@nomadliving2212]

*Laughs in Europe*

[@kjmok]

Seriously every vote counts. Here in Malaysia we had an unprecedented voter turnout rate in 2018 and managed to overthrow a government that has been in power for 60+ years.

[@Hfekaie]

Americans did the same they threw out democrats

[@kendrick4462]

@@Hfekaie Yeah and how's that worked out? NUMBER 1 IN CORONAVIRUS BABY!

[@ProfessorSyndicateFranklai]

What happened in 2018 and around the time of that term, and how do you think Americans can replicate it?

[@RaymondHng]

It had to take something so egregiously corrupt such as the 1MDB scandal to happen.

[@yahyanayn7917]

@@kendrick4462 NUMBER #1 USA USA

[@buccanerk]

In Germany we either vote in person on election day (which is always on a Sunday when people are off work) or by mail before the election. A few weeks in advance every German citizen who is allowed to vote will receive an election voting card along with a pre-paid stamped envelope. You just throw it into the mailbox or you bring it with you on election day. Job done.

[@peterlustig8636]

U can also bring ur ballot prior to the mail election pol station and cast ur vote in person.

[@The3p3hr]

Historically speaking germany have learned the hard way to make voting as easy as possible i just wish US had the same system as yours

[@SD-ed8is]

I never got a stamped envelope with my voting notification. You have to fill out the back of the notification to get the Briefwahlunterlagen.

[@ishuika]

Not much different here in the UK

[@jpablo700]

Nobody in Germany works on Sunday...?

[@Carrieland]

Me, an Australian: "I don't need to think about the US election so much, I don't even live there." Also me: *desperately clicks on Vox video explaining the intricate vote counting process for the US election*

[@chelseahoang1676]

PERIODDDDDTTTT - another australian

[@harrisonturner1716]

Dude you from Qld,

[@cosmin77sin]

@e n o u g h How is he not minding his business? He said he watched a video online and you act like he is planning to fraudulently vote.

[@roxxxion5528]

Well I'm not American and also very nervous. But it does make sense why a person who is not American will care about the elections. Whoever becomes the next president,its gonna effect many countries.

[@brandonwalker5011]

It affects you just like as an American I care about political events in China, the EU, Canada and other places in the world that will affect me.

[@ArkhamDelta]

How to make everything more complicated for absolutely no reason.

[@giorgialadashvili4771]

Oh, but there is a reason: voter suppression.

[@walshdog61]

@@giorgialadashvili4771 the boogeyman

[@lohengramm6969]

@SlimyKlerburt Are you serious?

[@jasonzurlo1543]

Sorry, but how would you organize a nation wide event where data needs to be counted accurately and verified?

[@Jigachader]

what?? the reason is to secure the entire main pillar of democracy - voting .. you want your vote to be anonymous and secure.. AT ALL COSTS - all this is done to prevent tampering with the voting outcome

[@SoSo-li6dn]

Its funny how Americans keep going on about "FREEDOM" and "DEMOCRACY" and it is not nearly as simple as other countries.

[@madden8021]

We are a Flawed Democracy that might go down towards a hybrid regime as the Democracy index puts it, our elections are rigged to the max and still supporting 2 Party, Plurality, First Past the Post, Winner Takes All, Gerrymandering System while most of Europe, Australia and New Zealand has a Multi-party System with Proportion Representation and alternative voting like Ranked Choice or approval. Only way to fix our political and electoral problem is to support RCV or Approval and PR and will be a full Democracy again but sadly, nobody in the U.S likes the word "change" and want to keep things the same.

[@kelkellys]

We are a *representative republic* when it comes to how we count votes and elect officials but voting and everything else is what makes us a democracy.

[@kiwikiwi2483]

Why are Europeans so rude? Like they hate any country that isn't theirs or in their continent

[@109reaper]

And most of them won’t even be able to spell those words

[@Niosus]

@@kiwikiwi2483 That's not true though. We don't hate America, we (or at least I) hate how its democracy is being undermined. Throwing up barriers and procedures that make it more difficult to vote are just inherently not democratic. We're very critical about what's happening in America because we care about America, because it has an impact on us and the rest of the world. We need a strong America to be our ally, so we can stand up to the surge in Asia. I think overall that prosperity in Asia is a good thing, but it does shift the balance of power towards regimes that are often less or not democratic at all (with fewer freedoms). This impacts everyone. For the world to move in the direction of freedom and democracy, the USA needs to be strong.

[@alusias3183]

me: is not american, doesn’t live anywhere close to america also me: * watches every video I can find on the 2020 elections *

[@ca-ke9493]

Unfortunately US policies can impact the other parts of the world significantly

[@alusias3183]

@@ca-ke9493 true

[@ewrh78]

i did that in 2008... very unhealthy for your mind ;-)

[@arock9529]

Same lol

[@linzithelord]

I has been keeping doing that and there are 2020 election stuff in my dreams.

[@03.achyuthans39]

For once my country does stuff easier than America...

[@ceber54]

In my country (Mexico) all the counting is manual and we know who wins the election, or at least who will, 48 hours after. That's more, you can check over the internet what was the result of your polling station on through those 48 hours.

[@03.achyuthans39]

This is coming from an indian btw... our elections itself take over a month and the result comes some 20 days later... but it's easy and accessible for people...

[@lendleasereit6797]

Mine too. Majority wins haha

[@MrPanda._.]

@@lendleasereit6797 what do you mean

[@bagadeshkumarr9502]

@@MrPanda._. For Americans Majority won't win the elections. It is a winner takes all system. They have to win the Electoral College to win

[@lukelafratta8232]

Why don’t we just have the presidential candidates in an arena and they have to fight to the death.

[@fauzirahimpohan3130]

they are toobobese to do it

[@mrotter3029]

@@fauzirahimpohan3130 let's be real Biden's jn better shape

[@HoraceRocketMan]

@@mrotter3029 Cope of the century

[@airwipe1639]

@@mrotter3029 I don’t know about that, both are just, ughhh

[@kpsingh8323]

and stone cold will be refree

[@oswald7597]

Video : How the US counts votes Nevada : "We don't do that here"

[@simonriley983]

Deceased: I'm gonna vote for Biden!

[@williamzhao3931]

@@simonriley983 Dead people did not vote. What happened was that there were living citizens who had similar names to dead people, and there were clerical mistakes which misidentified their ballots as coming from a dead person. This has been confirmed by many sources, including many news media, state election officials.

[@mactheory3876]

It’s a joke calm your tids boy

[@allthingssports4957]

@@simonriley983Cry

[@CosmosBFN]

They got NASA and top universities but still can't simplify their election. 😂😂😂

[@kepspark3362]

👆🏻 this!!😂 I was looking for this comment!

[@stbananastein]

This is unfortunately considered a feature, not a bug by the powers that be

[@scrubby_good158]

The top universities are a scam tho

[@gonosoe3952]

@BoomerLemon "too much intelligent" way of electing president shows unfair result. Millions of votes will be wasted. Electoral dumbege.🙄

[@StrayKev]

@@scrubby_good158 nah, my cousin went to Princeton and now makes 200k as a software engineer at Facebook.

[@55455]

they literally do this on purpose, the system DOESN’T need to be like this

[@FayyaazAhmed]

@UnlistedHacker Like literally every other country in the world.

[@takatamiyagawa5688]

Care to elaborate on which part of the system doesn't need to be there?

[@gabriellaarango9100]

AGREE. ....!!!!!! 100 %. ,, Everything about voting in America is so complicated , humm!!!🧐

[@zyansheep]

@@takatamiyagawa5688 well, for one, electronic voting isn't secure and can easily be compromised (changing thousands or 10s of thousands of votes at a time). Tom Scott has a good video about that.

[@xaiano794]

@@takatamiyagawa5688 the part where you have to drive over an hour to get to the polling station and the part where you have to queue for hours. Civilised countries don't have those.

[@user-sc4hv8qe6f]

"In politics, stupidity is not a handicap." -A useless spam bot

[@serenadinardo5159]

It's Napoleon Bonaparte

[@coquimapping8680]

Why do people hate that person? It gives inspiring quotes.

[@shaafalikhan3704]

@@serenadinardo5159 Vive la Napoleon.

[@CosmicValkyrie]

In democracy, stupidity is the norm for the people.

[@luciabreccia1901]

In my country, everyones votes on the same day (Sunday) on schools. Depending on where you live, you're assigned a nearby school and classroom you should vote in. You enter an empty classroom with all ballots, place one in an envelope, get out of the classroom and place the envelope in a box. Each classroom has a "board" of people that are randomly selected between all the population weeks before the election, and have to play the role of checking everyone's identifications, replacing ballots if they run out, and ensuring you enter your envelope on the box. Meanwhile, representatives of all parties check that everything is going well. At the end of the day, the "board" of people of each classroom take the box with all the votes into the room and count them visible to everyone there, including representatives of all or some of the parties. The board's president then writes the results of that room in a special envelope, and every other member has to sign it. Then, that is given to the authorities that are responsible of safely transport it and upload the data. You can check if your "classroom" is uploaded with all the national results, and it always is. Is that easy and transparent and it's very difficult to commit fraud. It really seems like the US makes it purposely difficult for people to vote.

[@dulceglass9111]

Oh yeah, the Conservative side of our government makes it really hard so the people that could throw an election for them can't vote. It's so awful. They also use techniques to alter the way districts lines are drawn in our states to have a political edge. So like, they literally cheat because their ideas are unpopular in the places where it counts.

[@itzdumb]

It’s really built by design to be like this :(

[@hakeemabdella9551]

Just out of curiosity, what about this makes it seem like its difficult to vote - it seemed like the majority of this was the convolution of the counting process, to vote all you need to do is be registered, and go to your assigned location, get a ballot, mark it and scan it in, or mark a mailed ballot and mail it in, or mark a mailed ballot and drop it off at a designated box. It does not seem so much different from what you described your voting procedure to be like.

[@bellaphillips2869]

@@dulceglass9111 yeah :/ it's ridiculous, republicans (not all tho) try to prevent people like democrats, liberals and minorities so they their candidate can win smh

[@dulceglass9111]

@@hakeemabdella9551 Polling stations locations can be reduced so there are comically large lines, you can he turned away for "not matching signatures," some states don't allow election day registration, preventing convicted felons who are out of prison from voting, purging the voter registration if they had not voted in x amount of years for no real reason. There's so many ways to stop the people you don't want to vote from voting in this country. It's awful.

[@sakibsagirul4093]

In Bangladesh, we don't need to vote. Last time, the ruling party did that for us on day before election night. So, we know, who is going win 2/3 yrs earlier.

[@ZOCCOK]

Time Travel

[@mindslayer6810]

Lol

[@chenalindelossantos967]

wt

[@checkKcube77]

The US political system has to be rebuilt from the ground up. It made sense 200 years ago but times have changed...

[@scythegaming99]

Electoral college is needed MORE now than ever before, otherwise the presidential election would depend on 3 of the 50 states, (NY, CA, TX) and the rest would have to abide to the interest of those 3 states. Electoral college is a miracle, i dont know how they figure it out so long ago but its the closest to "fairness" as you can get. Edit: Its necessary for it to work to let the states have the independence and flexibility they have today, thats crucial to its effectiveness

[@Ben-pz7wo]

It’s absolutely broken. A system driven by money and corporations.

[@FelipeKana1]

@@scythegaming99 not 3 States. Just the majority of voters, regardless of where they are. Stop thinking about States and remember the country is made of individuals and all should count the same

[@august_619]

@e n o u g h i want Trump to win just to see americans suffer for four more years..

[@pattycake101]

@@scythegaming99 Small states already have more power than they should. Each Wyoming delegate represents about 200,000 people but each California one represents about 700,00. Why should a Wyoming voter have 3.5x more power than a voter in California? Either way, a few states are going to hold alot of power regardless so it makes more sense for them to be states like CA, NY, and Texas where more Americans live because the majority SHOULD rule. Also did you know under the electoral college system, it’s possible for a candidate to win the presidency with only 23% of the popular vote (NPR)?

[@Parazod]

Me : *Has no idea how voting in my non-USA country works* Also me : Hmm better find out how they do in America

[@CityLifeinAmerica]

Most will probably be similar in terms of the computer and machine part of it. These election computer companies like ES&S and Dominion Voting are worldwide 🌎

[@username-pq4nb]

Lol

[@abhyudaykotamarthy2678]

Because it's usually simpler in other countries..??

[@snickthegreat]

@@abhyudaykotamarthy2678 it’s by popular vote in most countries

[@user-nq5zt8tm7u]

"Democracy is a marathon, not a sprint."

[@monkeyshk7349]

So accurate.

[@elmuchacho47]

if thats the case america hasnt found the racing track in the past few centurys

[@cs7811]

@el muchacho I don't care what you meant by that, that's the funniest thing I've ever seen

[@TomAndersonn]

We're a constitutional republic, not a full on democracy. There's a difference.

[@faranocks]

@@TomAndersonn cry more gop

[@howexoticvietnam]

This is a good channel. I am thinking of creating a channel like this in Vietnam.

[@crystalwaters2260]

Every country needs a channel like this, I wish my country had one

[@howexoticvietnam]

@@crystalwaters2260 Yes, we will help each other soon.

[@alessandroferrari6004]

If you put English subtitles you have a sub right here!

[@howexoticvietnam]

@@alessandroferrari6004 Thank you so much and love to work with you too.

[@villa7230]

@@howexoticvietnam umm no

[@VastKnowledge]

Explaining the theories of rocket science suddenly seem much more simplistic after watching this... 😨

[@thenomad9963]

definitely not, but I get the sentiment lol

[@tubetubecommentor4795]

maybe they should change the phrase to "it's not counting votes"

[@anp1609]

Please don’t compare highest level of physics to mediocre political science

[@rajashekarvg]

LOL, sure you're joking. But this is a 100x easier to understand than rocket science.

[@hakeemabdella9551]

How do you know this is a joke and still waste your time saying "hurrr no its not"

[@carolinaguy85]

Why wasn’t this released 2 months ago

[@leo-vr4yr]

i agree, but maybe people would not have been interested in watching it

[@raquelcurtis2044]

...because obviously the dems along with the 1% elite didn’t think they were going to have to corrupt the election SO MUCH! 💯

[@CereDulce37]

@@raquelcurtis2044 😐

[@pkhkp]

In France : you show up on election day (a sunday). You wait 5 minutes tops. You vote. They count the ballots at the end of the day. The end.

[@SomePotato]

Pretty much all of Europe: same.

[@averageagarthianman]

france population: 70 million US population: 330 million France size: 547,030 km^2 US size: 9,629,091 km^2 Not sure why it isn't as fast in the US????

[@reclusiarchgrimaldus1269]

And then retreat

[@sideshow00]

@@averageagarthianman France also isn't nearly as culturally diverse. And that whole situation with the Algerians over there is a mess. "Were all French". Lol sure.

[@X.Y.Z.07]

Huge difference in scale dude....

[@anisanurraudah8383]

*Nevada counting ballots like the sloth in Zootopia.*

[@Craznar]

In Australia - the whole country does things in a unified way, we have to vote and the government goes out of its way to get votes from people - including sending out voting officials to hospitals, remote towns and indigenous settlements. There is around 10 different way to vote here, including voting in a completely different place to where you live (absentee voting).

[@emmaq3250]

You also have a government that confiscated guns and heavily censors media/video games/etc.

[@cinquine1]

@@emmaq3250 At least they know that it's the will of the people.

[@oaf1575]

oh Australia, where women cant carry peppers spray to defend themselves cuz its illegal

[@AndreiNeptune]

@@oaf1575 they don’t even have regular school shootings! They need to get their act together

[@Craznar]

@@oaf1575 yeah - it's great how we as a society don't need to carry weapons around with us. Gives us more freedom. Thanks for pointing out more advantages of living in Australia.

[@grantfromthegrantianplanet4932]

Ma’am this is a Dunkin Donuts

[@markh.6687]

And she's there in her pajamas!

[@CityLifeinAmerica]

Hey actually our voting centers gave out Krispy Kreme this morning!! So close!

[@rahulwadhawan8040]

Bwahahahaha

[@kicokuciii]

HAHAHAHHAHAHAH

[@brunoborgatti4880]

@@CityLifeinAmerica that's the americanest thing i have ever red

[@AmericanAntiCorruptionAct]

Voting is 100% more effective than complaining on the internet

[@freedom3594]

I’d like to file an e-complaint 😆

[@MasterofBeats]

@@freedom3594 haha

[@pioneer240.]

I’ll be able to vote in 2024. So I’ll come back to this in 4 years

[@seanvasquez523]

Same with me since I'll be 19 in 2024.

[@drabberfrog]

@@seanvasquez523 same

[@myguyhasrizz_9210]

I am 18 in 2020. Checkmate . :)

[@drabberfrog]

@@myguyhasrizz_9210 haha you're old. Checkmate. :)

[@seanvasquez523]

@@myguyhasrizz_9210, Not me though. I'm 15.

[@worldofsports4426]

As a European: that system seems soooo strange :D

[@olukorey]

you guys just do popular vote or??

[@chloevitagliano9565]

@@olukorey popular vote

[@rubetornabene8543]

@@chloevitagliano9565 Not true

[@rubetornabene8543]

@@olukorey No, the elections are rigged by the whites in Europe

[@lereff1382]

@@rubetornabene8543 huh?

[@jainish1556]

They weren’t kidding when the said democracy is a marathon.

[@lokiodinson5412]

they were, because the us isn't really a democracy (anymore). to even get a chance of being elected for senat in a smaller state like vermont, you need at least a million and more... therefore its more like an oligarchy (reign of the rich)

[@ZOCCOK]

@@lokiodinson5412 what? How is it an Oligarchy if a person requires votes?

[@jonnymyong]

​@@ZOCCOK The United States is a mix between an oligarchy and a republic, not a true democracy. The rich have the most influence for obvious reasons, and the popular vote doesn't really matter in the end, as America uses the electoral college.

[@lokiodinson5412]

@@ZOCCOK since you need a lot of money to even been able to get votes

[@mehedihasan2024]

Americans: Having Presidential Election World: This seems a nice show to binge and judge their IQ level based on who they vote.

[@sdpblueneko4559]

Honesty, the U.S. election for some reason seems to more popular with other countries than their own election which I am not sure if that a good thing or not.

[@messidinho8895]

@@sdpblueneko4559 Well it’s both kinda. We all seem to think our own countries are super boring compared to the exiting and huge presidential election the USA has, its natural that we are interested. Also, this election is gonna effect the rest of the world and chances are high that it is gonna effect your country.

[@suzdbombcat4006]

@@sdpblueneko4559 Like it or not, the US kinda runs the show for the entire world right now. So it makes complete sense why the entire world is interested in the US elections.

[@lucuslopez6866]

@@sdpblueneko4559 The US funds like 75% of the world government. So its in their best interest to know whos gonna be in charge.

[@samdavis9479]

Honestly, this is the most I've ever learned about the US voting system.

[@Kpelz]

Same here.

[@amyangela9143]

In Bangladesh, we don't need to vote. Last time, the ruling party did that for us on day before election night. So, we know, who is going win 2/3 yrs earlier.

[@chelseahoang1676]

honestly its seems so complicated i can kinda see why so many people don't vote.... but regardless it's still important!!!

[@neilis2405]

That makes about as much sense as saying you can see why people don't drive because they can't understand how an internal combustion engine works. The voting process as of my last vote (about 2 hours ago): Fill out registration form at least one in your life. Show up at polling place, tell them your name. They give you a piece of paper. You put paper in machine. Click your choices. Machines prints and gives back paper. You throw it in the box on the way out. You don't have to understand the intricacies of the counting process behind it all unless you just have a particular penchant for it.

[@chelseahoang1676]

@@neilis2405 ur absolutely right

[@ang6872]

@@neilis2405 I think the process I’m the pollworkers’ side is to directly prevent tampering of votes but it’d be a lie to say that voting is easy and accessible on a large scale

[@boredstranger7522]

Last time i'm this early, Hillary was on the lead

[@miroslavmilan]

You mean Edmund Hillary on his way to Everest?

[@evan51298]

they should get those chuck e cheese ticket eaters and do it that way.

[@kimjongun6746]

Looks complicated 🇺🇲. In my country, everybody votes as responsible citizens 🇰🇵🇷🇺💪

[@stung39]

@Kylie jenner Yep

[@stung39]

I am real

[@AshutoshKumar-es8xy]

Every election 105% votes to kim jong un

[@susgaming9441]

@Kylie jenner based? Based on what?

[@kaii6544]

@@susgaming9441 its a joke cause his name is kim jong un

[@PremierCCGuyMMXVI]

I never thought there would ever be voter suppression in the “freest” nation on earth

[@bbernie]

"Wait, America is not really the land of the free?!?" "Never has been"🔫🔫🔫

[@Belioyt]

Seems you glossed over the history of the "freest" nation on earth while you went through your "education" system.

[@user-eh1gc7xo7q]

Americas ‘Empire’ was extremely short lived. In a country where shops board up because of a simple election is astonishing. Considering this country is supposedly the leader of the free world. The American dream has diminished and anyone else that says otherwise is lying to themselves. This election will be over in months when the protests and legal matters end, regardless of who wins. Wouldn’t be surprised if the church that worships guns joins in too. And the US have the nerve to argue there the best country in the world. An embarrassment to the earth

[@MateusSFigueiredo]

there probably isn't, because the USA is not a free country

[@grayishcolors]

that's not voter suppression, that's how the vote gets counted

[@nevink4717]

Well it was good while it lasted. America's crumbling like the Roman Empire.

[@DanksterPaws]

both caused by leaders hated by the public and also very bad border control

[@ahmadhassan8466]

Both US and China need to be divided up. World don't need superpowers

[@f_f_f_8142]

You mean the Roman Republic

[@p_enta5012]

While it seems like that on the outside literally nothing day to day has changed.

[@OhJomiel]

Except it wasn't really that good

[@kyleb3967]

As a poll worker, the system you described about having "teams of two" isn't true for all counties.

[@AvgJane19]

Yeah that's the 1st I'm hearing of this

[@scrubby_good158]

@@Jordan_Dossou the votes don’t count themselves . Someone has to do it.

[@slingshoter8783]

The polls should have equal amount of people demarcates and republicans but CNN and others like them dont take polls like that now days

[@AKadHub]

In many of those places BOTH of those teams of TWO workers are working for the same party.

[@thehopeofeden597]

Who wants to give me a speaker so that I can blast “It’s The End of The World As We Know It” from my window tonight?

[@nathanielgrijalva225]

Me

[@privat63778]

Me

[@lunardragon2629]

sure xD

[@kylefielder9664]

Answer: after the elections over

[@dollardmx]

Yo why they just don't use the popular vote like 🔵 - 60mill votes 🔴 - 50mil votes 🔵 Wins

[@prcr364]

It’s a whole subject.

[@itsrocketscience7693]

It’s because of population density in certain areas. Essentially California and Texas and Florida would be voting for the whole country when in reality the whole country has different lifestyles and different point of views. For instance SoCal and NorCal. SoCal lives in the cities and tend to be more pro gun control than in NorCal where we actually hunt for food and such rather than buy from a supermarket so we have more conservative leanings than in SoCal. But SoCal represents the whole state since they have the population rating. Electoral college balances this out across the states due to the lifestyles and such.

[@itsrocketscience7693]

It also makes an effort on the electoral college for the president to make effort to all 50 states where people live rather than just going to the most populated dense cities and prioritizing them instead of the rest. That’s why we don’t do popular vote

[@stormfalcon1232]

@@itsrocketscience7693 But then they ignore heavily urbanized states like CA and NY because they're safe.

[@stormfalcon1232]

@@itsrocketscience7693 And if we used a national popular vote, it wouldn't be California or Texas or New York or Florida determining the election. The state that a vote came from would no longer matter, so one state would not be dictating the outcome of an election. We would all be voting as just Americans. Not as Michiganders, not as Californians, not as Wisconsinites, not as Mainers, but as just Americans.

[@VictorMartinez-eu3zl]

I appreciate how Vox makes things that are oftentimes confusing, boring, and complex, into topics that are entertaining, simple, and informative

[@adud6764]

what if the mailed vote is rejected because of something "trivial" like the signature? Do you get it back? I dont think they are going to wait for it to return? Guess it gets tossed?

[@cskrox96]

It gets tossed

[@redlabel7833]

In certain states if your vote gets rejected you are allowed to petition tbe rejection and/or resubmit a ballot. The rules can vary widely state by state and county by county, so (if you're american) always best to go on your county board of elections' website to check out the specifics

[@seabb]

Usually the county board of elections sends you a replacement ballot, but you'll have to recieve it and mail it in time before the deadline. Every state does it differently, some will still count it if it arrives a week late as long as it's postmarked by election day, and some won't even check your ballots till election day so they'll just get tossed without warning. You can still vote early or on election day. Thankfully though, this year it seems a lot more people are careful with their absentee/ mail-in ballots and there are a lot fewer getting tossed because of mistakes. Still wish we'd prevent these voter suppression tactics and make it universally easier to vote- it's just democracy 😩

[@Jaker788]

I Washington they send a verification form where they want some more info and possibly witness signatures. Not sure how other states work. This only works if you send it in early. Otherwise verification would take to long to get to you and count the current ballot. Source: happened to me once because I changed my signature

[@ryantoomey611]

You forgot to mention the part where they wheel in ballots at 4 in the morning all marked for one candidate.

[@yveltalplayspokemon]

Source?

[@MCernoble]

Everybody thinks this is so complicated but it’s really not. It is not needlessly complex because every little step is to ensure that the result is not compromised. Idk if it’s perfect but simplifying it is not the way to go.

[@seichgeni12]

In Switzerland, we vote about five times a year on a national level, and the majority of people mail in their ballot. Of course, there's a lot of logistics involved, but it hasn't been a problem for 200 years. Why does it have to be this complicated in the US?

[@SomePotato]

That's pretty much what all of Europe thinks, even though we don't vote as much as the Swiss.

[@AvgJane19]

Voter disenfranchisement

[@BlueNightZX]

"Deep quote" --Deep person

[@leonguyen896]

"Witty sarcastic remark" -Witty sarcastic person

[@gabboaudo]

"Deep quote" --Johnny Deep

[@markh.6687]

"Deep Thoughts, by Jack Handy" -Saturday Night Live

[@TheRenegade...]

"This isn't how youtube replies work" - sane people

[@nabii5951]

That guy's groan when CNN recalled Florida sounded like a Dwight Howard press conference.

[@brianposewitz3666]

Great video. It's good to know the details of how the votes get counted. Had to search for awhile for something that explained all that.

[@BeaverBoy7]

I hope this election is amusing for everyone not in America.

[@MisterFro9]

It would be if you weren't a superpower 😭 the outcome affects us to. Please demand voting reform.

[@alexejnovak8693]

@@MisterFro9 , why? There is the Constitution though

[@dianamaioru497]

@@alexejnovak8693 Because the voting system is unfair and doesn't work for the 21st Century.

[@alexejnovak8693]

@@dianamaioru497 , nobody cares

[@dianamaioru497]

@@alexejnovak8693 You literally asked...

[@emndz9995]

VOTE! Trump said he will try to stop the election when he’s ahead so it doesnt get “overturned”

[@paradox_monke7338]

Probably the most corrupted way to win an election

[@emndz9995]

@@paradox_monke7338 and if he doesnt win that way he has a majority in the Supreme Court

[@illDefine1]

This sounds like tds more than an actual fact. Source?

[@emndz9995]

@@illDefine1 supreme court judge has said this and trump said it LIVE, on CNN

[@illDefine1]

@@emndz9995 this sounds like tds ....SOURCE?? He said he would hire lawyers to investigate swing states. He never said anything close to what you are claiming. But if you are listening to CNN I understand why you believe such false stupidities. I tried to look it up and can't find anything related, even on CNN. It sounds like someone just told you this and you chose to believe it without fact checking, just like CNN and their viewers ... they depend on gullible people who bow down to legacy media. Another thing CNN always does is cut the clip to make it sound completely different from the original message. If only you hear 10 seconds before they start of the clip, you realize the message is completely different. CNN are intentional liars and deceivers who can only survive on the ignorance of their viewers.

[@enricoiraldo9057]

Incredible how it’s one nation but so fragmented in rules, policies and procedures

[@carnosinehobs7759]

This content is good and needed. Thanks for keeping us informed Vox!

[@janemarrazzo5276]

This is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you for the explanation!!!!!!

[@emmaj1384]

Why can’t they just make it like the Oregon system? You can go at 3am if you want and put your ballot in a box!

[@dulceglass9111]

Then everyone can vote. )))))):

[@emmaj1384]

@@dulceglass9111 everyone legally allowed to vote, yes

[@nicktheprick666]

@The777nt 21st my guy, 20th century was the 1900s

[@VikasMV12]

This definitely looks messy! Believe me, for a country of billion people with inequalities in every sphere of life, India does a marvel in conducting election. Immense respect for the Constitutional national body conducting it.

[@_ikako_]

the rural areas that they have to get voting stations out too it's very impressive that they're able to accommodate those people

[@CHILLAXING]

To be honest, the voting system is pretty disorganized. Although, the United States is pretty much a very prosperous and it's a highly developed country. I agree with the fact that the voting system is pretty scrambled out though.

[@theturniptress805]

+

[@chromaticskent7395]

Was looking for this video yesterday

[@theshijufamily9205]

Very good way of explanation and description

[@danieltolson5341]

Nov 3, 2020- The Day America cancels The Apprentice: Swamp Edition. Sorry Don but you’re fired.

[@kingkaga898]

Got some bad news for you bud

[@chudthug]

lol no

[@abdelrahmanhesham1597]

Thanks for the interesting video ☺️

[@champagneindia4929]

This was a MUCH Needed video. 🤯🤯🤯

[@aaroncshearer]

I checked over and over on the Franklin county site as well. Hope you got to step four at some point.

[@softerhaze]

Ah yes, let’s make it complicated so Americans won’t understand and are just blindly like oh yeah, this is democracy, amazing

[@glennhower9265]

"Ma'am this is a Dunkin Donuts" Well played, Vox.

[@kimishacovington5396]

I like the way she explained that. Definitely put my mind at ease.

[@chaseism]

Very cool to see Columbus, OH making it in a Vox video!

[@AFilmaciones]

Getting rid of the electoral college would make things more transparent.

[@yahyakharbat995]

it would also greatly decrease voter representation but sure...

[@damjanmuskinja9227]

@@yahyakharbat995 by making most people's vote worth more..

[@dylanf3108]

The electoral college is 100 percent transparent. It’s extremely easy to understand, and you should who your electors are.

[@fireflygaming8764]

@Quincy Adams Cause, if the electoral college ceases to be, then all elections would be decided by the Texas and California.

[@user-sc4hv8qe6f]

I have not slept, its 6 AM, and this election is going to be interesting, very interesting.

[@nathanielgrijalva225]

Lol me too it. 6:52 idk Im look for who wins I never do and why now

[@huchencourouleau7304]

Love your video so much! Wonder how to make them ?! Like what program?! I really want to learn

[@muhammadabuzarkhan7450]

Vox really make great videos.

[@vatsal9005]

Bruh, compering population, indian election system is far better than this

[@jackblack704]

Not really, there's a guy who cut his hand to vote twice. India is way worse than the US and the US is really bad.

[@candypaii]

@@jackblack704 dunno how many people would cut of their hands for an election to make a sizable difference.

[@harshsharma03]

@@jackblack704 It's quite easy to vote in India tbh.

[@Petreon360]

Following the American elections have made me realise how much better we do elections here in Australia. The Australian Electoral Commission is fully independent and those working on election days have no affiliation with any parties. And in Australia every effort is made to make it easier for people to register and vote.. Australian Parliament electorates on average have around 115,000 electors and on average election electorate has around 20 polling locations. And all votes are counted on the night and political parties can send scrutineers to watch the count.

[@CHILLAXING]

I think that Australia really has a really great system out there! Although I don't agree with the fact where they make voting mandatory. I feel like people should choose to vote or not to because it takes their freedom away. They're being forced to vote. Although Australia has a really great system of flow.

[@Fabien2]

@@CHILLAXING voting is mandatory there because people fought for them to be able to vote

[@takatamiyagawa5688]

They don't send scrutineers to polling locations?

[@Craznar]

@@CHILLAXING Mandatory voting is why our politics is so moderate, instead of churches, and unions and universities rallying voters - everyone is already a voter, and politics is about choosing your policies.

[@akshathahegde7759]

Please make a follow-up video on how Nevada counts votes.

[@unvergebeneid]

As a non-American, let me tell you guys: it is _not_ normal to wait in line to cast your ballot, especially since you vote on a weekday that's not even a national holiday. So the fact that hundreds of polling locations were closed instead of new ones opened should outrage you.

[@mehdi4194]

“Mam. This is Dunkin’ Donuts.” Lol

[@advaitunni8099]

Use me as a “I was confused, and now Vox has made me more confused” button.

[@syafiqsaidan]

What's the name of the background music (violin) at 03:40? Bloomberg's Foundering uses the same music too...

[@theholyasdf3593]

3:50 That soundtrack is neat. It's a classy soundtrack with racing vibes. I want to know if I can find the source

[@LeoAbukar]

Fun fact: most people replying to this video are people complaining about how they don't understand american voting systems or how their not from the U.S.

[@splashgamer7027]

I dont think anyone wishes to be from the usa

[@utkrishtathapa213]

After this video I studied quantum physics and I understood everything

[@coldReactive]

2:00 -- Madison, WI's "Paper" Ballots aren't usually handed to a person after you're done voting, hasn't been like that for quite a while. It's instead put into a counter machine. Your name is instead "crossed off" as soon as you're handed your paper ballot the moment you get it. By "crossed off" I mean, there's a number on each ballot, and that number is placed next to your name in the list of voters.

[@u32481]

Vox - the audio is very quiet on this video. Had an ad screaming in my ear then the video came on and she is whispering

[@gpz6063]

Its like north korea where the only canadate that can vote is kim jong un

[@neelparmar6690]

Wait, they’re allowed to vote?

[@mateuszdrwal4377]

VOTE LIKE IT'S A TIE!!! BIDEN2020

[@rayh53]

What is the audit trail between the county and state to ensure the numbers from the county are reflected accurately at the national level???

[@MrRob_2020]

In the UK, elections always take place on Thursdays, polling stations close at 10pm and the new Prime Minister assumes office by 12 noon Friday (the next day).

[@NoneOfTheAbove123]

In India, it's so much simpler.

[@rohanmahadevan8512]

Meanwhile here in India: Hey check out my inked finger.

[@abhyudaykotamarthy2678]

They get a sticker..!!

[@kf160k160]

Here in Malaysia as well.

[@surfie007]

In Australia to apply for a postal vote it's as simple as going to the government website, putting in your name the street you live on, verifying they have the right info, then clicking apply.

[@Enndorii]

I didn’t know that whole notarize room thing was exclusive to Missouri. That’s interesting.

[@takeshi6837]

Its not American if its easy to do. Americans like doing stuff the hard way

[@abcdtemp]

*"secure box"*

[@abcdtemp]

@BoomerLemon nothing

[@abcdtemp]

@BoomerLemon oh your name- you knew about this comment...

[@moneyxpianoyt5954]

Because ur vote is “saved on a memory card

[@omarsmusic4316]

How do you check your FWAB ballot the back up ballot I live in Abu Dhabi and I sent it on Oct 24th the election office said that they mailed my Abstantee ballot to me on Oct 6th I never recieved it so I sent the FWAB ballot instead. I even E-mailed my County in NY's Election office to ask if they recieved it I have yet to get a response is there a way that I can track the FWAB online?

[@omarsmusic4316]

Oh and I have also tried calling the election office multiple times but no one ever answers.

[@DragonAxe666]

Infograph framing like anything, @vox please provide your Designer with a high-end setup.

[@Shandakai]

The american election has become more interesting than TV. I barely know what's happening in my own country 😅

[@PHlophe]

what country are you from

[@Shandakai]

@@PHlophe South Africa. How about you?

[@PHlophe]

@@Shandakai I am in the UK but I am actually mixed with Swazi ( Eswatini)

[@markh.6687]

Sometimes as an American, I WISH I didn't know what was going on in my own country!

[@nathanielgrijalva225]

@@markh.6687 me too

[@altruisticlemur]

Here's a tip, set the video to 1.25x speed. Otherwise, the video is perfect!

[@odte7083]

At 4:21 I don't get the meaning of "they combine the counts from the paper ballots and the electronic voting". Um, but the machine already processed the paper ballots. It's like they counting the same votes twice. Is there a mistake in the video?

[@vigneshlakshminarayanan3914]

Vox making even more complicated to understand the process !