US Election 2024

What was it like in the lead up to the election? And what does it feel like now? Here's my observations.

In the lead-up I found it pretty understated compared to election campaigns in Australia. Two key reasons: There's not many campaign signs up in Oregon (or Montana) compared to at home, and I hadn't been watching the media. But I watched it on election night and it was tense - combined excitement and dread.

Campaign signs can only be on private property so there's been no roads lined with candidate's faces, just signs in people's yards. See pics for examples. In Portland (at least the NE) it's pretty clear that a majority of residents are democratic, so there's more signs up there. Here in rural Oregon (Silverton area) it's very mixed, so I think people were less willing to publicly express their voting preference.

Interestingly, voters voted on a range of candidates at the federal, state, and local level (some are non-partisan, e.g. judges) and local 'measures', NOT just for the president. See screenshot of the ballot questions in Oregon. Also, here in Oregon all votes were postal, so election day was just a regular day - no polling booths! This obviously varies by state, as do the questions.

We've woken up to the result this morning, and it's flat in this household. Anne's phone is flooded with comms from worried friends. Comments online illustrate a diversity of views. I guess we'll get off the couch and get on with our day soon...
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