For our recent visitors
Every four years we get a handful of posters wanting to visit the US on Election Day because they want to see what it is like. Many want to go to DC, but they are directed elsewhere (understandably) but I'm always a bit curious: Did it live up to expectations?I ask because I worked the election this year and I know where I was on Election Night (in Virginia, at a Very Big Victory Party) but I have no idea how a visitor would have found it. It wasn't "invite only" but the announcement went out specifically to donors and volunteers and staff, so it wasn't widely known outside of Democratic Party circles that it was going on.
So for those who wanted to make Election Day part of your US experience, what did you do and how did it rate?
1
I am a Canadian and was at an RV park in Oregon on Nov 6. I usually camp in parks but specifically wanted to watch the TV that night, thus the commercial park with cable tv.I found the whole election lead up (we were in US for a month ahead of time) very low key on the west coast. When I tried to engage people in conversation about the issues and their opinions I was met with either disinterest or suspicion about my motives - was I trying to propagandize them?
The RV park on Nov 6 was dead quiet. We seemed to be the only peoploe watching. In fact, that was the case on the nights of the debates as well. We also went to commerical RV parks on those nights to access the TV. I'm a bit of a political junkie, thus my interest, but I seemed to be a lot more interested than the Americans I met.
2
I was met with either disinterest or suspicion about my motives - was I trying to propagandize them?
1) People get tired of hearing/talking about it.2) People don't want you to push your views on them.
3) People just don't care.
4) You don't discuss religion or politics in polite company.
5) Any combination of the above.
