Post-Election Day Unrest?

October 28, 2024 11:14 AM

I don't like having to ask this question, but here we are. Does anyone have any reliable sources or information about preparations for post-election unrest? Backstory inside, but that's the jist.

I'm asking this question because I am planning a trip shortly after Election Day from MI to FL to visit my parents. My mother is in declining health and I have been going to visit them once a month to help out. I missed my October visit as it coincided with Hurricane Milton; I am an election volunteer in my home state for both early voting and election day, so traveling there this week doesn't work. As I was gearing up to book my flights for the Thursday after Election Day, my husband said he didn't think it was a good idea to go anywhere and would feel better if I stayed close to home. My father (R) thinks I'm being paranoid. Does anyone know of any articles or posts that address the current possibility of unrest beyond the sources that compile the various threats, etc., made about voting procedures and outcomes over the years? Any opinions from Mefites on traveling after Election Day? Many thanks!

posted by fiery.hogue to Travel & Transportation (16 answers total)

This is much more of an opinion:

I suspect that if there is any such unrest, it's more likely to take place in locations with a much more "purple" population, for lack of a better word. Places that are very solidly for or against a given party are going to be pretty universal in their reaction, so there would likely not be any "Unrest" - because if you think about it, if everyone around you thinks the same as you, why would you protest? Far more likely that if Florida's candidate is on the losing side, they'd be more likely to leave Florida and travel elsewhere to whatever protest is going on. (The swing states are more likely to have the issues.)

Also, an anecdote: I live in a major city that is often the site of one or another kind of unrest, but the city is big enough that I usually have to seek that unrest up if I want to get caught up in it - which makes it all the easier to avoid. There was a major political rally in my hometown yesterday but I saw none of it, and had a very quiet day where I live. Any kind of protest is usually confined to a given area, it's not like the entire city universally turns into The Purge or something.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:25 AM on October 28 [4 favorites]

Response by poster: I promise I won't threadsit, but yeah, we live in a swing state where there has been voter intimidation at the polls in the previous elections and defaced or stolen yard signs now as well as large political flags on major roads that I wouldn't want any kids seeing because of their language. I might argue that it would be a GOOD time to leave but my husband thinks we need to stick together and hunker down if anything DOES happen.
posted by fiery.hogue at 11:33 AM on October 28

I wouldn't go striking up conversations with boomers in maga hats at the winn dixie (on any day of the week) but I can't imagine that you will be at any real risk of encountering political unrest while you're in town.

Also, Florida is huge and contains 21 million people. Does your mom live in Fort Lauderdale or Jacksonville or some tiny rural dot an hour outside of Ocala? It's all a different experience. Just because the governor is an idiot, the state is not a monolith.
posted by phunniemee at 11:34 AM on October 28 [10 favorites]

I mean, there might very well be election unrest in MI, just like there was in 2020. But I wouldn't expect it to impact the average citizen (like in 2020, it will likely target where the votes are being counted), and airports are places of heavy security. I wouldn't hesitate to travel.
posted by coffeecat at 11:42 AM on October 28 [1 favorite]

You’re flying, so your rental car tags will say “Sunshine State,” rather than a particular county (a blue one like where Tampa, Orlando, Miami, whatever might be), or your blue state on your own car tag. This was done in like the 90s to address tourist carjackings, but it should help in this instance too.
posted by toodleydoodley at 11:55 AM on October 28 [2 favorites]

If you're at risk it's probably more from your volunteering than anything else.

After the election I'd guess that protests may look more a bit like the Brooks Brothers riot and January 6th- targeting election boards, government buildings, etc.

Maybe pack an American flag and a nonspecific red hat in case you find a sudden requirement to blend in?
posted by BungaDunga at 11:56 AM on October 28

You might remember a "day of love" on January 6, 2020, here in DC. Even then, if you were not actively trying to engage the "tourists," there was basically no direct threat of harm. I agree that, unfortunately, election workers are potentially at risk, but I would not hesitate to plan travel for that week.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 12:47 PM on October 28 [2 favorites]

Best answer: What I have is a lack of information. Large scale protests/uprisings don't just happen, they need organization and there has been no indication of anyone organizing on that scale.

Remember too that there will be legal challenges out the wazoo post election. Every swing state will be drowning in accusations of voter suppression and outright fraud during the count. In short, it's likely to be a slow burn with violence down the line when the courts are done ruling.

And of course the violence is only if Harris wins. If Trump wins lawsuits will probably still happen, but thus far violence has not been the democrats response to losing.

In any case, given the lack of any large scale organization I wouldn't hesitate to travel.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 1:07 PM on October 28 [4 favorites]

Best answer: I am a puddle of anxiety but even I would not be worried about traveling pretty much anywhere besides DC between now and February. It's not going to go full Purge immediately, even if things are bad, even in Florida, and even if there was strife you should probably help your parents through whatever it is.

I'm operating on the assumption that it would take at least several weeks after inauguration to completely dismantle the FAA.

But really, I already knew at this point last time what was going to happen on Jan 6 and I am hardly an insider, just know where to find out the chatter. The movement's momentum has really dissipated, and I think the biggest uncertainty (I mean, I think it is a certainty that will create a time of uncertainty) will be SCOTUS-related. In case you happen to end up sitting next to one of those jerks on the plane, please be armed with the foulest cheese you can get through security.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:30 PM on October 28 [3 favorites]

You're flying, don't worry about it. A road trip through MAGA-land might not be good.
posted by mareli at 3:17 PM on October 28

If it happens, it will start by Wednesday and you can assess the situation/ change your mind and stay home then.
posted by metasarah at 8:06 PM on October 28 [1 favorite]

DHS is worried, and we've already had ballot drop-boxes set on fire in Portland. If you don't feel like going, don't go. Schedule a care provider like Right at Home to help clean up around the house and find the lost remote.
posted by credulous at 9:00 AM on October 29

Best answer: Feeling cautious is natural, given the circumstances of the election. However, it doesn't serve us to make personal decisions based on this kind of collective anxiety. An obsessive desire for safety has been normalized in this country, but that doesn't mean it's appropriate or healthy.

In short, domestic terrorists and militias want us to change our behavior out of fear, and you shouldn't let them. Violent people don't get to decide how you live and where you go.

Not to mention, it's safe to say most election-related violence will be utterly random shit, the kind of shit that happens when various unhinged people go out looking to enact their angst, and collide into other unhinged or confrontational people. There is no profit in trying to control whether your path will intersect with such a rare and unpredictable event, so control what you can. Take specific threats seriously, sure. But it's better to plan how you'd react to potential emergencies (avoid confrontation, leave, call 911) than it is to try and avoid a million different hypothetical dangers.

Please do go on your trip!
posted by desert outpost at 4:57 PM on October 29 [4 favorites]

I have firsthand evidence that people can look at you weird if, say, you're driving through rural towns stopping for lunch at weird little places and it's the height of covid and you've got masks on. But it's limited to weird looks. The harm with Florida at the moment mostly accrues to people who live here year-round and deal with having our faces pushed into the endless grinding misery that is DeSantis meticulously picking apart everything that made the state great and tromping on it with his high-heeled boots.
posted by Don Pepino at 6:43 AM on October 30

Former Floridian here. Most folks realize that tourism is what keeps the state alive, and then don't fuck with the money bags. Don't overtly react if you drive past a big ol' confederate flag or idiot waving a Trump sign and you're likely fine.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 10:30 AM on October 30

the violence is only if Harris wins

Wow that is a confidence I wish I felt.

Look, I’m in DC, I have a conference in South Carolina in two weeks, I’m frankly a lot more nervous about being in and flying back to DC, based on precedent.
posted by aspersioncast at 8:35 PM on October 31