Supporters of President Donald Trump, who have held rallies to protest the outcome of the November election, say there are false impressions of their motives. Elections officials and critics of their efforts, however, say they’re spreading false information.
The Williamston Roadhouse, located on 3700 E. Grand River Ave., featured Fox News on its TVs Tuesday night for patrons watching the presidential election coverage. Credit: Brian Goldsmith
Election night at the Williamston Roadhouse is a relaxing sight for people looking to wind down in the company of their peers, said Sammual L. Hitchcock, 30, a Leroy Township farmer. The Trump supporting-patrons are in high spirits on Tuesday night as they watch the presidential election coverage on Fox News. The restaurant is decorated in Trump-Pence 2020 banners and signs.
Patrons
Watching the election coverage at the Williamston Roadhouse is a great place because the bar is located only a mile and a half from his house, said Hitchcock. “There’s great people here, we all get along, [and] we’re all hard-working people,” he said.
Protesters gather on the lawn of the Michigan Capitol on Saturday afternoon following news of Joe Biden’s projected win against President Donald J. Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Trump won Michigan in 2016 with the tightest margin in any state. In 2020, Michigan was on of several close battleground states. After Biden was projected to win Michigan and its 16 electoral votes, the state was one of several where the Republican Party said it would challenge results. Challenges are being mounted in Michigan courts now.
November in Michigan means many things each year: turning our clocks back one hour, the magical color changes in our leaves, and on those rare four year occasions, the change in the face of a nation. Election Tuesday on Nov. 3rd saw six different buildings on MSU’s campus turn into polling stations for the day. But whether voting at the Union, Brody Cafe or even at I.M. West, there were no lines to be seen. COVID-19 caused the largest proportion of Americans in the history of our election process to vote via mail this year.
After weeks of hearing that polling places would be crowded, dangerous and contentious, some voters in East Lansing, Detroit and Shiawassee County who decided to chancve it were pleasantly surprised. They said voting precincts were ready for them, lines were short or organized to move swiftly and they felt safe from COVID-19.
Michigan voters headed to the polls this morning amid a pandemic that’s helped push absentee voting to record levels. More than 3 million Michigan voters have cast absentee ballots, according to the Secretary of State’s office, and 2 million people are expected to vote in person at the polls today. That could beat a turnout record of just over 5 million ballots cast in 2008.
In every presidential election, there are always claims that third-party voters are the reason one major-party candidate wins over the other. As the country goes through another presidential election, members of Michigan’s third parties said the real problem is that neither major party makes their side appealing enough to draw in third-party voters.
After months of campaigning, candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump’s fate rests in the hands of voters. Accessibility to voting has never been more expanded, and with a record-breaking 100 million votes cast before Election Day, many are still waiting to cast their ballot in-person.
President Donald Trump came to Lansing to hold a “Victory Rally” in front of thousands of supporters. One of those supporters was Justin Edelen. Justin drove from southern Indiana and camped out at 11 p.m. the night before to grab his spot in line to see the President. Along his way, he found support from those in line around him, and the comradery of his new community.