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Deminpenn

(17,596 posts)
Wed May 20, 2026, 12:26 PM Wednesday

Observations at the polls yesterday in western PA

I worked outside the polls in my area yesterday. One hates to stereotype, but it sure was easy to pick out the R voters. No smiles, just miserable, unhappy looking voters, mostly male, but some women, too. Dems, otoh, seemed pretty sociable.
I live in an area that's 2 to 1 registered Rs, but yesterday, the split of voters showing up to vote was pretty much an even split.

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Observations at the polls yesterday in western PA (Original Post) Deminpenn Wednesday OP
Good, I am glad they were miserable and unhappy looking. dugog55 Wednesday #1
The party of butt-hurt boys Walleye Wednesday #3
IMHO they seem to hate the world. CaptainTruth Wednesday #10
Yesterday was the first election I did not work as a poll worker Cosmocat Wednesday #2
Interesting FHRRK1 Wednesday #4
Yep Cosmocat Wednesday #5
LOL - we have have one Senator that is the exception to the rule FHRRK1 Wednesday #11
Fetterman ... Cosmocat Wednesday #13
All I have to do is mention that I live part-time in California, then they lose their shit and say how awful CA is. OMGWTF Wednesday #9
Lawrence County PA: 5600 Dems voted out of 21000. 4900 Returds voted out of 3000 AZLD4Candidate Wednesday #6
I hope you forgot a zero..... SergeStorms Wednesday #7
I'm sure it's 30,000 Rs Deminpenn Wednesday #12
Voted by mail. Live in a blue bubble in a red swamp. twodogsbarking Wednesday #8

dugog55

(381 posts)
1. Good, I am glad they were miserable and unhappy looking.
Wed May 20, 2026, 12:35 PM
Wednesday

That pretty much sums up Republican voters. Always unhappy and miserable, mostly because of their voting red. They claimed to be unhappy during Biden's and Obama's terms, but that was the best years of their lives for the last 14 years. They vote for their hatred and inner feelings, then have to live with, and defend the consequences of having a sociopath as President.

Walleye

(45,564 posts)
3. The party of butt-hurt boys
Wed May 20, 2026, 12:45 PM
Wednesday

There is no force as strong as grievance with these people

CaptainTruth

(8,267 posts)
10. IMHO they seem to hate the world.
Wed May 20, 2026, 03:37 PM
Wednesday

Again IMHO, I think a lot of it is because they don't have self confidence or self esteem. Aka they don't love themselves, they don't like who they are, you could say they hate themselves & therefore they hate the world around them.

Cosmocat

(15,479 posts)
2. Yesterday was the first election I did not work as a poll worker
Wed May 20, 2026, 12:40 PM
Wednesday

in nearly a quarter century.

I could tell whether the vast majority of voters were D or R, but not necessarily as you are seeing it (and I either already knew or found out once they signed in).

There certainly those Rs who carry themselves in an angry manner, but there also are actually a lot of friendly Rs, too.

I can mostly tell by how people dress, honestly, and when they talk.

Rs in particular struggle with filtering. To get to the point where you are still an R, you have come to believe a lot of crazy and baseless shit is actual reality, particular as it pertains to them there liberals. People do recognize where they are and try to temper it, but it tends to slip out.

As to the demeanor - a LOT of people get voting anxiety, R or D, and are uptight going in and more relaxed once they they fill out and submit their ballots. Its kind of a interesting.

FHRRK1

(144 posts)
4. Interesting
Wed May 20, 2026, 01:05 PM
Wednesday

Any more specifics on picking out Republicans?

I live in Orange County and for the most part find in easy with many. Women over forty with a lot of makeup and jewelry. Males exhibit a very structured speech pattern.

I usually have MSNBC/MSNOW on but with no or low volume. I am almost perfect at picking if the person is an R or D by sight. Only one I can think of missing was Eric Swalwell, to the point I looked up his background to see why the dude looks like a Republican. For him I think it was the haircut and tightness in his jaw. Not quite Jim Jordan, but still noticeable.

Cosmocat

(15,479 posts)
5. Yep
Wed May 20, 2026, 01:40 PM
Wednesday

"Women over forty with a lot of makeup and jewelry. Males exhibit a very structured speech pattern."

Those are good tells for sure.

But, also for women - tight buns and amish like dresses.

Generally, Rs tend to dress similar to others in some way or another in a more plain way.

Ex. business suits vs mis matched slacks and jacket.

Ds tend to dress for themselves - comfort, layered, hoodies (not sure I have seen any R wearing a hoodie), or thrift store cloths.

FHRRK1

(144 posts)
11. LOL - we have have one Senator that is the exception to the rule
Wed May 20, 2026, 03:46 PM
Wednesday

I on the other hand live in hoodies.

OMGWTF

(5,223 posts)
9. All I have to do is mention that I live part-time in California, then they lose their shit and say how awful CA is.
Wed May 20, 2026, 03:18 PM
Wednesday

They. Don't. Know. Anything.

SergeStorms

(20,849 posts)
7. I hope you forgot a zero.....
Wed May 20, 2026, 02:57 PM
Wednesday

on the end of the republiCAN'T tally. 4,900 out of 3,000 would be grounds for a massive investigation. 😂

Deminpenn

(17,596 posts)
12. I'm sure it's 30,000 Rs
Wed May 20, 2026, 07:49 PM
Wednesday

But as in neighboring Beaver County, Dems cast more actual votes than Rs did despite Rs having a contested primary for lt gov.

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