ON THIS ELECTION CYCLE AND IF
THE RAIN PLAYED A FACTOR IN HOW
THEY VOTED.
>> THE ON AND OFF RAIN
THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH BAY WAS
JUST ANOTHER ELEMENT VOTERS HAD
TO PUT UP WITH ON ELECTION DAY.
NOT MANY LINES WERE REPORTED EVEN AT THE CENTRAL PARK
LIBRARY IN SANTA CLARA WHICH THE COUNTY SAYS WAS THE BIGGEST
VOTING CENTER IN THE SOUTH BAY.
NOTHING WAS GOING TO STOP HER
FROM VOTING AT THE POLLS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
>> I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO COME
OUT AND CAST MY BALLOT IN
PERSON.
>> FOR MANY, VOTING IS DEEPLY
PERSONAL.
OTHERS ARE DRIVEN BY THE LOCAL
RACES AND MEASURES LIKE THE
MAYOR’S RACE IN SANTA CLARA.
>> THAT IS WHAT GOT ME TO THE
POLLS TODAY.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE GET INSPIRED WITH THE BIG ISSUES.
I FIND THAT THE LOCAL ISSUES
ARE THE ONES WE HAVE THE MOST
SAY IN.
>> I THINK ABORTION RIGHTS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT SO SEEING THAT
ON THE BALLOT WAS REALLY
IMPORTANT.
>> OTHERS CHOSE TO STILL COME IN BUT ONLY TO DROP THEIR MAIL-
IN BALLOT OFF.
>> I’M HOPING IT IS NOT KEEPING
PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE POLLS. I HAVE A VOTE BY MAIL PERMANENT
SET UP SO I COULD ALWAYS JUST
-- MY BALLOT WHICH IS EASY.
>> THE BAD WEATHER CAN AFFECT
TURNOUT. STUDIES HAVE FOUND THAT FOR
EVERY INCH OF RAINFALL, VOTER
TURNOUT CAN DROP BY 1%.
OTHER STATES WANTING TO -- DROPPED BY HALF PERCENT.
I SPOKE WITH A PROFESSOR WHO
RESEARCHED BAD WEATHER AND
VOTING.
HE SAYS HISTORICALLY, IT HAS
TENDED TO FAVOR REPUBLICANS
OVER DEMOCRATS.
>> THE IDEA IS INTERESTING.
PEOPLE TEND TO BE PESSIMISTIC
OR MORE -- SO THE VOTE MAY CHANGE.
THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT THE RAIN
ACTUALLY CHANGES WHO GETS
ELECTED.
>> OTHER POLITICAL RESEARCHERS
SAY WITH THE RISE OF MAIL-IN
BALLOTS AMONG DEMOCRATS, IT IS
SPLIT WITH THE LEFT GETTING A
BOOST FROM BAD WEATHER.
EITHER WAY TODAY THE TRAFFIC, STRESS AND ELEMENTS WOULDN’T
KEEP THESE VOTERS AWAY.
>> I HAVE BEEN VOTING FOREVER. >> JUST LIKE HAVING RAIN RIGHT
NOW, I LOVE HAVING RAIN BECAUSE WE ARE IN A DROUGHT.