How bad will election night be?

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

Trump has completely embraced the alt-right and a variety of conspiracy theories, including that the election is "rigged". He's run a campaign based around racial and social divides. He's previously threatened violence if he didn't "win" the Republican nomination, and has called for violence at his rallies. Many of his supporters follow him unquestioningly, and his campaign has taken early steps toward organized voter intimidation.

Meanwhile he (and his supporters) are loathed and despised by much of the nation, including elements of his own party. There have been acts of violence directed against his supporters, as well as many protests. Attackers, including those almost certainly some sponsored directly by the Russian government, have launched cyber-attacks against both election infrastructure and the Clinton campaign. And the voting systems in many states are very insecure.

With the country very divided, foreign intervention in the election, one disliked candidate and one unstable one my question is this: how bad do you think election night will be?

[Person Man]

Somewhere between 2 and 3. This election will worsen things the way the last 4 have...step by step.

[mark_twain]

I think that Trump's support will go so low that they will be afraid to create any chaos on election day.

[Darthpi – Anti-Florida Activist]

Voted option 2, but it could be worse if Trump acts especially irresponsibly.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

I think that Trump's support will go so low that they will be afraid to create any chaos on election day.

Yeah. My hope at this point is that Trump will realize he can't pull off the "it was rigged" narrative because he's going to lose so badly, so he'll go whole hog (no insult to hogs intended) with his "We were backstabbed by the GOP elite" theory to save his ego.

[Pyro]

Considering this is the first presidential election in fifty years without the full protection of the Voting Rights Act, I expect a troublesome, discriminatory night. Not to mention racial and ethnic violence when Clinton wins.

[BaldEagle1991]

At best case scenario: the 2nd choice

At worst case scenario: the last one. The last one will bring about an American version of the Eastern Ukrainian violence.

[Bojack Horseman]

Not sure, but I'm going to buy some fireworks that I'll light in my backyard as soon as Hillary hits 270.

[HisGrace]

There'll be some minor incidents with Trump supporters at polls (maybe some of his "poll watchers") but no real "unrest" and it will be clear Clinton won even if Trump doesn't concede. Not sure if that constitutes answer 1 or answer 2.

[GeorgiaModerate]

There'll be some minor incidents with Trump supporters at polls (maybe some of his "poll watchers") but no real "unrest" and it will be clear Clinton won even if Trump doesn't concede. Not sure if that constitutes answer 1 or answer 2.

I'd call that a 1.  I think it will be a little worse, with those kind of incidents escalating into violence in a few cases and police needing to be called.  I voted 2.

[ursulahx]

Option 5 is not necessarily incompatible with any of the others.

[eric82oslo]

I'm afraid Trump might shoot someone on Times Square once he realizes on election night that he ain't going to win.

[Senator Spark]

Unpleasant

[Hermit For Peace]

Are Trump's goons going to be out in force at polling places, intimidating voters?

[BL53931]

Should be at 270 by 9PM ET.  She won't need California.

Trump won't speak that night. He will the following afternoon and try to pin the blame on everybody besides himself.

[RJEvans]

Should be at 270 by 9PM ET.  She won't need California.

Trump won't speak that night. He will the following afternoon and try to pin the blame on everybody besides himself.

I kind of half expect him to come and speak after every state is called.

[HisGrace]

Trump won't speak that night. He will the following afternoon and try to pin the blame on everybody besides himself.

I really hope that he goes out like a coward and sends his wife or someone on his campaign out to concede for him. We'll see.

[ElectionsGuy]

Should be at 270 by 9PM ET.  She won't need California.

Trump won't speak that night. He will the following afternoon and try to pin the blame on everybody besides himself.

The only way to get 270 electoral votes for her before California and the west coast closes is to be declared the winner in every Obama state + NC + something else. That's just ridiculous, she may win all of that, but not all of that will be declared before California closes.

[Maxwell]

Definitely 2 - the result will be obviously clear but there will be scattering cases of he says she says "voter fraud" on both sides.

[America Needs R'hllor]

Should be at 270 by 9PM ET.  She won't need California.

Trump won't speak that night. He will the following afternoon and try to pin the blame on everybody besides himself.

I kind of half expect him to come and speak after every state is called.

"We just won West Virginia by a YUGE margin, folks! Tremendous success!"

[Person Man]

At best case scenario: the 2nd choice

At worst case scenario: the last one. The last one will bring about an American version of the Eastern Ukrainian violence.

I think it goes 40,40,10,7,3  in terms of probability.

Basically where if Hillary wins, there is a large militia revolt in a large section of rural America where some isolated larger towns like Casper, Amarillo, and Grand Junction are overrun by deplorables? Where it will take like a month to put down, involve 2000 dead terrorists, 1000 dead citizens and maybe 200 dead soldiers...and like 10000 or 20000 people arrested. Maybe in the converse situation, cities like Detroit, Brooklyn, St.Louis, Chicago, and Baltimore would have a Paris Commune like situation with around the same results. Then there would be a situation where in 2018, the loser's party would lose a bunch of seats and basically their party would split in 2020 with it continuing to be split until one faction is finally able to win the White House. See 1860 or 1912.

[Ban my account ffs!]

Somewhere between 2 and 3. This election will worsen things the way the last 4 have...step by step.

What is the end game here?

Edit:  I guess you kinda answered that with the above post.

[Cashew]

A mix of 2 and 3. I expect their courage to collapse once they realize their "silent majority is not actually the majority. At the same time the Texas nationalist movement is becoming more mainstream.  They are no doubt secretly hoping for a Clinton victory to fuel mass hysteria in the Texas GOP.

[BaldEagle1991]

A mix of 2 and 3. I expect their courage to collapse once they realize their "silent majority is not actually the majority. At the same time the Texas nationalist movement is becoming more mainstream.  They are no doubt secretly hoping for a Clinton victory to fuel mass hysteria in the Texas GOP.

They could but that could alienate a lot of Texas Blacks and Hispanics living there. A lot of them dont favor a Texas secession.

[Badger]

Somewhere between 1 & 2 only because Trump will be blown out of the water.