WASHINGTON – The weather forecast for most of the country will be fairly calm for Election Day, with much of the East and West the coasts remain dry, but cold front that extends throughout the heart of the country will be the focal point of scattered rains and thunderstorms.

The front limit will mean cities like chicago, Saint Louis and even tulsa, OklahomaIt will be in the rain zone, and behind the front, there will be colder air across much of the Rocky Mountains and Plains. those in the Northwest there could be snow in the forecast for election day.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, some battleground states, including Michigan and WisconsinIt is likely to rain on election day. Meanwhile, temperatures in the north Snowfall They are expected to fall below freezing, where snow is possible.

Voters in the West North Carolina will cast their votes following HelenThey are deadly floods. As cleanup efforts continue in the region, temperatures will be in the 50s and 60s in places like Ashvillewhich was hit hard by the devastating flood.

Political experts maintain that weather conditions on election day (rainy or sunny) can influence voter enthusiasm. However, with more than half the country voting by Nov. 5, Election Day is increasingly looking like an extended election season rather than a single, important day.

TO university study 2007 found that Republican-leaning voters turned out more than those who voted Democratic during rainy weather. The researchers found that voter turnout decreased by about 1% for every inch of rain, and snowfall Participation decreased by almost half a percentage point for every centimeter of accumulation.

With the majority of the electorate taking advantage of early voting methods, millions of people will have little to do on Election Day but sit back and watch the results.

Dr. David Richardsassociate professor and political professor at the University of Lynchburghas been watching voting trends for decades and says changes are coming.

“Early in-person voting has skyrocketed as people get used to the idea that there is time to go vote,” Richards said. “They don’t have to wait and do it on Election Day, like they have traditionally done. It’s a generational shift that has taken a couple of election cycles for people to feel comfortable with it.”

Temperature wise, most of the country will experience warmer than average readings, with pockets of cold air centered over Utah and the western Us

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Hurricanes Helen and Milton cut a path of destruction through several battleground states, prompting changes to the voting process.

in very affected North CarolinaThe State Board of Elections made it easier for residents of the 13 most affected counties to vote.

He North Carolina State Board of Elections Reports Those efforts include allowing voters to pick up their absentee ballots at their local county board of elections office until the day before the election and return them to any polling place or county elections office until Nov. 5.

Other accommodations were made in Florida and Georgia to relieve the stress of voting for hurricane victims.

Despite the damage caused by billions disastersThe impacts on the electoral system appear to be minor and do not prevent people from voting.

“I think it’s interesting to see that it doesn’t seem to be a dismal turnout and that we saw those record first days in North Carolina and Georgia, which were the hardest hit states, especially for the first storm,” Richards said.

In fact, these disasters can serve as a galvanizing force among likely voters.

Richards suggested residents could go to the polls early to avoid getting caught up in a future disaster or to gauge the government’s response.

Major disasters, such as widespread disasters flood and hurricanes, have long influenced voter enthusiasm in the run-up to major elections.

For example, in 1992, FEMA’s response to Hurricane Andres in South Florida was largely deemed inadequate by the public, putting the state’s 25 electoral votes at stake.

Likewise, in 2012, Superstorm Sandy It spread across the eastern United States and affected President Barack Obama’s re-election.

At that time, National exit polls are indicated. that the response to the hurricane was an important factor for 15% of voters.

Although five systems made landfall during the 2024 hurricane season, Richards said extensive research will likely be needed to determine if extreme weather had any effect on the voting public.

The weather can affect electoral participation

One of the main questions Richards said he receives from his students and the general public revolves around waiting for votes to be tabulated.

Many are what he calls “fatalistic scrolling” through social media to try to figure out which candidate might be in the lead, something the political professor advises against and offers some guidance.

“I encourage people to get out. Politics is very important, but at the end of the day, there are many things in life that matter; many other things you can focus on: your job, your familyyour recreational time. There will be a winner and a loser. This is how our process works. And it’s not the end of world“Richards said.

For those interested in the results, Richards said there are some races in Virginia and throughout the country to observe that they resemble a barometer of the country.

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, one race to watch will be the Second Congressional District for the House of Representatives; The district is often a barometer for determining which party will control the U.S. House of Representatives.

and in Ohio and MountainIncumbent senators are running for re-election, which could help influence the balance of power in the upper house of the United States Congress.

To see the election results live: Click here.

Original article source: Election Day 2024 Forecast: Could Weather Have Any Impact on Voting Trends?