A new bill proposed by Republican Sen. Rick Scott is "entirely unworkable," Slatereported Thursday evening, but demonstrates the GOP's intense desire to make sure millions of votes aren't counted in the general election by severely restricting the time frame during which they can be tallied.
The Orwellian-named "Help America Vote Act of 2020," which Scott proposed Thursday, would help to codify President Donald Trump's desire, stated last week, to ensure that the preliminary tally of votes on Election Day will count as the final vote count in the election.
The preliminary count would leave out absentee ballots and a record number of mail-in ballots, which nearly half of voters plan to either send to election officials or place in a drop box before Election Day, according to a Washington Post/University of Maryland poll conducted earlier this month.
The proposal, as Slate's Jeremy Stahl explains:
would require that mail-in ballots be counted within 24 hours of when voting closes on Election Day. Scott's proposed legislation would also prevent mail-in ballots received prior to Election Day from being processed and counted until the morning of Nov. 3, contradicting state election statutes across the country including one that he signed when he was governor of Florida. Basically, the bill would move back the date by which votes can start to be counted and move up the date by which the count must end. This would limit the count to a single less-than-48-hour window, shortening the count in some cases by weeks.
"Any conflicting state laws would be preempted," Chris Hartline, communications director for Scott, told Slate—including rules in the senator's own home state of Florida, where the counting of votes can legally begin 22 days before Election Day.
Officials would have about 48 hours to tally all the votes, but Scott's proposal includes no funding that would help states make this possible by hiring more poll workers or providing them with personal protective equipment.
The bill would shorten the time during which officials generally have to count votes by several weeks, and would leave out many absentee voters, who made up more than 17% of voters in 2016 and more than 20% in previous years.
Tallying every vote within 24 hours of polls closing would be "impossible" in many states, legal scholar Richard L. Hasen told Slate.
Critics on social media expressed shock at Scott's blatant attempt to leave millions of American voters out of the democratic process.
"I'm hung up on this stuff not because I necessarily think they'll succeed—the more people vote, the harder it will be for them to nullify—but because the attempt should be, in itself, completely disqualifying," tweeted Seth D. Michaels, communications official for the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Scott proposed the legislation on the same day that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), in an interview with Fox News, dismissed the notion that Republicans would not allow for a peaceful transition of power, as Trump said this week, by saying he would accept whatever decision the U.S. Supreme Court—not the majority of U.S. voters—reached.
Such sentiments "betray a lack of confidence in Trump's ability to win," tweeted journalist Adam Serwer. "No idea if they are right; but they wouldn't be saying things like this if they thought he was in good shape."
While Scott's bill is a "nonstarter," as Jeremy Stahl wrote at Slate, because of the Democratic-controlled House, "it shows you exactly where the GOP's head is at with 40 days left to go before the last votes are cast."
This article was originally published by Common Dreams. You can read it here.
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Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.