Surprise: Everyone in DC is talking about … Pennsylvania mail-in ballot counting

Everyone in the District wants to know what’s up with ballot counting in Pennsylvania, like the rest of the country and probably world.

The second-most searched Google term right now in D.C., according to Google Trends, is “Pennsylvania mail in ballot counting.” President Donald Trump leads former Vice President Joe Biden by approximately 97,000 votes, according to CNN live coverage as of 4:30 p.m., and there are hundreds of thousands of mail ballots that still need to be counted in the battleground state. Here’s an explainer from a Philadelphia reporter about how the city is counting mail-in ballots.

Here are the top six Google searches in D.C. right now, in order:

• David Wasserman
• Pennsylvania mail in ballot counting
• North Carolina
• PA absentee ballot
• Georgia absentee ballot
• DC absentee ballot status

… Wasserman being the house editor for The Cook Political Report. Who is currently talking about Pennsylvania.

It's staggering to think about how differently PA would be viewed/covered right now if the EDay/mail ballots were being counted in the opposite order.

— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 5, 2020

Virginia residents are also curious about ballot counting in Pennsylvania (but also Georgia), while Marylanders are focused on Georgia (but also Pennsylvania). These figures will change often, but it’s an interesting snapshot now of where the region’s collective head is at.

As we wait for results in Pennsylvania, it’s important to note that the state sent out more than 3 million ballots by mail this year, yet it couldn’t start counting ballots until Election Day on Nov. 3. As Trump works to try to invalidate these mail-in ballots, Pennsylvania election courts are ready for the battle as they work to get every vote counted in the state.

As we continue to follow election results, check out our Election 2020 page for ongoing coverage from the local tech angle.

Here’s what some #dctech folks in the area are saying about the presidential election on Twitter:

I thought we'd know something by now! pic.twitter.com/Tz4CXIl9hN

— Veni Kunche (she/her) (@venikunche) November 5, 2020

This election will essentially mark the end of 244 years of the "United States of America." If the pressure of that statement hasn't completely impacted you, take a second and let it.

Establishing an evolved, equal, and valid nation will be near impossible. But it MUST happen.

— Marcus K. Dowling (@marcuskdowling) November 5, 2020

going to start my thread here about #Election2020

I've said this before he as well as foreign actors have targeted the black vote. Yet, most Americans are not only accepting of this but are taking actions by showing up Black voting districts and claiming to be "poll watchers" https://t.co/HRH3lqEQdP

— Shireen, Harlem's Shuri, In Political Mecca! (@digitalsista) November 5, 2020

Hey fellow White people:

Just a quick reminder that if Biden wins our work is not done.

We need to push him to be more progressive. It's not back to "normal" brunch talk.

— Lindsey 🌈 (on an undetermined break) (@LittleKope) November 5, 2020

Also, if you missed the big news, there’s been a big shift in the D.C. Council since Christina Henderson cemented one of the two open At-Large seats. Incumbent Councilmember Robert White won the other seat.

The DC Council is now majority Black, and majority women. I love it here. pic.twitter.com/T8wBn4xxvy

— Michelai A. Graham (@OhMichGee) November 5, 2020