U.S. Election Night 2008

[Primula Baggins]

The first polls close in just about exactly 24 hours.

Are you going to watch the returns? Online, television, radio, or some combination? Watching with a group? Throwing a party?

What races other than the presidency matter most to you?

What hints of the ultimate outcome are you going to be watching for?

What's your prediction on the time the election will be called?


__________
Mr. Prim and I will be eating Trader Joe snax and California rolls and will be ensconced on the couch watching, probably, MSNBC, and I'll have my laptop right there, plugged in, with this site and 538 and the major news websites' election coverage all up in tabs.

I'm told that if the election goes strongly for one candidate, the networks and CNN will still hold off on making the call until the polls close on the West Coast, at 11 Eastern—but that they will put up their counts and exit polling data on their Web sites as each state's polls close, so it will be clear what some of the calls will be long before they're officially made.

In other words (to be plain) it's possible that Obama will have cinched 270 electoral votes well before 11 Eastern. (If McCain wins neither Florida nor Pennsylvania, for example.) It's also possible that it could be a long night.

Even if the presidential race ends quickly, I'm going to be following a lot of Senate races, including Oregon's, and of course the amendment in California.

can't wait can't wait can't wait . . . for it to be over. . . .

[Voronwë the Faithful]

We'll be travelling across the country all day. By the time we get to our hotel, there should already be a result, unless it is a repeat of 2000.

[Padme]

Running back and forth to the Hospital to have my lovely 24 hours of testing done. Maybe I will just opt to stay at the hopital, maybe they will give me a room. Either way I will be watching and listening to anything I can on the Presidential as well as Congressional elections.

[Inanna]

Mr. Mahima and I will be doing exactly what we've been doing the last few weeks we've been caught up in this election fever. Flicking between CNN and MSNBC, clicking on states on CNN's calculator electoral map again and again, checking out fivethirtyeight, posting here....

Hopefully once this election is over, the TV will fade out a bit from our lives.

[River]

I will be in the lab. At the rate I've been going, I will be in the lab when the polls in Hawaii are closing. I'll watch the returns on teh internets even if I make it home before the polls in Hawaii close.

Maybe, if I'm *really* lucky I'll even make it home before the Alaska polls close....

[yovargas]

A lovely poet friend of mine was invited to do a poetry reading about 24 hours from now. Wonderful timing if ya ask me!

...and of course the amendment in California.

Don't forget about my state's amendment too.


edit to fix tag

[Holbytla]

I believe there is one in Arizona as well.

[ToshoftheWuffingas]

I'll be dodging between the TV screen with the BBC and the comp. The action will start at around midnight our time. I will be staying up all night but will hold out on celebratory drinks until the following night. The early voting is going to make it hard to make guesses from the exit polls. How quickly will the early deciders like Virginia take to count the vote and issue formal or semi-formal results?
I use Electoral-vote, Political Wire and 538. Should I check out CNN or somewhere else too?

[Dave_LF]

I'll either be simultaneously glued to my TV and computer, or in the hospital with my wife as she goes into labor. Yes, tomorrow has the potential to be quite a day.

[Túrin Turambar]

I'll be dodging between the TV screen with the BBC and the comp. The action will start at around midnight our time. I will be staying up all night but will hold out on celebratory drinks until the following night. The early voting is going to make it hard to make guesses from the exit polls. How quickly will the early deciders like Virginia take to count the vote and issue formal or semi-formal results?
I use Electoral-vote, Political Wire and 538. Should I check out CNN or somewhere else too?

You can get a rough idea from looking at the 2004 election night schedule. Some states can more or less be called on their exit polling.

I’ll be on 538, CNN and the NY Times (who had the best primary coverage I thought). It also just occurred to me that 7pm on Tuesday night is only eight and a half hours away – I’ll know the result before you lot even start voting!

[Primula Baggins]

Those last couple of weeks are tough. I remember dreaming that I was always going to be pregnant, for the rest of my life.

If I don't see you around here, I'll be thinking of you!

[vison]

Frodo is at the entrance to the Cracks of Doom. Sam's there, holding his hand. This time, they're not beaten down and half-starved, they walked up quite steadily, eyes on the top.

Gollum is waiting, but he knows what's going to happen. And he's resigned, knowing the big bucks are coming his way through royalties. Cuz he saw the movie, you see. (Actually, it's his stunt double waiting. Gollum is in Barbados, suntanning.)

[Crucifer]

I believe the University Philosophical society will have a TV set up in their conversation room for just this purpose. I may or may not be there...

[River]

(Actually, it's his stunt double waiting. Gollum is in Barbados, suntanning.)

[Frelga]

I'm going to cast my ballot first thing tomorrow. Then, having done my part, I intend to tune out the world until the polls close.

Although I probably will come here or to Manwë for news once or twice.

I am hoping Californians shoot down Prop 8.

Dave, good luck with the baby!

[Inanna]

Am hoping to capture part of the polling on my camera.
In the day.

[WampusCat]

I will be working -- editing stories about the election and trying to sneak an occasional look at the TV -- from 5 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. I will steadfastly avoid walking anywhere near the area where a local television station will be set up to interview reporters and editors throughout the evening.

When I get home at about 2:15 a.m., I will pour a glass of wine and toast the president-elect, assuming we know who that is.

If we don't know, I'll probably be up even later. And will probably need more than one glass of wine.

At least I'm not one of the editors scheduled to come in at 6 a.m. Wednesday in case we need to put out an extra edition!

[tinwë]

I went to the Obama rally in Charlotte tonight. It was cold, and we got rained on, and I forgot to take an umbrella, but I'm glad I went. History in the making and all.

A friend of mine has been very active canvassing for Obama and some other local candidates. She's invited me to join her and her husband at one of the local Democratic Party celebrations, which should be more fun than sitting at home and watching the results. Assuming she has any energy left to do such a thing. If not, I'll be sitting at home and watching the results. Which should also be fun considering who's going to win .

[Túrin Turambar]

It is now just past midnight in the Eastern States, which means that voting has begun in the town of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, home to 5 Democrats, 4 Republicans and 11 Independents. It is traditionally the first precinct to call its results. Bush won it in a landslide last time, so let’s see what happens this year...

[vison]

Traditional Voting first-timers Dixville Notch, NH, which hasn't voted for a Democrat since Hubert Humphrey, just voted for Obama 15-6.