Election Day '08 on Gather--Share Your Thoughts And Opinions About This Historic Election As The Results Roll In

We voted by mail. Although I enjoy the ambience of a real polling place, there are two powerful advantages of voting early: 1. Nothing can come up that might keep me from voting, e.g., a flood, an earthquake, or an illness. 2. I get to talk about each ballot choice with my wife. When voting live, I need to be quiet--sort of like viewing a movie in a movie theater. But there's something intellectually and emotionally invigorating about going over the choices with my closet friend. Of course, we could mark a sample ballot and then mark the real ballot on election day. But I prefer the thinking and discussing and voting to happen in one intense moment.

Murray
Marin, California

There was no line at the poll and the people who were there appeared pretty grim. I could only surmise that, in spite of all of the campaign and media hype, this was a result of their choices.

You are about to elect a President and a legislature who will give you a bigger government and more spending. Your new President will give amnesty to millions of illegal aliens, drastically increase the number of H-1B visas, and eliminate E-verify at a time when millions of American Citizens are out of work. Your new Commander in Chief will keep American soldiers in Iraq against your will. Your new Chief Executive will borrow, spend, give away, and waste billions of dollars when the national debt is passing $12 trillion. Against your wishes, your new President helped Bush give $1 trillion to the banks as his parting gift. Your new President voted for the renewal of the Patriot Act. Your new President will take away your guns. Your new President and legislature will continue to take your money and give it to someone else. No matter how much you object, neither Public Servant Number One nor the legislature will listen and will continue to implement their own agenda. It doesn't matter if it's Democrat or Republican.

You are responsible for what you're going to get so, no whining later.

http://ewebsmith.com/Finance/notlistening.html

I voted at noon today and had no wait. My boyfriend left with our 3 year old almost 2 hours ago and is STILL gone. Must be crowded now!

In Oregon everybody votes by mail so I've already voted. One thing is for sure though, I will be glad when it is tomorrow. No more attack ads, no more debates that tell us nothing, no more pointless speeches that are nothing but words. Tomorrow things will coalesce into reality from fake and we will all get on with our lives.

I live in Indianapolis, IN a state that usually is a automatic Republican state. This year we are a state in play. We went to vote at 6:00 am. We had to stand in line for 45 minutes.

There never seem to be any lines at my polling place, i was in and out in a few minutes.
The same two old voting machines are still working, I think they have been using them forever.

I live in Boston, and some people here suggest voting is a waste of time because it's a foregone conclusion that the state is going to always elect the Democratic candidate.

I couldn't disagree more.

Voting is a right, and a priviledge, and an honor.

I love voting and feel truly lucky to live in a nation where each and every person has a say. It is awesome!

Now, bring on those RESULTS!

May the best man win.

We voted at 11am today here on Long Island, NY. We had about a 5 minute wait. Then we went to Starbucks for our free coffee. And I agree with Mary Ann, may the best man win.

hi, i voted a few weeks ago via mail and wonder why more don't do the same?....would it overwhelm the postal system,or are there other potential probs with that method?

it is too early my PST WA state time to do any speculating,so i baked some cinnamon rolls to take the edge off of my anticipation ;>

cheers,gayle

I voted around 5p.m. and there was no waiting. It is now around 8:17p.m. I have NBC on right now watching the results roll in. I live in Pa. and I'm shocked that Pa. went to Obama.
I'm especially shocked at how Lancaster County which was predominately Republican has gone Democrat. FOOLS! I can't believe how people have been "taken in" by Obama.
I DO NOT TRUST THE MAN ! And it's got nothing to do with color, either.
If Obama makes it into the White House, all I can say is, God Help Us! People who voted "blue" will find themselves crying the blues. Watch and see.

I got in line at 3:30 and voted around 6pm. I was very excited to see so many people out voting. To me, it's about the democratic process.

I have two daughters that got to vote in this election and I am proud to say they did - one for McCain, the other for Obama. I voted for Obama.

I hope that whoever wins will find a way to bring back pride in our country and unify us as AMERICANS.

Thanks, everyone, for your sharing your experiences about this campaign and election.

I live in Idaho, a Republican fool proof state! Every statewide office here is held by Republicans and I'm sure Larry Craig would have won reelection had he run. Renders my vote for Obama wasted, but that's the way it is!

I was at the polls just before 3:00 p.m. There was no line and I was the only one in a voting booth when I entered, though a couple left just before me and someone came just after me-that is why I went at 3:00. There was no mood. I live in a stoic small New Hampshire town. There was one person outside who I think may have been campaigning for Obama but I'm not sure because someone was talking her ear off. She is a good friend but we vote in opposite directions when it comes to national elections.

In general the primary generates a lot more enthusiasm-by the time the two candidates start pandering to everyone and the news pundits beat the non-news to death day after day, the message is lost and everyone gets tired. That doesn't mean they don't care-we are a very politically active state and we are very quiet about our political views-it just means that the enthusiasm is gone. It might also be because a lot of people live in small towns and we live a bipartisan life for the three years, 364 days between these elections.

this is a very sad day in the history of this country. i will not support this kenyan hussein hugging new president. screw it, i hope we get attacked and attacked good. i am not proud to be an american today.

I would like to mention that we should keep in mind to be respectful in our comments.

What a treat to have Birdie, one of the most articulate voices on this site, blogging in the NPR house.

I agree, Casey! Birdie was one of twenty bloggers nationwide that NPR chose. And she has been a long-time Gather member. We are fortunate to have her p.o.v. from D.C.

I'm mad the winner was announced before the polls closed in California. Several of my neighbors didn't vote, as could see no reason to bother. I'm seeing red that not every state is important in the United States. People wonder why some people aren't voting its because their vote doesn't count.

I voted at a poll just around the corner from my home...there were no lines and only a few people voting when I arrived. I was in and out in a matter of minutes. I know other poll sites in San DIego county were absolutely crazy and athere are probably people still standing in line waiting to vote.

I am seventy years old and have voted in every election since I was old enough. I never even imagined that a black man would be president in my lifetime. The magnitude of this accomplishment is comparable to that of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon.

Armstrong's accomplishment was technological and Obama's was political, social and human! But this still is such an advance that it boggles my mind. When I was in high school, Obama could not have drank from the same fountain as I, and today he is president elect! Fantastic accomplishment.

I voted a week ago, because I was going to be at a different polling place as an Observer for the Ohio Republican Party. I loved meeting the many different people that came to the polls and watching the Best Freedom we have and that is picking the people that will run our nation, states and cities for the next few years. As a Republican am I happy with the final count, NO! But am proud to be an American and the fact that we have the RIGHT to choose those that will lead........YES!

I would say that if you have the chance to ever work at a poll, DO IT! You will blessed. Remember that we are the best nation on earth and will alway be as long as those that live here stand up for our freedoms!