# Politics & Elections **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=283 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 284 --- ## [Do third party candidates make official concessions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-third-party-candidates-make-official-concessions/639977)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-third-party-candidates-make-official-concessions/639977 "2012-11-07T10:57:47Z")
Amidst the various threads that are essentially saying that Obama/Romney is so far ahead that Romney/Obama should just go ahead and concede, I started wondering about the other guys. Gary Johnson (Libertarian Party), Ji… --- ## [How are polling places selected?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-polling-places-selected/640075)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-polling-places-selected/640075 "2012-11-07T10:40:40Z")
It really galls me to have to go into a church to vote on election day. But I imagine there are likely demographic units lacking a suitable public building. --- ## ["A History of the United States Congress Partisan and Ideological Makeup"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-of-the-united-states-congress-partisan-and-ideological-makeup/639363)
**Author:** [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-of-the-united-states-congress-partisan-and-ideological-makeup/639363 "2012-11-07T10:07:25Z")
I saw this from Monday’s posting on XKCD: (Warning: the resolution of the graph for finer details will strain your vision) The chart looks like something Edward Tuft would create. A gigantic dissected aorta/vena cava … --- ## [Another Electoral College Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-electoral-college-question/640099)
**Author:** [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-electoral-college-question/640099 "2012-11-07T06:33:01Z")
I guess the Electoral College is here to stay, so why not eliminate the electors, and make it so that the electoral votes just simply go to the candidate who gets the most votes in each state? Selecting Electoral College… --- ## [When Romney Wins....](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-romney-wins/639939)
**Author:** [@A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_nice_guy_with_an_opinion)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-romney-wins/639939 "2012-11-07T06:27:45Z")
How long will it take for Obama to concede? I don’t think it won’t happen on election night. --- ## [Election night parties, anyone?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-night-parties-anyone/640141)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-night-parties-anyone/640141 "2012-11-07T06:17:37Z")
We’re headed over to a friend’s place this evening to watch the returns and fret with other like-minded people, apparently. I already told my wife that if the angst fog gets too thick, I may have to take a walk. While … --- ## [Election Night: The Drinking Game?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-night-the-drinking-game/640130)
**Author:** [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-night-the-drinking-game/640130 "2012-11-07T05:59:03Z")
I am by myself in Georgia tonight, and was wondering if we could put together a drinking game based on Election Night cliches. For example, whenever Dan Rather throws out an aphorism, an MSNBC pundit flips out (I’m look… --- ## [Explain the stateside party discrepancy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-stateside-party-discrepancy/640179)
**Author:** [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-stateside-party-discrepancy/640179 "2012-11-07T05:45:18Z")
Despite the fact that we see a Democratic win for for the presidency, we still see Republicans gaining a majority elsewhere. I can understand the senate, since it gives the states unfair advantage, but a majority in the … --- ## [If your side loses...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-your-side-loses/640000)
**Author:** [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-your-side-loses/640000 "2012-11-07T04:57:14Z")
Tomorrow (Tuesday night), it comes down to your worst-case scenario. Your presidential choice loses. Your senator loses. Your congressperson loses. Every question/proposition you voted for goes opposite your choice. Even… --- ## [Univac beats the pundits !](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univac-beats-the-pundits/639873)
**Author:** [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univac-beats-the-pundits/639873 "2012-11-07T04:15:16Z")
I was reading this pieceabout Nate Silver which began with this nugget. After a bit of searching on Youtube I was able to find this segmentabout the incident. A piece of history right at the intersection of politics, … --- ## [So how was your voting experience?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-was-your-voting-experience/640073)
**Author:** [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-was-your-voting-experience/640073 "2012-11-07T04:04:42Z")
I don’t know why, but for some reason I enjoy reading about them. --- ## [Where's Terry McAuliffe these days?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-terry-mcauliffe-these-days/640165)
**Author:** [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-terry-mcauliffe-these-days/640165 "2012-11-07T03:46:33Z")
Anyone have the inside track on what happened to this guy? He was one of the most high profile Democrats up until just a few years ago and then just fell off the map for some reason. I always thought he was smooth and… --- ## [What happens if NY were to go to Romney](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-ny-were-to-go-to-romney/640120)
**Author:** [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-ny-were-to-go-to-romney/640120 "2012-11-07T03:14:39Z")
Now, I know the chances of this are near zero, but what do you think would happen if Sandy causes enough problems to make the heavily democratic NYC area have enough depressed turnout to swing the state to Romney? With … --- ## [Republican operative dumps registration forms](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-operative-dumps-registration-forms/640081)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-operative-dumps-registration-forms/640081 "2012-11-07T03:11:54Z")
L.A. Times: U.S. News AlterNet (Note: Small is 23, not 31.) Here in Washington, Republicans have been going door to door offering to turn in people’s ballots for them. \[KOMO News\] From Daily Kos: I’m beginnin… --- ## [A possible response to the "Skewed Polls!" arguments.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-possible-response-to-the-skewed-polls-arguments/640067)
**Author:** [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-possible-response-to-the-skewed-polls-arguments/640067 "2012-11-07T02:16:16Z")
\*tl;dr: Read the \*\*bolded \*text for summary. Ok, I think I might get it now. So, all these “Polls Are Skewed!” folks (e.g. here) predicting a Romney win are pointing to the polls’ internals, specifically that the polls… --- ## [What station/network are you watching election coverage on?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-station-network-are-you-watching-election-coverage-on/640163)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-station-network-are-you-watching-election-coverage-on/640163 "2012-11-07T01:53:41Z")
I started watching PBS, but I can’t stand David Brooks. --- ## [How Is The Rest Of Your Family/Friends Voting This Year?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-rest-of-your-family-friends-voting-this-year/639968)
**Author:** [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-rest-of-your-family-friends-voting-this-year/639968 "2012-11-07T01:50:47Z")
Just wondering about potential food fights at the Thanksgiving table. Is everyone in your family voting for the same person for President? Even split? More towards one party than the other? I am a die-hard Obama fan … --- ## [NYC Dopers - Times Square or Rockefeller Centre (Need Answer Fast)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-dopers-times-square-or-rockefeller-centre-need-answer-fast/640161)
**Author:** [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-dopers-times-square-or-rockefeller-centre-need-answer-fast/640161 "2012-11-07T00:50:24Z")
I wanted to go up to either Times Square (ABC) or Rockefeller Centre (NBC) to see the election results. Which is more rockin’? --- ## [What Progressives in the US need to do](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-progressives-in-the-us-need-to-do/640143)
**Author:** [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2012, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-progressives-in-the-us-need-to-do/640143 "2012-11-06T23:56:27Z")
Start a fiscally conservative party. They key to left wing success in the US is to split the right wing. The US system is based on first past the post elections, so a third \[second conservative\] party takes votes away … --- ## [Deserve (Obama and re-election)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deserve-obama-and-re-election/640140)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2012, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deserve-obama-and-re-election/640140 "2012-11-06T23:51:11Z")
Probably more an IMHO or MPSIMS thing, but since it’s about the election I put it in here. I’ve been sort of watching things about the election on CNN while I drive about today, and it’s hard for me to believe or unders… --- ## [The Progressive Case Against Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-progressive-case-against-obama/639217)
**Author:** [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-progressive-case-against-obama/639217 "2012-11-06T23:49:07Z")
longtime liberal presents a scathing rebuke of Obama As someone who was never a fan of Obama I wish that there was more civil discussion about these concerns and less focus on stupid side issues like “is he a Muslim” o… --- ## [Any good 'up to the minute' election result sources?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-up-to-the-minute-election-result-sources/640147)
**Author:** [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2012, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-up-to-the-minute-election-result-sources/640147 "2012-11-06T23:48:36Z")
What internet cites are you guys watching for election results? --- ## [What state result would confirm for you that the election is decided?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-state-result-would-confirm-for-you-that-the-election-is-decided/640086)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2012, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-state-result-would-confirm-for-you-that-the-election-is-decided/640086 "2012-11-06T23:43:44Z")
So as we are crushing beers and watching the returns filter in tonight, what state won bye each candidate would satisfy you that it’s game over. Never mind when 270 is officially announced. What is the earliest state t… --- ## [Will we see someone concede tonight?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-see-someone-concede-tonight/640114)
**Author:** [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-see-someone-concede-tonight/640114 "2012-11-06T23:14:23Z")
I just saw Chuck Todd on Morning Joe talking about how he’s not sure if we’ll see someone concede tonight. What do you dopers think? By tonight I mean by midnight. --- ## [Your voting record is public record, sort of](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-voting-record-is-public-record-sort-of/640027)
**Author:** [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2012, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-voting-record-is-public-record-sort-of/640027 "2012-11-06T21:48:57Z")
As always, YMMV. My political knowledge doesn’t extend much beyond my state, and your state may be different. In my state, the fact you voted in an election, specific elections, is public record. If you registered for… --- ## [Intrade still offering best odds from looks of it.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intrade-still-offering-best-odds-from-looks-of-it/640142)
**Author:** [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intrade-still-offering-best-odds-from-looks-of-it/640142 "2012-11-06T21:13:00Z")
The intrade versus other bookies imbalance still seems to be there. It is too late for anyone without an intrade account in the US but I opened one half an hour ago and bought 28 shares at a price of $7.07 each - in othe… --- ## [What national network will give be the best, least partisan coverage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-national-network-will-give-be-the-best-least-partisan-coverage/640125)
**Author:** [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-national-network-will-give-be-the-best-least-partisan-coverage/640125 "2012-11-06T19:28:30Z")
Straight forward question. Fox and MSNBC are the same network, just at opposite ends of the spectrum. I’d like to watch the election results from someone middle of the road. Any ideas?? --- ## [Is This the Evenest of All Elections?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-evenest-of-all-elections/639768)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-evenest-of-all-elections/639768 "2012-11-06T19:22:31Z")
Something I find interesting. Look at all those maps of electoral projections with red states and blue states. People talk about the country as being evenly split and the race as a tossup, but the maps fool your eye beca… --- ## [The Scoop](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scoop/640117)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scoop/640117 "2012-11-06T19:00:54Z")
Which media outlet will be first with an accurate result tonight? Which media outlet will be last in declaring the winner? --- ## [Lets look at election absuridties.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-look-at-election-absuridties/640118)
**Author:** [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-look-at-election-absuridties/640118 "2012-11-06T18:38:28Z")
This is my vote for representative. Does anything make you prouder of your democracy than an official analysis that includes the Phrases “The 11th then experienced one of the strangest sequences of events in electoral hi… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=282) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=284)