# It's Officially Election Day **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 4, 2008, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000 "2008-11-04T05:06:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/141 "2008-11-04T18:04:25Z")
> [@Beadalin](#): > > Gotta love voting at a Minnesotan Lutheran church. They had coffee and cookies for everyone. I’ve heard your doors aren’t red. Is that true? ---
**Author:** ![Dob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Dob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dob)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/142 "2008-11-04T18:04:37Z")
I live in Northern VA right across from the elementary school where voting is done. And the place was packed! Parking lot, and the street was full up and down. My wife went at 6am, took about an hour and half. I went around 9:30am, and only took about 30min. come on VA, lets go Obama! ---
**Author:** ![KarmaComa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@KarmaComa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarmaComa)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/143 "2008-11-04T18:04:54Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > According to 538 it’s less than 3%. But if you want to leave the realm of reality, someone could win the, I don’t know, 10 or 15 states with the most electoral votes with one vote in each state, and win the election while getting a tiny fraction of one percent of the popular vote. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/144 "2008-11-04T18:06:17Z")
Madison, Wisconsin here. Split from work around 10:30, done voting by 10:45. Piece of cake, except for the dipshit poll worker who had me fill out a change of address form (kinda long and annoying) without telling me it had to be done in red ink. Grr. Actual waiting in line time about 5 minutes. I was voter #589 in my precinct. They said that this was almost double the last presidential election. (ETA: turnout by that point in the day, not overall) The wife voted earlier (around 8:15) and she said it took a half hour of standing in line. GOBAMA! ---
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/145 "2008-11-04T18:08:29Z")
I’m in Morocco right now and we’re going to watch the election results at the reception organized by the U.S consulate at some hotel. The amount of interest in this election and Obama’s support levels are absolutely incredible, even compared to the 2004 elections. Everybody is asking me if Obama will be “allowed” to win. If he does, America is going to reap a huge PR win among moroccans. I hope it is used constructively. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/146 "2008-11-04T18:09:03Z")
> [@KarmaComa](#): > > But if you want to leave the realm of reality, someone could win the, I don’t know, 10 or 15 states with the most electoral votes with one vote in each state, and win the election while getting a tiny fraction of one percent of the popular vote. Probably. But then again, probably not, so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/147 "2008-11-04T18:11:32Z")
I voted last week, but I just want to share that when I did, I actually felt a little thrill go through me as I filled in the bubble next to OBAMA/BIDEN. That has never happened to me before. My husband is much more cynical, and less concerned over who wins - he has a lot of respect for McCain. He just went at 11:00, and contrary to my concerns about crowds, was in and out in about fifteen minutes. He called to report, and I jokingly asked him, “So, did you get a thrill when you voted for Obama,” and he actually admitted that he did. I’m so going to be glued to the TV tonight. It’s really nice to be excited and invested, not just voting for the lesser evil! ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/148 "2008-11-04T18:13:11Z")
So, everyone voted for McCain, right? 😉 My wife drove by the polls this morning (even though she already voted…couldn’t resist I guess) and said even with the early voting here things looked heavier than she has ever seen it. LOTS of people are hitting the streets to vote this time…I think we are going to have a record turn out here, especially coupled with the early voting. The customer here was all worried I wouldn’t be able to vote since my plane doesn’t leave until this evening (they are ALL big Obama fans) but was pretty happy when I said New Mexico had early voting and I’ve already taken care of things. I’m really becoming a big fan of this early voting thing and hope that it’s adopted by more states after this election. Anyway…GOBAMA! OBAMANOS! Ariba ariba! -XT ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/149 "2008-11-04T18:14:43Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > I’m really becoming a big fan of this early voting thing and hope that it’s adopted by more states after this election. > > Anyway…GOBAMA! OBAMANOS! Ariba ariba! > > -XT I thought _you_ were voting for McCain! 😕 > [@](#): > > My husband is much more cynical, and less concerned over who wins - he has a lot of respect for McCain. He just went at 11:00, and contrary to my concerns about crowds, was in and out in about fifteen minutes. He called to report, and I jokingly asked him, “So, did you get a thrill when you voted for Obama,” and he actually admitted that he did. Not that I can vote, so it doesn’t really matter, but I was pretty blah about this election until the Palin thing. I was totally okay with McCain until then - and I would have volunteered for the mooted Biden-McCain ticket in a second- but that’s when I realized that he had completely sold out to the Christian Right. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/150 "2008-11-04T18:15:06Z")
[Over 1,000 Students Lined Up To Vote At Penn State (VIDEO)\*](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/04/over-1000-students-lined_n_140859.html). WOW! \*Don’t watch on a full stomach, it’s very Cloverfieldish. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/151 "2008-11-04T18:20:04Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > I must say I’ve completely enjoyed **Shayna** and **Phlosphr** ’s excitement and enthusiasm throughout this election cycle, beginning right before the primaries. Their committment to spreading the word and tamping down pessimism has been wonderful, and **Shayna** ’s fingertip-access to data to support positions and refute smears has been impressive. My hat is doffed to both of them, and I thank them for helping to make things a little more interesting than it otherwise would have been without them. Hey thanks, this is what it’s all about. An American freedom to make a choice. I am so excited today, I have not voted yet, leaving here in about half an hour. I’ll try and take a pic, but I am also interested in seeing the lines elsewhere. So I’ll try and take a bunch of pics from several locations. I just have to remember to breathe. 😃 GOBAMA!!! ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/152 "2008-11-04T18:21:30Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] I thought you were voting for McCain! [/QUOTE] Where did you get that idea from? I said all along I’d NEVER vote for McCain. The race for my vote was between Obama and a third party vote (Barr in this case). I decided to go with Obama. -XT ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/153 "2008-11-04T18:24:00Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > OMG! Look what I did – [me, voting for Barack Obama and Joe Biden for President and Vice President of the United States](http://www.flickr.com/photos/23298617@N05/3002322707/sizes/o/)! As they say, great minds. . . 😉 > > Woo HOOOOOOOOOOOO!! Awesome, **Shayna**! (nice nails!) I voted absentee because I was out of town until last night and wanted to play it safe, so I really feeling like I’m missing out on the full experience today (but I’m sick with a fever today so it’s just as well I’m not out spreading it around to all the awesome voters!) A disheartening side note: Got a call from a family member that they received an “anonymous” mass-mailing text message this morning informing them that due to huge voter turnout, voting is being extended until tomorrow and they should go vote then. He (an Obama voter) was savvy enough to trace it and discovered it originated with another family member (a McCain voter). A confrontation is in the works… ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/154 "2008-11-04T18:24:30Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > I’ve heard your doors aren’t red. Is that true? Dang. I hate it when I don’t get a joke. So, whatchoo talkin’ 'bout, Willis? ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/155 "2008-11-04T18:25:48Z")
Another Missouri vote for Obama/Biden just in! If they carried this state it would be the whipped topping on the cake for me. No line at my polling station as of half an hour ago. (I work from home, so I made a point to vote during a dead time, so as not to make the line longer for people who have to be somewhere on time.) There was a short wait for the machines, so I did the paper ballot. Wearing my sticker with pride! ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/156 "2008-11-04T18:26:40Z")
> [@xanthous](#): > > A disheartening side note: Got a call from a family member that they received an “anonymous” mass-mailing text message this morning informing them that due to huge voter turnout, voting is being extended until tomorrow and they should go vote then. He (an Obama voter) was savvy enough to trace it and discovered it originated with another family member (a McCain voter). A confrontation is in the works… Apparently that kind of crap is fairly widespread. CNN mentioned it happening in multiple locations. I get the idea that it ain’t all “innocent pranking by family members”. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/157 "2008-11-04T18:27:10Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Where did you get that idea from? I said all along I’d NEVER vote for McCain. The race for my vote was between Obama and a third party vote (Barr in this case). I decided to go with Obama. > > -XT No idea. Perhaps I confused you with someone else. Or, I might just have assumed that based on your politics. Sorry. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/158 "2008-11-04T18:28:43Z")
So far the election hot line that tracks election voting problems has a mere 27,000 calls. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/159 "2008-11-04T18:28:59Z")
No worries…no reason why you should remember me after all. 🙂 I seem to get confused with other posters all the time based on several pit threads I’ve lurked in… -XT ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/160 "2008-11-04T18:29:46Z")
Back from doing some GOTV canvassing in central Ohio. My partner and I knocked on about 70-80 doors. Of the people who were home, the vast majority had already voted, but a few people still needed their polling information, so that was good. Saw a couple other Obama canvassing teams. Did not see any McCain canvassers, or any McCain door hangers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000.md?page=9)