Red, White and Waiting

I have been stalking news sites all day, anxiously waiting for preliminary results. I think it's the news junkie in me. Although, it is nice not to have the stress of producing a show on my shoulders. (This is also the first time in the last 8 years I have not been a part of the media. In 2004 I was writing for the school newspaper and in 2008 I was working at an ABC affiliate in Washington.) While election newscasts tend to write themselves, they are extremely stressful given how quickly result percentages can change. I do not envy my news friends in that regard. I do envy their ability to get the information first.

I think we are going to be waiting longer than usual to learn who will be the (next) President of the United States. My guess is that the results will be close and therefore there will be numerous re-counts, etc. Not to mention candidates/parties proclaiming voter fraud due to the "inaccuracy" of some of the voting methods - email (in places Hurricane Sandy hit hard), electronic, mail-in, etc.


This election year has been an interesting one, to say the least. I will not miss the commercials (TV or radio) mail fliers, or people knocking on our door, but it is exciting to read and hear about how many people are utilizing their right to vote. Maybe this will be one for the record books. In Northern Kentucky, voting locations are running out of ballots. I've read comments to articles and Facebook of older adults suggesting this is the most important election of their lifetime. I read another story about a pregnant Illinois woman whose water broke early this morning, but she waited to go to the hospital after the polls opened so she could stop and vote first.While I am not suggesting anyone give birth at the polls I find it unfortunate that people have not always taken advantage of their right to vote.

I will end my election day rant post with a funny story from my voting experience today. As the lady handed me my ballot she got extremely excited as my ballot was number 21, meaning I was the 21 person from our precinct to vote. Her excitement was due to the fact that she assumed I was also 21 years old, and this may have possibly been my first election. Unfortunately, I had to burst her bubble as she was off quite a few years. She and her worker friend seemed slightly stunned and responded that I must get carded often.