For those who voted...

[danielmn]

no matter for whom, an amazing turnout. Over 100 million votes from a nation with 301 million total people (2007 census including those under age of voting)....an amazing 1/3 of the total population including those not even able to vote!

From my own state, 4 million two hundred thousand from a state of 8 million 800 thousand including those not eligable to vote (census 2006)....almost 1/2 of the total population! An amazing turnout!!

Those who went out to the booths, no matter who you voted for...pat yourselves on the backs! I can only hope that four years from now an even larger turnout happens!

Daniel

[NickD]

I would expect there'd be a fair bit more than 100 million people voting. The news was saying there were unprecidented numbers of voters for this election and there were over 120 million voters for the 2004 election.

[Mizbiz]

The voter registration in my state, Michigan, was 98% out of eligible voters. Working at the polls, I checked in a 93 year old woman, and 18 year old first time voters.

I was so proud.

[Vendrin]

Until we get 80% at least across the nation it still needs work.

[Kest]

The voter registration in my state, Michigan, was 98% out of eligible voters. Working at the polls, I checked in a 93 year old woman, and 18 year old first time voters.

well, Michigan was pretty fired up

[Swift]

Until we get 80% at least across the nation it still needs work.

Australia had 95% turnout at the last election, but then again over here, if you don't turn up and get your name crossed off (dont even have to fill the ballot paper out) you get fined 70 bucks unless you have a damn good reason for not voting.

I, personally, think it is horribly hypocritical for a country that calls itself a free democracy to force its citizens to vote.

[Veilan]

While I agree that mandatory voting is horrible (after all, not voting may be a conscious political choice too, although I personally prefer just casting an invalidated ballot should it come to that), it still doesn't mean high turnouts aren't desired or wished for by democracy's proponents. High turnouts really are theoretically good, meaning many people have been enfranchised. Until you realise that in excess of 70% of people are utterly stupid.

[zicada]

Australia had 95% turnout at the last election, but then again over here, if you don't turn up and get your name crossed off (dont even have to fill the ballot paper out) you get fined 70 bucks unless you have a damn good reason for not voting.

That is the most horrible thing I've ever heard, I had no idea. Sounds like you guys need yourselves an Obama too

[oldgrayrogue]

I took the day off from work yesterday.

Took my 10 year old son into the voting booth with me and let him pull the lever.

My wife did the same with our 6 year old daughter.

I am so very glad we did. From the looks of it, many , many others did the same.

[Kest]

So I heard California's Prop 8 actually passed

that must be a pain in the neck

[zicada]

So I heard California's Prop 8 actually passed

that must be a pain in the neck

Confuses me. I thought CA would be the last state a prop like that would pass.

[Kest]

Well when you have retards holding signs for Prop8 that say "Free Speech" and "Less Govt"...

[Mulu]

I took the day off from work yesterday.

Took my 10 year old son into the voting booth with me and let him pull the lever.

My wife did the same with our 6 year old daughter.

I am so very glad we did. From the looks of it, many , many others did the same.

Yep.

As for prop 8, I was surprised too, though it just barely squeaked by.

However, given the Loving precedent and that Obama will be choosing a few SCOTUS justices, I suspect all such laws will be stricken down as unconstitutional within the next 8-10 years.

[Fionn]

The voter registration in my state, Michigan, was 98% out of eligible voters. Working at the polls, I checked in a 93 year old woman, and 18 year old first time voters.

well, Michigan was pretty fired up

Last I checked NPR for the house races, Michigan had 102% of precincts counted. That's some serious fired up

[Vendrin]

Regarding prop 8, it won by a difference of 504,000 votes, but there are 3 million absentee ballots to be counted still. So it could still fail.