Election day, a special mechanism
04 November 2008 à 15h55
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There is no comparison between US presidential elections and French ones. It is true about the electoral process and the way to vote, but also about the upcoming results.
It is an unknown phenomenon in our little country that is France. United States sprawls across six time zones, so all the polling stations cannot close in the same time. The east coast results are known whereas the west coast is still voting. And the first results inevitably give a tendency. So if it is too tight, it could urge some reluctant voters to wake up. That could have consequences on the final result… or not. For example, in 2000, Al Gore exhorted west coast voters to cast their ballot, knowing that everything will be decided there. He lost even so.
According to the last estimation, about 35 million Americans have already voted. For those who have waited for the “official” day, the first polling stations have symbolically opened at midnight in Doxville Notch, a little village in New Hampshire. Another village of this state, Hart’s Location, has kicked off the election day, in accordance with an old tradition. But most polling stations will open later this Tuesday morning, between 6 AM and 8 AM.
This presidential election mobilizes Americans, and polling stations will be stormed by voters today. Each state has its own process. In some places, young people can vote in the town they are studying. In others, you can vote by Internet, and the suspicions that go with it. In any case, ballots are complicated. People have to vote for President, but also for the Senator, the sheriff, the magistrate, and so on. This can explain the Florida 2000 fiasco.
The results will be given from east to west, more or less regularly. At 7 PM (1 AM in France), we should have a good idea of the way the presidential election will take. The first state announcing its results is traditionally Indiana. The Virginia results should be known too. These are two states expected for the Republican candidate, so if it is tighter than predicted, it could announced a difficult evening for John McCain. Half an hour later, the polling stations close in Ohio, one of the most famous swing states.
At 8 PM (2 AM in France), to make out a list of the states which close would be too long. Among them, two are very important. If Barack Obama wins Pennsylvania and Virginia, he is well on his way to the White House. Then, with a few exceptions (North Dakota, Colorado, New Mexico), the results should not been surprising. At 10 PM (4 AM in France), Nevada, the last swing state, will be known.
Alaska and Hawaii will be the last to give their result at midnight (6 AM in France). But, at this moment, the die will be cast. If, of course, there is no problem with voting machines or strange recounts…
It is an unknown phenomenon in our little country that is France. United States sprawls across six time zones, so all the polling stations cannot close in the same time. The east coast results are known whereas the west coast is still voting. And the first results inevitably give a tendency. So if it is too tight, it could urge some reluctant voters to wake up. That could have consequences on the final result… or not. For example, in 2000, Al Gore exhorted west coast voters to cast their ballot, knowing that everything will be decided there. He lost even so.
According to the last estimation, about 35 million Americans have already voted. For those who have waited for the “official” day, the first polling stations have symbolically opened at midnight in Doxville Notch, a little village in New Hampshire. Another village of this state, Hart’s Location, has kicked off the election day, in accordance with an old tradition. But most polling stations will open later this Tuesday morning, between 6 AM and 8 AM.
This presidential election mobilizes Americans, and polling stations will be stormed by voters today. Each state has its own process. In some places, young people can vote in the town they are studying. In others, you can vote by Internet, and the suspicions that go with it. In any case, ballots are complicated. People have to vote for President, but also for the Senator, the sheriff, the magistrate, and so on. This can explain the Florida 2000 fiasco.
The results will be given from east to west, more or less regularly. At 7 PM (1 AM in France), we should have a good idea of the way the presidential election will take. The first state announcing its results is traditionally Indiana. The Virginia results should be known too. These are two states expected for the Republican candidate, so if it is tighter than predicted, it could announced a difficult evening for John McCain. Half an hour later, the polling stations close in Ohio, one of the most famous swing states.
At 8 PM (2 AM in France), to make out a list of the states which close would be too long. Among them, two are very important. If Barack Obama wins Pennsylvania and Virginia, he is well on his way to the White House. Then, with a few exceptions (North Dakota, Colorado, New Mexico), the results should not been surprising. At 10 PM (4 AM in France), Nevada, the last swing state, will be known.
Alaska and Hawaii will be the last to give their result at midnight (6 AM in France). But, at this moment, the die will be cast. If, of course, there is no problem with voting machines or strange recounts…
