Election Day Ticker

6:21 am - Awakened by a shout outside my window: "I feel really lucky to be able to vote in this election!"

10:16 am - On my way to work, there's a line down the block at the school/polling place across the street from me, next to the very dangerous 96th/West End entrance to the West Side Highway. So a number of people may well get the chance to vote *and* die.

10:20 am - Hart's Location, the small New Hampshire town that acts, every four years, as an Election Day bellwether, voted last night after midnight (one of their quirky traditions) for Bush AND Kerry: 15 votes for each -- and one for Nader! Right down the middle even there, despite three recent campaign visits by each candidate to the town's swing vote, aka "Jed."

11:47 am - Appeals Court rules to allow Ohio Republicans to send challengers to the polls. They can question the eligibility of any newly registered voter by asking for proof of citizenship, age, and residency. Sure it sounds a little harsh, but on the other hand, for many elderly voters, it's nice to have a well-dressed young man taking the time to chat.

2:05 pm - (from The New Republic's election day blog) "First dirty trick of the day up here: The New Hampshire Democratic Party says somebody is making bogus phone calls that advise voters to sit out the election because Kerry is already so far ahead. According to a transcript of the call provided by the Dems: 'So, if you're going down to vote you don't have to bother, because he's doing so well that we feel that there are enough people that have already voted in the state of New Hampshire.'" Right. Presumably, the call is from the Democratic Party's last-minute "Keep in the Vote" drive.

2:58 pm - cited by Andrew Sullivan from National Review's blog:
"Do not, again, do not take any exit poll resports too seriously. JUST GET OUT THE VOTE. Exit polls not always reliable, ESPECIALLY early ones. AND, this isn't over until the polls close. So please get to work while there is still time. DO NOT get depressed. DO NOT get mad. JUST GET OUT THE VOTE." Big government, no. Big letters, why not?

3:18 pm -- Ooh, it's near official! The Guam Pacific Daily News is reporting that the island-based U.S. territory has gone for Bush nearly 2 to 1. This of course raises all kinds of questions, chief among them, "Guam can vote?"

4:43 pm -- Record-setting 70% turnout in Louisville, Kentucky, despite rainstorms since 6am this morning. Then again, if there's any town that loves a good horserace...

5:52 pm -- What's striking to me is the conspicuous, 100% deliberate media silence on how the race itself is trending so far. Obviously it's way too early to make any kind of statements, but that usually doesn't bother the rapacious 24/7 news beast. However, fear of getting it wrong makes the Beast in this case charmingly coquettish.

9:38 pm -- It's 9:30, earlier exit polling seemed to favor Kerry, but now Bush's numbers are doing better in two of the three key states (OH, FL). But really, way too close to call. OK, this is officially the lamest election day blog ever.