According to AJ Schiera, a member of the executive board of Penn Leads the Vote, at least 90 percent of registered undergraduates at four of the on-campus divisions had voted as of about 7 p.m. This was announced in Penn Leads the Vote War Room.

Those divisions are Houston Hall, Steinberg Dietrich, Harnwell College House and Harrison College House. At Houston Hall alone, 1,010 people had voted by 7 p.m, six of which were provisional ballots.

This number is about 25 percent higher than total turnout for the 2004 election at that station.

In a recent poll of Penn undergraduates conducted from Oct. 6 to Oct. 19 by CBS News/Chronicle of Higher Education/UWire/The Daily Pennsylvanian, 94 percent of the 839 respondents were registered to vote. 

According to Penn Leads the Vote, approximately 58 percent of undergraduates at Penn are registered to vote on and around campus.

Raw data for turnout on and around Penn from 2000 to the 2008 primary is available here.

If you have been on Locust Walk today, you have probably seen the Obama signs hanging on trees. You might have noticed that they say “Text PA to 62262,” but don’t say why or what will happen if you do.

As a curious reporter, I diligently followed the sign’s instructions and have since received three text messages that have told me to vote for Obama and to tell others to do the same.

Standard message rates apply.

When polling lines start to lengthen and frustrations start to mount, it’s Blu’s job to keep voters happy.

A freelance photographer and Line Manager for the Obama campaign, Blu is responsible for keeping voters at Steinberg-Dietrich organized, relaxed and motivated as they wait to cast their ballots. The most important part is keeping them comfortable and entertained, said Blu, who spoke from her own perspective and not on behalf of the campaign.

To do that, she offers water, cookies and conversations. She also provides pamphlets that explain how to work the polls so voters can orient themselves as they wait.
(more…)

CHICAGO, IL —

Today, Chicagoans hope to send one of their own to the White House.
I’ve been here since yesterday, walking around Hyde Park (where Obama lives), walking up to Obama National Headquarters, and eating sausage with sauerkraut at Berghoff’s (Abe Froman reference, anyone?).

On my way out to the University of Chicago yesterday, nearly everyone on the bus from downtown was talking about politics. Intensely. “McCain should never have picked Palin,” said one man, who thinks Palin will cost McCain the election. The commuters near him agreed, and the conversation continued for the entire 35 minute ride.

But it didn’t stop there. I have seriously not stopped hearing people talk about the election (as would be expected on a very big Election Day). People seem anxious, paranoid, uncertain.

“All I can do it hope and pray. Hope and pray,” said one man.
(more…)

Facebook is joining in the Election Day action with the “Election Rally on Facebook,” which urges users to “donate your status” to the Election. People seem to be doing doing it — my Facebook News Feed is dominated by “X is getting out the vote for Barack Obama/John McCain. Last chance to join the rally: http://causes.com/election/26916683?m=ce0c7175.”

Facebook is also keeping a tally of the number of users who have voted so far today. As of 1:45, 2,146,349 users reported voting. Could Facebook be influencing turnout?

If you haven’t seen it already, check out the Daily Pennsylvanian’s pre-election poll of Penn students. Some of the more interesting results are shown in below.

(more…)

In case you’re having trouble finding where to vote, even though you shouldn’t be given how many sources have been blanketing campus with that information, see The Daily Pennsylvanian’s map of polling locations. The map will be updated live throughout the day tomorrow with stories from the polls and results when they close. And if you have any tips or see anything interesting happening at a polling place, e-mail news editor Emily Babay, at babay@dailypennsylvanian.com.

About 6,600 people were in the audience at Abington High School where Barack Obama spoke today. He exerted an undeniable star power over the crowd, which periodically broke into chants of “Yes we can!” or “O-ba-ma”. He repeated phrases and policy promises that have been key to his campaign thus far, declaring that “he gets” middle-class Americans’ pressing concern over the state of the economy where McCain is out of touch, and emphasizing that 95 percent of Americans would see tax cuts under his administration.

He placed special emphasis on education issues, in light of the location of the event, and made a deal with current high school students: if they serve in their communities, he’ll make sure everyone can afford a college education, “no ifs, ands, or buts.” Attendees leaving the event called it “phenomenal” and said they were thrilled by the experience of seeing Obama in person.

12:02 - Pumping up the crowd with a final appeal for support and volunteers, Obama finishes his speech.

11:58 - “We will all need to pull our weight, because now, more than ever, we are all in this together… what this crisis has told us is that in the end, there is no separation between Main Street and Wall Street.”

11:55 - Back to Wall Street: “Just as we demand accountability in Wall Street, I will demand accountability in Washington… I will start by ending a war in Iraq”

11:54 - The crowd, which includes members of Abington High School, chants again, “Obama, Obama”

11:53 - “If you serve your country, or your community… if you serve in the military, or in the peace corps… if you work in a homeless shelter… We will invest in you… You will be able to afford college, no ifs, ands or buts.”

11:52 - Moving on from healthcare, Obama is now outlining his plan for education. He promises to make sure American educations are “second to none” in the world.
(more…)