CHICAGO, Ill. — At the moment CNN called Pennsylvania for Obama, the crowd had its
biggest roar yet.

Everyone knew the importance of Pennsylvania for John McCain to make a
comeback victory. He invested a lot of time in the state — time that
will clearly be questioned by pundits as a waste of precious
resources.

Pennsylvania called for Obama. Room goes crazy.

Forty minutes after Pa. polls closed, CNN and Fox News now join MSNBC and ABC News in calling Pennsylvania for Obama.

Minutes after the polls closed in Pennsylvania, MSNBC and ABC News called the state for Senator Obama.

CNN and Fox News say the state is still too close to call.

CHICAGO, Ill. — The crowd is roaring here in Grant Park. Thousands are cheering at any mention on CNN of good news for Obama. Everyone is waiting on the 8 p.m. states — including Pennsylvania — to be called.

Some networks are planning on announcing the winner of the presidential election as early as 9 p.m. EST — two hours before polls close on the west coast.

Based on agreements made by the networks that are within the consortium that conducts exit polling, networks cannot announce winners for individual states before the state’s polls close, according to the Chicago Tribune. But they can announce the national winner before all polls close.

But if the 2000 election taught us anything about elections, it is that announcing results too early may have an effect on voter turnout. In Florida, networks began calling the state for then-Vice President Al Gore before all polls in the state had closed. Gore supporters have since said that this caused many to stay home, believing the election had already gone in their favor. 

According to the Tribune, a similar situation could occur this year: “Such an announcement will lead to some potential voters leaving the polls before they cast their ballots and others to not come at all.”

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.

The only line longer than the the ones at the polls today is the one outside of Ben & Jerry’s. I snapped a photo of students who braved the light drizzle to get free ice cream the store is handing out to those who voted today.

Want your own free scoop? Go to Ben & Jerry’s any time before 8. Plan to wait a while - the line wraps around the corner.

Students line up outside Ben & Jerry's for free ice cream.

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.
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