Biggest Voter Turnout In 90 Years, Since Women Won The Right

Americans turned out at the polls in record numbers today.

According to MSNBC:

Americans were voting in numbers unprecedented since women were given the franchise in 1920. Secretaries of state predicted turnouts approaching 90 percent in Virginia and Colorado and 80 percent or more in big states like Ohio, California, Texas, Missouri and Maryland.

Though the exact numbers won't be determined until all the votes are counted in the next few days and weeks, a history-making high percentage of Americans voted, according to CNN and the Wall Street Journal:

More than 30 million voters had already cast ballots before Tuesday in early voting. Nearly 100 million more were expected on election day. Hundreds of thousands of voters waited from long before daybreak or for hours on end to make their choices known.

Michael McDonald, a politics professor at Virginia's George Mason University, predicted nearly 65% of the electorate would have voted by the time all polls closed -- matching or eclipsing the turnout in the presidential election of 1960 featuring candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. Not since 1908, when the U.S. was convulsing through a shift from the machine party politics of the 19th century to the free-for-all of modern campaigns, has so large a proportion of Americans participated in a presidential election.

Comments

[DeloresT]

I want to thank my white American sisters and brothers who voted for Barack Obama! I am an African-American who (as a child) had to drink from a "colored only" water fountain. I NEVER thought that I would see this day. When I saw the mixed crowd in Chicago I cried. Please let's keep Obama prayed up! There are so many evil/red neck/ bigoted people out there who have been fed negative food for thought by Fox/Limbaugh/Hannity/O'Reilly. Obama wants to help this country, but negative people are still out there. Pray.

[catinca]

This is truly a great moment in American history. I only hope he is given a chance to do great things.

[Finchy13]

DeloresT - I am a white 66 year old female - who when I was 20 years old moved from Montana to Maryland - in Montana, we had only had one black family in our town, who were very well respected and no one really thought they were 'different' in any way, except the color of their skin, which didn't really make any difference to us......

then I ended up in Maryland and saw my first 'colored only' water fountain - I was so shocked, because I had never known of their existence and didn't know that everyone could n;t drink from the same fountain or share the same restrooms -it was a real education -

I am so very thankful for the upcoming presidency of Barack Obama - for he WILL bring us together as Americans and hopefully we will not be divided by color, race or religion as we have in the past - we are all Americans, and we should grow up and act like it......God Bless You....

[ncgrits]

I remember as well. As a young white child I will never forget the times I would be in a store with my mom and I would see 2 fountains, one with "colored" above it and one with "white" above it. I remember the little cafes in town had a separate entrance for "colored". You could not even share the same bathrooms. I was curious and wanted to know why it had to be that way. I was also tender hearted. I also remember the first day of desegregation in our town. I think it made one of the biggest impacts on me and shaped my thoughts that I adhere to up to this day. I was in the 8th grade in junior high. There was ONE young African-American boy that was sent to my school and ONE sent to the high school. I saw the fear and anticipation in the younger one's eyes that day. I couldn't help but feel sorry for him - surrounded by a sea of unfamiliar white students and not knowing what to expect. He had to feel so scared and lonely. Fortunately Jimmy had a wonderful personality and it wasn't long before he was able to make new friendships that lasted through high school. (cont'd)

[ncgrits]

(cont'd from previous post) Since I heard Senator Obama speak at the Democratic convention 4 years ago I have felt that God blessed him with a special ability to be a great leader. I hope that under President Obama the remaining barriers can finally be removed. I also feel that this night in history will be remembered and cherished for many years to come as a defining moment that united a country. It is difficult to express the emotions I was feeling as I listened to that wonderful speech that reached out to all of us tonight. I felt pride swell up in my chest like it was going to explode and I felt the trickle of joyous tears for all the hard work so many of us put into supporting Senator Obama. I looked at the sea of people of many races brought together to celebrate a common cause. God bless all who volunteered, donated, prayed, and most of all voted! Yes we can and we did it!

[levibatgirl]

The people have spoken.

We have taken our country back!!

[HamletsMill]

Spiritually this is what the people of the United States did today in their own country to take it back. I got up before dawn in memory of my father in WWII, stood at attention in deep prayer, and then went to the polls to vote on this Great Day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPU4p7UQOtU

[MovingLeft]

What a splendid night! Hope, instead of fear, has triumphed.

Now we all have to take President-Elect Obama's words to heart ; we all must contribute and take responsibility so as to make the changes that we desire, happen.

[LS1958]

It's 1:30 in the morning here in Michigan... we've ousted 8-term Republican Congressman Joe Knollenberg and in my county, which has historically been a Republican stronghold, nearly 54 percent of voters marked a straight Democratic ticket. Barack Obama won with nearly 55 percent of the vote.

In OAKLAND COUNTY, the wealthiest county in Michigan.

I am still in shock.

[Mull]

Wow! I'm in Oakland County too, and I hadn't heard that Knollenberg lost! Excellent! I can't believe it - I Love Michigan!!!!!

[politicalgal1]

I'm dancing!!! The people spoke.
Read great post about Race, America & Obama:

http://www.vaboomer.com/the_portal_to_boomeranger/2008/11/we-are-all-black-americans.html

[Seaglass]

I'm still stunned. I have been since I cast my vote over 17 hours ago. God, this feels incredible--I'm elated. And speaking of God--apparently he's not a Republican, contrary to popular belief.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

What I witnessed tonight, as I sat around the HQ of a St. Louis Obamma office was proof, refermation, hard work pays off. Watching as the throws of Americans stood, side by side, hugging, crying, laughing, crying "Thank You God." made me want to be a better person. In that room, we were not black, or white, just Americans, giving thanks, hugs, wiping away tears, changing diapers, of our fellow brothers and sisters. It was a beautiful moment captured in time, not unlike anything I have ever exirienced. It was a pleasure working for and towards this moment.

[margardner]

Making history feels sooooooo goood!

[forthepeople1]

We the people have spoken. Now the next stop....Jan 20th!!!!! Bush, you are fired!

[dwatford]

I'm so happy I can't really think of what I want to say and I have a headache from cheering and crying. Seeing people from all around the world doing the same....wow....this is a night I'll never forget. I told my 11 year old granddaughter never forget that you are seeing living history and always always hold on to hope like the millions who voted for Vice-President Obama did. What a wonderful night.

Obama/Biden 08 and beyond......

[MildenHall]

Absolutely, brilliant. We're BACK, World!!!!

[Figural]

It's so good to have you back - an America we can have dialogue and understanding with, and sometimes disagreements between friends.
A great day :-)

[PAustin]

Thank you for the welcome back. After all the crappy things we've done these last eight years . . . . Thank you, Figural, for the warm welcome home.

[DocJerome]

Wonderful. Now the work begins.

[demfriend]

I have been breathing and crying then looking again to make sure it really happened. It feels like a uphill slog for sure for months when it appeared all the nasty hate filled racism was the way the GOP ticket did their campaign. Many times I felt they might pull off the steal again and we would be left with a president who we hated as I could never feel less for McCain and Palin. Now after all the work and prayer the job is just begining. Wall street and main street are a horrid mess and 2 wars are being fought while all the MSM focused on everything but and our own still are dying there for us and coming home in such pain mentally and physically. Yes the election was won by our friend Obama and we can all sleep well tonight but tomorrow still comes and much is to be done and I hope Bush/Cheney don't mess things up worse before they are gone.

[doctorcastille]

Congratulations America. We did it.

[whit4brains]

I am so proud of my fellow Americans.

No matter who you voted for thank you for participating in our precious democracy!

[cubs325]

amen

[aphid]

Exactly - it doesn't matter who you voted for; not everyone who voted for McCain is a racist, redneck, gun-caressing xenophobe. A lot of them had a difficult time deciding.

(Okay, I don't know for sure, but that's the sense I get from listening to NPR a lot...)

America has the potential for greatness again because of the essential goodness of its
people.