They lined up before dawn in the cold and the dark, voters of all political persuasions, clutching cups of hot coffee and their American dreams.
Some were inspired by the campaign rhetoric of President Obama or Republican challenger Mitt Romney, or motivated by the conviction that one of the two — if elected — would lead the country down the wrong path.
Graphic
Explore the 2012 electoral map and view historical results and demographics
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Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake
THE FIX | One final attempt to explain why most polls show a party identification edge for Democrats.
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Mitt Romney and Barack Obama are repeating some discredited claims as they barnstorm the country looking for votes.
Aaron Blake and Chris Cillizza
THE FIX | We break down all of the major races, hour by hour, so you know what to expect and when.
Your Election Day preview: See how all the major races across the country are unfolding.
Others said neither candidate really appealed to them, but the idea of not voting at all seemed even worse.
In storm-ravaged New Jersey, deep purple Virginia and all-important Ohio, the rhetorical battles that Democrats and Republicans have waged for months finally gave way to the simplest of civic traditions: one voter, one ballot and the freedom to decide.
“I definitely feel we’re headed in the wrong direction,” said Cindy Foister, a 55-year-old federal government employee, who was one of a dozen people waiting outside a polling station in Crystal City as of 5:30 a.m. She voted the straight Republican ticket.
Charren Brooks, 44, who works for an architectural engineer, showed up just as early at the same precinct to cast her vote for Obama. “I want to see what he will do in his second term,” Brooks said. “Me personally, I’m in a better place than I was” before Obama became president.
Obama holds a slim edge in both national and battleground state polls, and seems to have gained ground over Romney in the final days of the campaign. But with the nation’s economic recovery proceeding at a slow pace and continued battles in key states over how provisional and absentee ballots will be counted, analysts say the results of Tuesday’s voting may not be known until long after the polls close.
Lines had dwindled at many polling stations by mid-morning, as voters with 9-t0-5 jobs made their choices and headed to work. But at Webster Elementary School in Manchester, N.H., a battleground state, about 350 people were still facing an hour-long wait at 10:30 a.m..
“This is unusual. Usually you’re out in 20 minutes,” said Patty Hicks. “I think people realize how important this election is. Every vote counts.”
Bonnie Argeropoulos, an exit poller stationed at the school, said she didn’t know what she would do if the lines continued. “I’m going to run out of surveys,” she said. “I’ve never seen it like this.”
It is the first campaign where an incumbent president cast his vote before Election Day, and the second presidential election in a row in which record-setting numbers of voters across the country cast early ballots.
In another break with tradition, both Romney and his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), will campaign in crucial swing states on Election Day.
And in a third unusual twist, New Jersey voters displaced by superstorm Sandy are being allowed to cast mail-in ballots by fax or e-mail, raising concerns about possible hacking and fraud.
“There’s definitely confusion,” New Jersey voter Laura Ninger told Bloomberg News. She said she and a friend were told to fill out provisional ballots when they arrived at Rutherford High School in Bergen County. After a brief period of bafflement, they were directed to another area, where their paperwork was found.
Some were inspired by the campaign rhetoric of President Obama or Republican challenger Mitt Romney, or motivated by the conviction that one of the two — if elected — would lead the country down the wrong path.
Graphic
Explore the 2012 electoral map and view historical results and demographics
More from PostPolitics
Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake THE FIX | One final attempt to explain why most polls show a party identification edge for Democrats.
Glenn Kessler Mitt Romney and Barack Obama are repeating some discredited claims as they barnstorm the country looking for votes.
Aaron Blake and Chris Cillizza THE FIX | We break down all of the major races, hour by hour, so you know what to expect and when.
Your Election Day preview: See how all the major races across the country are unfolding.Others said neither candidate really appealed to them, but the idea of not voting at all seemed even worse.
In storm-ravaged New Jersey, deep purple Virginia and all-important Ohio, the rhetorical battles that Democrats and Republicans have waged for months finally gave way to the simplest of civic traditions: one voter, one ballot and the freedom to decide.
“I definitely feel we’re headed in the wrong direction,” said Cindy Foister, a 55-year-old federal government employee, who was one of a dozen people waiting outside a polling station in Crystal City as of 5:30 a.m. She voted the straight Republican ticket.
Charren Brooks, 44, who works for an architectural engineer, showed up just as early at the same precinct to cast her vote for Obama. “I want to see what he will do in his second term,” Brooks said. “Me personally, I’m in a better place than I was” before Obama became president.
Obama holds a slim edge in both national and battleground state polls, and seems to have gained ground over Romney in the final days of the campaign. But with the nation’s economic recovery proceeding at a slow pace and continued battles in key states over how provisional and absentee ballots will be counted, analysts say the results of Tuesday’s voting may not be known until long after the polls close.
Lines had dwindled at many polling stations by mid-morning, as voters with 9-t0-5 jobs made their choices and headed to work. But at Webster Elementary School in Manchester, N.H., a battleground state, about 350 people were still facing an hour-long wait at 10:30 a.m..
“This is unusual. Usually you’re out in 20 minutes,” said Patty Hicks. “I think people realize how important this election is. Every vote counts.”
Bonnie Argeropoulos, an exit poller stationed at the school, said she didn’t know what she would do if the lines continued. “I’m going to run out of surveys,” she said. “I’ve never seen it like this.”
It is the first campaign where an incumbent president cast his vote before Election Day, and the second presidential election in a row in which record-setting numbers of voters across the country cast early ballots.
In another break with tradition, both Romney and his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), will campaign in crucial swing states on Election Day.
And in a third unusual twist, New Jersey voters displaced by superstorm Sandy are being allowed to cast mail-in ballots by fax or e-mail, raising concerns about possible hacking and fraud.
“There’s definitely confusion,” New Jersey voter Laura Ninger told Bloomberg News. She said she and a friend were told to fill out provisional ballots when they arrived at Rutherford High School in Bergen County. After a brief period of bafflement, they were directed to another area, where their paperwork was found.