Today is Election Day and as we wake up, grab our coffee and head to our nearest voting location, we’ll leave the polls wondering whether Barack Obama or John McCain will win which states, and then become the next President of the United States of America. Of course, outside of your nearest voting stations (mine happens to be within walking distance of my place, with lines out the door and onto the road – I live in Florida) will be pollsters, trying to get the jump on the final number tally.
The real numbers will start to be sent to the Associated Press and other press outlets tonight, and I’m sure most of the country will have their sets tuned to CNN, Fox News, MSNBC or your news network of choice, to watch the results and predictions as they roll out across the country. Of course, you can also track results using some of your favorite online services, search engines and portals.
- Google Maps is offering an Election Map mashup which has been covered on a lot of blogs and news outlets. The Mashup, according to Google, provides real time results on the state and county level, so users can pick apart various districts and local elections – yes, there are Congressional seats up for grab today also.
- Yahoo is showcasing the election with its Political Dashboard, a service it has offered for years. The Dashboard like Google also breaks down each state and various districts (counties) but unlike Google it is powered by RealClearPolitics, a polling outfit that has already projected Barack Obama to win today’s election. Yahoo also has added the Yahoo Search Tally, with Barack Obama topping John McCain in searches, 64.8% to 35.2%.
- CNN’s ElectionCenter 2008 is another stop for tracking elections results tongiht. The CNN election hub is full of news items, streaming videos, blog coverage and voter poll closing times along with other information. The site also breaks down Presidential, House, Senate, Governor and local ballot measures.
- In an interesting user generated content twist, YouTube and PBS have partnered for Video Your Vote, a YouTube and Google Maps powered service which lets voters upload their own videos about early voting, voting intimidation, problems with voting and other issues which can be instantly captured on video and uploaded to this YouTube powered PBS news channel.
- For a different approach at election results and polling, BuyCostumes.com, a costume and mask site, has been tracking the sales of Obama and McCain masks in its Presidential Mask Poll and has declared that the Obama Biden ticket will win the 2008 US Presidential Elections. According to their 2008 Official Presidential Mask Poll, which has been 100% accurate since 2000 (when most of the media got it wrong), the latest count indicates an Obama lead over McCain of 10 points; 55% to 45%.
Where will you be tracking the election results online? Please feel free to share some tips on places to track results inthe comments below and I’ll be sure to add them to the list. Ok, I’m heading out to vote!
