Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Voters: Start Your Engines!

Millions head to polls on the biggest day of primary voting ever

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 5, 2008 5:10 AM CST

(Newser) – Millions of voters in 24 states are leaving home early this morning—or taking off early—or arranging child care as they head to polls to choose their favorites for the White House, and the presidential hopefuls will be hoping their last-ditch efforts to win them over have paid off. Both the Democratic and GOP races are tight, and with the biggest prize, California, reporting last, voters should be skeptical of any early media spin about who's winning, writes the New York Times.

Voters may not deal a knockout blow to any of the frontrunners today but the tight races are expected to result in big turnouts, especially among younger voters. Polls show that although many young voters think the result will be gloomy no matter who's elected, they're still keen to cast their ballots. "As hopeless as voting might seem, not voting is worse," a student told the Los Angeles Times.

Donald Persons, US resident in Thailand, casts his vote in U.S. presidential primary at a polling station in Bangkok Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008. Democrats living overseas became the first to vote in the U.S.... (Associated Press)

Chatham County poll manager James Wilson loads signs into to his vehicle Monday Feb. 4, 2008 a day before Super Tuesday in Savannah, Ga. Georgia joins 21 other states across the country to take part in... (Associated Press)

Lisa Ainbinder, US resident in Thailand, casts his vote in U.S. presidential primary at a polling station in Bangkok Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008. Democrats living overseas became the first to vote in the U.S.... (Associated Press)

Republican presidential hopeful, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, speaks at a campaign rally in Texarkana, Ark., Monday, Feb. 4, 2008, one day before the Super Tuesday presidential primary elections.... (Associated Press)

A woman dances in the aisle wearing Obama campaign signs during a rally for the Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in East Rutherford, N.J., Monday, Feb. 4, 2008, in the final... (Associated Press)

The "Straight Talk Express", the campaign bus of Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., moves east on 42nd Street towards a campaign stop at Grand Central Terminal in New York one... (Associated Press)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Dems Look to Light Up Stoner Vote in 2012

Ballot measures to legalize pot could motivate youth, dude

(NEWSER) - Democratic strategists think they might be able to float to victory in 2012 on a cloud of Mary Jane. If California’s Proposition 19—the ballot initiative to legalize pot in the state—does a decent job of driving liberal young stoners to the polls, expect to see similar initiatives spring up in Nevada, Colorado, and Washington, the strategists tell the Wall Street Journal . Exploratory polls are already under way, in fact, in Colorado. More»

Calif. Could Go Bust by July

State budget may fall short by as much as $23B

(NEWSER) - California could be broke by July if voters reject a handful of upcoming budget proposals, the Los Angeles Times reports. Officials predict the state will fall as much as $23 billion short if the unpopular propositions fail. To save money, the state may commute the sentences of 38,000 “low-risk” prisoners—including all 19,000 illegal immigrants currently in custody in California, who would be turned over to immigration authorities. More»

'I Have Never Seen Anything Like This'

Huge turnout gums up voting system, but most Americans take it in stride

(NEWSER) - Huge turnout caused long waits for some voters today, but most politely waited their turn, the AP reports. New Yorkers lined up at polling places well before dawn, and long lines persisted throughout the day. California’s voting system bent but did not break under the weight of estimated 80% voter turnout, even as rains cut power to some Los Angeles polling places. More»

Ballot Questions May Hinge On Obama Turnout

Gay marriage, marijuana, other issues on the line

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama has a lot riding on his coattails. The impact of a presidential candidate's support on candidates for lower offices can be substantial, and this year's slates also include 153 ballot questions. Besides swinging gubernatorial and congressional races, measures concerning everything from gay marriage to gambling are up for a vote Tuesday. "The turnout of Obama voters could have an important impact on the propositions," a California pollster tells Bloomberg. More»

Gay Marriage Vote Highlights Calif. Divides

Urban, coastal areas generally oppose Prop. 8; less-populated inland areas support it

(NEWSER) - California’s looming referendum on gay marriage is highlighting the cultural divide between coastal and inland regions, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Polls show 37% of voters in coastal counties supported Proposition 8—which would amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage—in a June poll, while 54% in the Central Valley supported it. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Voters: Start Your Engines!

Millions head to polls on the biggest day of primary voting ever

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

California • Super Tuesday • voters • voter turnout • young voters

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Dems Look to Light Up Stoner Vote in 2012

Ballot measures to legalize pot could motivate youth, dude

Calif. Could Go Bust by July

State budget may fall short by as much as $23B

'I Have Never Seen Anything Like This'

Huge turnout gums up voting system, but most Americans take it in stride

Ballot Questions May Hinge On Obama Turnout

Gay marriage, marijuana, other issues on the line

Gay Marriage Vote Highlights Calif. Divides

Urban, coastal areas generally oppose Prop. 8; less-populated inland areas support it

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Voters: Start Your Engines!

Millions head to polls on the biggest day of primary voting ever

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

California • Super Tuesday • voters • voter turnout • young voters

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Dems Look to Light Up Stoner Vote in 2012

Ballot measures to legalize pot could motivate youth, dude

Calif. Could Go Bust by July

State budget may fall short by as much as $23B

'I Have Never Seen Anything Like This'

Huge turnout gums up voting system, but most Americans take it in stride

Ballot Questions May Hinge On Obama Turnout

Gay marriage, marijuana, other issues on the line

Gay Marriage Vote Highlights Calif. Divides

Urban, coastal areas generally oppose Prop. 8; less-populated inland areas support it

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?