NationStates Jolt Archive

Ohio has been placed in the "too close to call" spot by CNN, due to the fact that there are a goodly number of ballots left to count, even if chiefly in Bush areas. There are also some number of provisional ballots that are out there, a number between 100,000 (projections by Ohio department of State) and 250,000 (according to the dems). Are we in for another Florida, only this time with my home state?

Ohio has been placed in the "too close to call" spot by CNN, due to the fact that there are a goodly number of ballots left to count, even if chiefly in Bush areas. There are also some number of provisional ballots that are out there, a number between 100,000 (projections by Ohio department of State) and 250,000 (according to the dems). Are we in for another Florida, only this time with my home state?

Given the scale of potential wrongdoings and late absentee/provisional ballots in Democratic areas in Florida, the Kerry campaign would be well within reason to also challenge Florida, and likely several other states.

Ohio, however, is relatively convenient and probably is the likeliest single state large enough to reverse any of the possible EV counts at this point in time.

CNN, in my opinion, is being rather ridiculous. As far as we now know, Ohio is Bush's, and I think they need to attribute Ohio to him until a Kerry victory is certain.

I doubt we'll have another Florida. Ohio and this year's Florida simply aren't as close of a call as last election's Florida. Unless Kerry makes a crazy last second push in Ohio(only 4% of precincts still out), it'll be Bush by a few percentage points (over a hundred thousand voters) whereas Florida's difference last election was in the hunreds of voters (0% difference rounded).

You never know, though. We'll see.

There are not enough provisional votes or absentee balots to make up Kerry's deficit. Kerry is done.

To be honest, Kerry has as much chance of winning Ohio as I do at this point. The election's over. Another four years of Shrub.

What the F is this!! They should attribute it to Bush or Kerry. Bollocks! Wait until the votes are counted, or do the media realy run the US, tell you what don't bother voting at all let the media decide who they think would win, it would save a fortune! :mp5: :mp5:

What the F is this!! They should attribute it to Bush or Kerry. Bollocks! Wait until the votes are counted, or do the media realy run the US, tell you what don't bother voting at all let the media decide who they think would win, it would save a fortune! :mp5: :mp5:

The Electoral College usually goes with the person who gets the most popular votes, unless they decide to vote early (as some states did this year) or come to the conclusion the populace are being idiots. The ones that vote early don't really give a damn what the populous thinks, thus showing how things really are.

To be honest, Kerry can only win if he gets Ohio. That state will decide this election. And so far, it appears to be leaning towards Bush. I doubt that will change, going by what I have seen earlier.

The Electoral College usually goes with the person who gets the most popular votes, unless they decide to vote early (as some states did this year) or come to the conclusion the populace are being idiots. The ones that vote early don't really give a damn what the populous thinks, thus showing how things really are.

To be honest, Kerry can only win if he gets Ohio. That state will decide this election. And so far, it appears to be leaning towards Bush. I doubt that will change, going by what I have seen earlier.
Yes but what I can't get my head around is why it should matter if CNN decrales for Bush or Kerry, is this not what the votes are there for? Are they not just there to report the facts not create them?

CNN, C-Span, Fox News....their stories and information never fuckin match. Why do we watch the news? Why do we listen and wait for it to broadcast? So we can be fed a spoonful of bullshit. Fuck them all, they all say what the want, give the information they want and you never really fuckin know. What's the fuckin point?

CNN, C-Span, Fox News....their stories and information never fuckin match. Why do we watch the news? Why do we listen and wait for it to broadcast? So we can be fed a spoonful of bullshit. Fuck them all, they all say what the want, give the information they want and you never really fuckin know. What's the fuckin point?
A bit more venom than I was expecting but the sentiment is there.

Yes but what I can't get my head around is why it should matter if CNN decrales for Bush or Kerry, is this not what the votes are there for? Are they not just there to report the facts not create them?

Please. I'm not paying attention to them. I'm looking at the Yahoo website. I find their map, and the information actually on it, better.

Why does it matter? Because those are the people who inform the nation. And when you have 99% reporting in a state with Kerry only having a total of 48%, you know he's not going to get it. Kerry lost.

Please. I'm not paying attention to them. I'm looking at the Yahoo website. I find their map, and the information actually on it, better.

Why does it matter? Because those are the people who inform the nation. And when you have 99% reporting in a state with Kerry only having a total of 48%, you know he's not going to get it. Kerry lost.
Now there you go, he might lose but until the last vote is counted and the result declared (at least in the democracies I know) he is only loosing, at the end he will have lost. So my question stands, why are people getting upset about a news station not stating something that has not yet been proven to be true?

Now there you go, he might lose but until the last vote is counted and the result declared (at least in the democracies I know) he is only loosing, at the end he will have lost. So my question stands, why are people getting upset about a news station not stating something that has not yet been proven to be true?

Actually, I have yet to see anyone on this topic really upset. It's just a case of accepting what I can see, and I can tell you there are not enough votes left in Ohio to give Kerry a 3% jump. And that's even if every remaining vote is for him. Kerry lost.

here are some ideas, more later,

1. Only two kinds of ballots the one
you vote on election day.
2. The absentee ballot, issued only to
sick people still able to vote and
oversee people or people out of state.
3. All absentee ballots must be sent out
at a reasonable time before the election
and must be back and counted by a
reasonable time before election day even
if we allow early voting, it must be back
and counted before the official election day
and the results sealed until then the responsibility
rest with the secretary of state, and that
department needs reform as well.
Heck Hell, Santa- Nita, Havaii.
4. The votes will be distributed and counted
to the right countys and therefore to the right elections.
5. I plan to start a thread on this so no more points.

How about making everyone vote???

Do take note I live in Australia and voting is compulsory.

...As far as we now know, Ohio is Bush's...you mean...as Far as FOX knows

Bush has 3 million+ more votes. I won't argue with him claiming victory. I don't understand why, but he has the majority of support. Pity.

On the other hand, after 2000, I don't blame Kerry one bit before waiting for the last vote to be counted. I never understood why politicians conceded before. I wouldn't. If I were beaten, fine. But I'd never concede.

The Electoral College usually goes with the person who gets the most popular votes, unless they decide to vote early (as some states did this year) or come to the conclusion the populace are being idiots. The ones that vote early don't really give a damn what the populous thinks, thus showing how things really are.

To be honest, Kerry can only win if he gets Ohio. That state will decide this election. And so far, it appears to be leaning towards Bush. I doubt that will change, going by what I have seen earlier.


The Electoral College cannot vote early (well, at least not since around 1860 at the latest). The states' legislatures no longer determine the Electoral College makeup. The popular elections in each of the states do that now. That's the reason Ohio is so important.

If Bush wins the popular vote in that state then the Republican slate of candidates to be Ohio's Electors will be selected by the Ohio state government (when you vote for President you are really voting for that candidate's list of Electors for your state). All Electors nationwide will then vote in their respective states' capitals on December 13, and report their vote to the President of the Senate.

There have been times in the past where Electors have "flipped" and voted for the other candidate. If any Electors flip this time it will be more likely that Democratic Electors will flip and vote for Bush. Hardcore Clintonite Democrats who become Electors would rather preserve Hillary's chance for 2008 than risk Kerry screwing up and helping the Republicans to another 8 to 12 year sweep (a la Jimmy Carter).

Coxia

The Electoral College cannot vote early (well, at least not since around 1860 at the latest). The states' legislatures no longer determine the Electoral College makeup. The popular elections in each of the states do that now. That's the reason Ohio is so important.

What they can and cannot do may not match what they have done. I saw Bush getting electoral votes from states that only had up ro 15% of their votes in at the time those votes were given. And that's on both sides.

They are using highly accurate statistical modeling when they call races early. While it is not out of the question for things to reverse (I believe the quoted possibility was 300:1) it so far has not happened.

What they can and cannot do may not match what they have done. I saw Bush getting electoral votes from states that only had up ro 15% of their votes in at the time those votes were given. And that's on both sides.


I know it seems that way, but that's just crap media reporting trying to "project" an outcome. The actual process is far more formal. The Secretary of State of State X has to certify the outcome first, and then that certification is sent to the Legislature of State X (or any other body so designated by the laws of State X).

Then the government of State X notifies the Electoral selectees of the candidate who won the popular vote. A month and a half later (December 13 this election cycle) they assemble in the State X's State Capitol in the halls of the Legislature generally, and cast one vote for President and one vote for Vice President each individually.

The votes are in secret (in most states of which I am aware), the result is tallied and reported, and then the Electors sign the report which is sent to Washington D.C.

Twenty-six states have state laws that say an Elector must vote for the candidate to whom they are pledged (or, alternatively, the candidate who won the popular vote) or risk being fined. However, no Elector has ever been prosecuted for flipping, and every legal and political analyst I've ever read said it would never pass Constitutional muster anyway.

Food for thought.

Coxia