Just got home from work and I’m monitoring both NPR (KUOW in the Seattle area) and the BBC’s U.S. Elections Map. As of 7:28PM PST (according to the BBC tracker), George Bush has 196 electoral votes, Kerry 112; California, the state with the most electoral votes (55), has yet to be decided, as has most of the West Coast. Ohio, one of the key states, is also undecided, though Bush is ahead in Ohio so far.
This entry will be updated relatively frequently as the vote tallying goes on.
Update (7:47PM): I would like to thank Alec Weir of Evergreen’s Writing Center for giving me the BBC tracker link. In addition, there are some other unlikely Presidential runs — I support the Kermit/Gumby ticket. I’ll post the number of electoral votes states have shortly (though I can tell you that California has a whoppin’ 55!).
Update (8:11PM): Direct from the horse’s mouth — the Federal Election Commission horse, that is — is the Distribution of Electoral Votes.
1-5 Electoral College Votes (18 states): Alaska(3), Delaware(3), D.C.(3), Hawaii(4), Idaho(4), Maine(4), Montana(3), Nebraska(5), Nevada(5), New Hampshire(4), New Mexico(5), North Dakota(3), Rhode Island(4), South Dakota(3), Utah(5), Vermont(3), West Virginia(5), Wyoming(3)
6-10 Electoral College Votes (16 states): Alabama(9), Arizona(10), Arkansas(6), Colorado(9), Connecticut(7), Iowa(7), Kansas(6), Kentucky(8), Louisiana(9), Maryland(10), Minnesota(10), Mississippi(6), Oklahoma(7), Oregon(7), South Carolina(8), Wisconsin(10)
11-15 Electoral College Votes (9 states): Georgia(15), Indiana(11), Massachusetts(12), Missouri(11), New Jersey(15), North Carolina(15), Tennessee(11), Virginia(13), Washington(11)
16-20 Electoral College Votes (2 states): Michigan(17), Ohio(20)
21-25 Electoral College Votes (2 states): Illinois(21), Pennsylvania(21)
26-30 Electoral College Votes (1 state): Florida(27)
31-35 Electoral College Votes (2 states): New York(31), Texas(34)
36-40 Electoral College Votes (0 states): NONE
41+ Electoral College Votes (1 state): California(55)
As of now, 211 electoral college votes go to Bush, 188 to Kerry (according to BBC).
I do realize that most of these are projected and not actual; the actual numbers won’t be in for a day or more.
Update (8:22PM): As many sites have pointed out, 270 Electoral College votes are required to win the U.S. Presidential race.
Turning to Washington State, Patty Murray has been re-elected as Senator with 54% of the vote according to the Seattle Times as of this time. The gubernatorial race between Gregoire and Rossi is close, 50% to 47%.
Update (8:28PM): Seattle Times’ Between the Lines blog, as well as more notable blogs such as Wonkette, Instapundit, and many more join me in live election coverage. Not that anyone’s actually reading mine (not live, at least), but there ya go. Of course, you can always check CNN, MSNBC, NBC, CBS for TV news — but for the love of God, don’t trust Fox Network. They’ll call it for Bush in a heartbeat before everything is actually in. They did that last election year, in an extremely stupid move.
Update (8:36PM): Now 211 votes to Bush, 188 to Kerry. On the West Coast current reporting indicates that Oregon is 69.4% Kerry, 29.9% Bush with 19% of precincts reported; California is not yet reporting; Washington is 50.6% Kerry, 48% Bush, and 0.7% Nader (morons!) with 2% of precincts reporting.
Update (8:50PM): To repeat what I’ve said to at least three people so far, I’m predicting that if California truly goes to Kerry, so will Oregon and Washington. ’nuff said.
As of 8:42PM, the Seattle Times reporting Patty Murray for U.S. Senate with 52% of the vote (45% Nethercutt), Rossi with 50% of the vote for Governor (47% Gregoire), and 66% no vote on raising Washington’s sales tax by 1% to support education (33% yes; I voted yes on this one).
A reminder of what I actually voted for is available here, though this doesn’t include any statewide initiative measures.
Update (9:02PM): The BBC reports 238 electoral college votes for Bush, 188 for Kerry; CNN reports 197 for Bush, 188 for Kerry. The BBC has called Florida in Bush’s camp; CNN is saying Florida is too close to call. CNN reports 41,417,329 (51% total) for Bush in the popular vote; 38,816,696 (48% total) for Kerry in the popular vote.
Update (9:04PM): The above update data was as of 9PM Pacific.
NPR has called Florida, giving it to Bush.
Update (9:18PM): CNN is being incredibly cautious in calling states, which means that BBC and NPR had Bush in a higher lead than CNN (the same is true of the Seattle Times). However, CNN has now joined other sources in giving Florida to Bush. Currently:
BBC: 188 Kerry, 238 Bush
NPR: 188 Kerry, 237 Bush
CNN: 188 Kerry, 234 Bush
Seattle Times: 188 Kerry, 237 Bush
NPR calls Oregon for Kerry as of 9:17PM PST.
Update (9:32PM): Somebody call Ohio’s race. Please? Pretty please? Kinda-shoulda-coulda-woulda-maybe please? Come on, it’s 74% precincts reported and currently 51.2% percent for Bush…
BBC: 195 Kerry, 247 Bush
NPR: 206 Kerry, 246 Bush
CNN: 188 Kerry, 237 Bush
Seattle Times: 195 Kerry, 237 Bush
NPR calls Washington, giving it to Kerry. BBC has given Oregon to Kerry, as has NPR. CNN is still out on Oregon.
Update (9:39PM): Washington State’s elections show Murray with 54% of the vote for Senate, Gregoire with 49% of the Gubernatorial vote, and 64% no vote for the sales tax initiative, I-884 — this data is retrieved from the Seattle Times, accurate as of 9:33PM PST.
Update (9:44PM): If nobody else calls Ohio, I will — in Bush’s camp.
This is an appropriate time to plug, once again, the Atom Films Flash animation “This Land”, which I’ve plugged before.
NPR and BBC call Minnesota for Kerry.
BBC: 206 Kerry, 246 Bush
NPR: 196 Kerry, 246 Bush
CNN: 195 Kerry, 246 Bush
Seattle Times: 216 Kerry, 246 Bush
Update (9:56PM): I’ve been listening to NPR for two and a half hours now. Seesh.
Whoa — New York Times is being even more cautious than anyone else. They haven’t even called California yet, and everyone has called California (that I’m monitoring, at least). In fact, they haven’t called Oregon either…
BBC calls Washington in Kerry’s favor.
BBC: 217 Kerry, 246 Bush
NPR: 216 Kerry, 246 Bush
CNN: 195 Kerry, 246 Bush
Seattle Times: 205 Kerry, 246 Bush
New York Times: 134 Kerry, 224 Bush
Update (10:07PM): Why the Hell isn’t Hawaii a major part of this coverage? NPR keeps either not mentioning Hawaii or making Hawaii an afterthought. Sure, they’re nowhere near the mainland, but that’s just rude when you’re mentioning every other mainland state. Now.. will someone call Hawaii? Alaska, maybe?
Patty Murray has given her acceptance speech for the Senate seat in Washington State.
BBC: 217 Kerry, 246 Bush
NPR: 216 Kerry, 249 Bush
CNN: 195 Kerry, 249 Bush
Seattle Times: 216 Kerry, 246 Bush
New York Times: 141 Kerry, 229 Bush
I would like to ask Washingtonians: Why, when you could’ve voted for anyone, did you have to choose, of all morons running, NADER? I bet it was all those Evergreen State College students that did it.
New York Times (finally) calls Oregon for Kerry.
Update (10:11PM): “Although far more people are taking part, the country appears as divided as it was four years ago” (paraphrase of NPR). Didn’t I say this might happen a while ago? Sometime last month?
Update (10:15PM): NPR is trying to find out if polls are still open in Ohio.
BBC: 217 Kerry, 249 Bush
NPR: 220 Kerry, 249 Bush
CNN: 196 Kerry, 249 Bush
Seattle Times: 216 Kerry, 249 Bush
New York Times: 141 Kerry, 229 Bush
Update (10:22PM): Washington State basically knows Murray is Senator at this point — 54% for Murray, 43% for Nethercutt. Gregoire has 49% of the vote and Rossi 48%. It’s basically a given that I-884 has lost.
Update (10:25PM): Alaska has gone to Bush, according to CNN and BBC. Waiting still on Ohio and Michigan — I’m antsy. What’s going on in Ohio?
BBC: 221 Kerry, 249Bush
NPR: 220 Kerry, 249 Bush
CNN: 200 Kerry, 249 Bush
Seattle Times: 220 Kerry, 249 Bush
New York Times: 141 Kerry, 234 Bush
Update (10:38PM): An interesting article on Wired entitled “Calling the Election: A Primer”. I still don’t get why people wasted their vote and voted for Nader in Washington State, but I recall what my father told me — “a vote for Nader is a vote for Bush.” Well, Dad, you’re partly right, but you’re partly wrong — that tiny percentage in Washington didn’t go to Bush, it went to Nader. On the same vein — argh, so far 0.5% of Nevada voted for Nader with 24% of precincts reporting there. Question hereby extended to Nevada residents.
I’m beginning to wonder if I should’ve done a write-in vote for Washington State governor. Who? Gary Locke, of course. Too late now, but still.
CNN gives Washington to Kerry.
BBC: 221 Kerry, 249 Bush
NPR: 221 Kerry, 249 Bush
CNN: 211 Kerry, 249 Bush
Seattle Times: 221 Kerry, 249 Bush
New York Times: 141 Kerry, 234 Bush
Update (10:51PM): An interesting article on The New York Times entitled “The Revolution Will Be Posted", covering blogger commentary in this election. The title seems like a takeoff of the documentary “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”, a documentary about Hugo Chavez.
BBC: 221 Kerry, 249 Bush
NPR: 221 Kerry, 249 Bush
CNN: 211 Kerry, 249 Bush
Seattle Times: 221 Kerry, 249 Bush
New York Times: 141 Kerry, 234 Bush
Still waiting on Ohio, Michigan, Nevada, Hawaii, and a few other states.
To the New York Times staff: You’re worse than snails. You’re coral. Update faster. And, while you’re at it, join everyone else and call California for Kerry!
Update (11:17PM): A friend of mine in the Writing Center handed me a slip of paper with the word “monkey” on it when I was at work earlier, saying that I might need it. I just pulled it out of my pocket. Bush is a monkey (and he looks like one too).
He was right. I needed it.
BBC: 221 Kerry, 249 Bush
NPR: 221 Kerry, 249 Bush
CNN: 211 Kerry, 249 Bush
Seattle Times: 221 Kerry, 249 Bush
New York Times: 141 Kerry, 234 Bush
Update (11:25PM): New York Times FINALLY called California and Washington for Kerry. About time. Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, Nevada, New Mexico, Hawaii are still waiting on results.
BBC: 221 Kerry, 249 Bush
NPR: 221 Kerry, 249 Bush
CNN: 211 Kerry, 249 Bush
Seattle Times: 221 Kerry, 249 Bush
New York Times: 207 Kerry, 246 Bush
Washington’s gubernatorial race is now 50% for Gregoire, 47% for Rossi; 55% for Murray, 42% for Nethercutt (Senate).
Update (11:48PM): CNN is now showing an incredibly close race.
BBC: 225 Kerry, 249 Bush
NPR: 225 Kerry, 249 Bush
CNN: 242 Kerry, 249 Bush
Seattle Times: 221 Kerry, 249 Bush
New York Times: 217 Kerry, 246 Bush
Update (11:50PM): According to CNN, “Broken machines and a delay in opening absentee ballots will delay Iowa reporting its final count in the presidential election, state election officials said.”
Update (11:51PM): MSNBC called Ohio for Bush, but Kerry holds out.
Update (11:53PM): I figured out what happened with CNN – it called Michigan for Kerry, bringing Kerry’s total very close to Bush’s. Duh.
Update (11:55PM): Washington, with 88% of precincts reported, votes 52.6% for Kerry and 46% for Bush, with that same piddly 0.7% for Nader. Gubernatorial race remains close, 49% for Gregoire and 48% for Rossi (Seattle Times).
Update (11:57PM): Aw, crap, not another recount possibility. At least it’s Ohio this time and not Florida.
Update (11:59PM): Apparently, Hawaii went to Kerry at some point according to BBC and CNN — hadn’t noticed (or if I did, I don’t recall posting it).
November 3, 2004 – Election Coverage Continuing
Update (12:07AM): Now up to 4 hours and 40 minutes on NPR. Perhaps I’m too obsessed.
NPR joins CNN in showing a close race.
BBC: 225 Kerry, 249 Bush
NPR: 242 Kerry, 249 Bush
CNN: 242 Kerry, 249 Bush
Seattle Times: 225 Kerry, 254 Bush
New York Times: 221 Kerry, 249 Bush
Reiterating — all figures are projected from all these sources. I will, of course, post the final electoral college figures when they become available.
Update (12:10AM): Posted a while ago on CNN, but still important: “Democratic VP candidate John Edwards says: ‘We’ve waited four years for this victory. We can wait one more night’ as results lag in Ohio and Iowa.”
Update (12:16AM): A thought that was brought up: is Ohio the Florida of the 2004 elections?
Update (12:21AM): Bedtime – Power in American Society, the class I’m in this quarter, has a post-election discussion in the morning which I will likely blog about. I will keep my computer on so that I can check the numbers when I get up. I listened to 4 hours and 54 minutes of NPR coverage tonight, all the while bringing these figures and my relatively useless commentary to the web. Hopefully, it has proved entertaining for at least one person other than me.
The final College numbers for the night:
BBC: 225 Kerry, 249 Bush
NPR: 242 Kerry, 249 Bush
CNN: 242 Kerry, 249 Bush
Seattle Times: 225 Kerry, 254 Bush
New York Times: 225 Kerry, 249 Bush
Good night!
Update (8:53AM): I get up this morning, and what do I see? John Kerry is conceding the Presidential election. That’s incredibly premature of him. If anything, they should be patient like the rest of us and wait for the damn results.
In the meantime, Seattle Times has called the race with Bush as President.
BBC: 252 Kerry, 254 Bush
NPR: 252 Kerry, 254 Bush
CNN: 252 Kerry, 254 Bush
Seattle Times: 252 Kerry, 274 Bush
New York Times: 252 Kerry, 254 Bush
Update (9:07AM): The Washington State Gubernatorial race stands at 48% for both Gregoire and Rossi. To quote my father, “That’s what happens when two clowns run against each other.” One of those will be our clown as governor. Lovely thought.
Update (9:16AM): Class!
Update (2:58PM): And in the end, George W. Bush remains in office, with all covered sources declaring Ohio in his favor. Final counts:
BBC: 252 Kerry, 274 Bush
NPR: 252 Kerry, 274 Bush
CNN: 252 Kerry, 274 Bush
Seattle Times: 252 Kerry, 279 Bush
New York Times: 252 Kerry, 274 Bush
New Mexico and Iowa are still out, but at this point, their numbers won’t make much of a difference with only 12 votes between them.
Many thanks to The New York Times, National Public Radio, CNN, The Seattle Times, and the BBC for providing the sources on the electoral college numbers.
Expect more from me in the next few hours regarding the election, as well as regarding my recent post, “Five Questions We Need to Ask”.