Election day traditions

[Phony Moderate]

What are yours?

I usually go on a marathon Simpsons watching session, sometimes watch the two-part 'Election Day' from the West Wing and always have a takeaway meal and a few shandies. So not quite as high brow as John Kerry's "chatter and clams".

[DavidB.]

I usually get up very early to vote in the morning, follow the news more closely than usual during the day, travel to my parents' place in the afternoon in order to count votes at the polling station there, and when we're done counting votes I go to my parents' place, watch tv and discuss the results online with friends. But for the GE next March my friends and I intend to throw a party in the evening, so I won't be counting votes.

[Torie]

Working all day on Prop 1 in the City of Hudson.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Drinking.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Refreshing a number of different websites nonstop for the entire day. 

Also, voting.  I tend to always vote on Election Day.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

It usually involves me being up all night and being tired the next day. I usually stay put in front of the TV from 7:00 PM-5:00 AM. The only exception is the 2012 campaign, when I pretty much went completely off the deep off and spent the next three years depressed, but that was more about the campaign ending than about the defeat itself.

[Hatman 🍁]

ordering a pizza and contemplating life

[DC Al Fine]

I've long since given up on trying to stay up late for elections out of my timezone. I go to bed early, and skim the maps for unexpected results the next day.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

cry

[Enduro]

Vote, and then find something to do until the polls close. When they close, we turn on the tv and computer and watch the results come in.

[Green Line]

Drink heavily.

[Illiniwek]

2010: Was an election judge
2012: Turned my dorm room into a results HQ complete with colored EV and Senate maps, a race to 270 chart, flag that was on top of the Capitol building, etc.
2014: ran around collecting campaign signs, drank lots of alcohol

This year I will probably do the same as 2014.

[President Johnson]

No tradition. (election day in Germany is always Sunday.)

But for the US election, I'll be at an event of the German-American Institute this time through ne night when returns are coming in. In 2012, I stayed home and watched with my girlfriend and a friend.

[NeverAgain]

Stay up until 1 am and refuse to go to school the next day.

[Blair]

For 2015 I voted at 7 in the morning, went to School as everyone said they'd heard stories of high turnout and how exciting it all was. Went to Croydon Central (which we lost by 100 votes) to campaign straight after school until 9.30.

Walked into the House about 5 minutes before that exit poll. Still wasn't as bad as the EU referendum but it wasn't fun

[LLR]

Stay up until 1 am and refuse to sadly have to go to school the next day.

[Crumpets]

I don't really have any traditions. In 2000, I think I stayed at home and watched the election on TV like a normal person. In 2004, my grandpa was in the hospital and I watched election night at my grandma's house. In 2008, I had rowing practice, and missed about half of election night, and only saw the second half from a TV at the restaurant where I stopped for dinner. In 2012, I went to a watch party, which is probably what I'll try to do this year.

[Santander]

Have a watch party at my place with my usual friends, drink, eat pizza, participate in an election pool with other friends. At least, that is how 2012 and 2014 went. The watch party will be at a friend's place this year.

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

2012: Go to bed early, look at note to see who won
2014/2015: Didn't watch Election Night, Googled results
I expect a change in 2016.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

The past two years, my tradition has been:

-Wake up
-Go vote
-Immediately regret contributing to democracy
-Continue with day

[Mr. Smith]

Vote, sit back and watch the results

That's it.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Skip class, news all day, have a friend over, order in (I think I'm feeling Chinese food). That's all. I'll probably cry so much when she takes the stage to declare victory. It's been so long in the making and is so well-deserved.

[Vega]

Drinking.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

I don't know that I have any specific tradition (other than voting, of course).  The last two elections (2012 and 2014) I recorded the coverage on my DVR, but I don't have much space for this election, so I may have to clear some things out.  I usually vote some time in the morning, or otherwise when I have a moment, but I always make time for it.  Usually do my daily Bible reading some time in the afternoon or early evening, then settle down to watch the coverage on TV around 6PM.  Typically I will go to bed when one presidential candidate gets to 270 (in presidential years) or after the races I'm watching the closest are called (in midterm years).  The last two cycles, both have been some time around midnight.  I usually use my computer to check on returns, particularly at the county level to see where the votes are coming in and where they are yet to be counted.  During the primaries and caucuses this year, I played the SFX on my computer of the 30-second "Phone a Friend" clock from Who Wants to Be A Millionaire 30 seconds before a poll closing, and played the Gym Leader or Championship battle music from Pokémon Gen 1 as I waited for returns.  I will probably do both again this time, as I watch the returns on TV and online.

[King]

Here are my plans, just updated as of 2 minutes ago (7:02 pm MST)

Monday, November 7, 2016:

2:15 pm -- Get off work
2:45 pm -- Change Clothes
3:00 pm -- Situation Room on CNN
6:00 pm -- Anderson Cooper 360 on CNN
7:00 pm -- CNN Election Center Special
8:00 pm -- Don Lemon?
9:00 pm -- Bed

Tuesday, November 8, 2016:

3:00 am -- Wake Up
3:15 am -- Shower
3:45 am -- Bible Study
4:15 am -- Weather Channel
4:45 am -- Switch over to CNN for Election Day Coverage
5:00 am -- Election Day Coverage begins on CNN with New Day
6:50 am -- leave for Albuquerque Community Center (polling place)
6:55 am -- Wait in line for doors to open
7:00 am -- Vote for Hillary Clinton
7:02 am -- Drive to McDonalds
7:03 am -- Order Biscuits
7:08 am -- Drive Home
7:13 am -- Continue with CNN Coverage and Eat Breakfast
9:00 am -- CNN Newsroom
11:00 am -- CNN Newsroom
12:00 pm -- CNN Newsroom
3:00 pm -- Situation Room on CNN
6:00 pm -- Anderson Cooper 360
7:00 pm -- CNN Election Coverage
11:00 pm -- Don Lemon

Wednesday, November 9, 2016:

12:00 am -- Anderson Cooper
3:00 am -- Sleep
9:00 am -- Wake Up
9:15 am -- Shower
9:45 am -- Bible Study
10:00 am -- CNN Post-Election Coverage
10:00 pm -- Bed