Culture: Two nations divided...

[CitizenKate]

I'm still a bit baffled by the fact that some people in the US have to wait for hours to cast their votes.

One probable factor is that the voter turnout this year is significantly higher than in past elections. The local registrars generally staff and equip the polling places based on historic turnouts. Some of them had the foresight to see a higher voter turnout coming in this election and bought more machines... there were two more in my assigned polling place. But in the more heavily populated places, I'm sure they must have been unable to make a big enough adjustment.

I live in a moderate-sized town (around 50k), I went during the morning rush, and was in and out in 20 minutes.

Kate

[CitizenKate]

And I still don't understand what part Chads play in the process. The only Chads I've encountered were little cartoon drawings that appeared on walls in Britain after WW2.

That was rumored to be the moniker of a WWII shipyard inspector, who left that bit of graffiti as he went from panel to panel to count rivets completed. Here is the full story from snopes.com, including the British variants.

Kate

[tonyc1]

That's a good story. I can't remember when I first saw it but as kids in the early 50's we used to draw it on things. I guess it was graffiti before we even knew what graffiti was !!!

Tony.

[rdb]

I am tearing up right now. America has shown it's true color, and it is America. God Bless us All, and God Bless America.

[MADMAX22]

UGGGG I feel sick,

[Jordan]

A historical day to be sure. Both speeches were exemplary. The president-elect has a hard row to hoe ahead of him and it was obvious they both have a deep commitment and sense of duty to the people of this country. Let the games begin, it is definitely going to be an interesting next 4 years.

[celticleather]

Congratulations to Barak Obama's supporters, and commiserations to the rest!

The Kilroy/Chad story was great!

[cem]

Western Australia has about 2 million people and we still get delays at times in the major areas thankfully though it has got better over the years with them opening up more polling places.

Though I had fun a couple of months ago when we had our state elections my husband went through in about 5 mins, me on the other hand it took about 20mins seems my last name McDonald was hard to find on the electrol roll had to tell the guy who was marking the names off about 5 times how to spell it. In the end I told the guy it's like the chain of restaurants the penny dropped then ahh he said Miccy D's. Meanwhile the lady next to him and her line of voters were trying hard not to piss themselves laughing.

[ferret]

With all the excitement of the U.S. elections I nearly forgot today is when we remember one of our national heroes, a chap called Guido Fawkes, the only man to enter parliament with honest intentions. Someone remembered as this pic of parliament square taken this morning shows.

[Denise]

I've always heard the name as Guy Fawkes. Could one of you over-the-water chaps please give us the full story?