HAPPY ELECTION DAY: Now get out and VOTE!

UPDATE: Reader Andrew Morriss did, and reports:

I vote in a small, rural, conservative, Republican town in Illinois. There is nothing major for either state or local on the ballot. I waited 20 minutes to vote at 6:30 a.m. and the elderly poll workers said they had never seen an election like this before, even when there was a major local issue on the ballot.

I take some hope from this – I think all those people were there, just as my wife and I were there, to vote against Obama when it won’t make a difference at all, since he’ll easily carry Illinois based on Chicago. As my wife noted, the folks in the Remington caps were unlikely to be Obama voters.

And reader David Klug reports from Florida: “I showed up at the polls in Jacksonville 15 minutes before they opened to find this long line already formed. By the time they opened the doors the line was well on its way to tripling in length. In my experience this is unusual the opening. Another observation – of the dozen and a half poll workers, only two of them were people of pallor. Interesting in that the district is predominantly white. None of the usual white haired ladies were there. Not sure why that is but I found it interesting.”

At right is a photo he sent of the line. If the turnout doesn’t match the polls’ models, of course, the results might turn out to be different than the polls predict.

ANOTHER UPDATE: A report of massive turnout “even in GOP-friendly states.” And reader Thomas Pfau emails:

I first voted around 1980 and have been voted in every major election since the early 90’s. For the first time I can remember I had to stand in line to vote this morning. The parking lot was full and the firehouse was fairly packed at 7:30 this morning.

I passed another overflowing parking lot on the way there. I believe that location was being used as a voting center for the neighboring town. I’ve never seen so many cars there.

Please tell me high turnout favors Republicans.

Well, probably not in New Jersey. But what do I know? And reader George Stege writes:

I reside in Republican DuPage county right outside of Cook County and the economic black hole of Chicago. At 6:30AM, over 60 people were voting or in line when I got there. Took 25 minutes to complete my voting. The large turnout at that time probably does not bode well for McCain, even though he is strong in Villa Park and the county. I hope I am wrong, but tomorrow is the wife’s birthday so I have great reason, regardless of who wins, to put on a happy face and get back to the grind of keeping our economy chugging along.

I don’t think anything could deliver Illinois to McCain. But someone who knows more than I do ought to look at the turnout reports around the country and compare them to what the poll models are based on.

STILL MORE: Reader Michael Newton writes: “Heavy turnout favors McCain. Remember how we were told that Obama supporters were more energized? But the closer we get to 100% turnout, the less ‘energy’ has to do with who will win.” Hmm. Makes sense to me, but I’m no polling expert.