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Election day traditions?

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Illinois

Do you have any particular election day tradition? I used to get my hair cut on election day, but now that I get my hair cut on a much more regular basis I don’t do that any longer.

[Idea blatantly stolen from Tom Kacich’s blog.]

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 10:01 am

Comments

The only tradition I have is following the results and the concession speechs. Something I haven’t done much of as of late.

Comment by Levois Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 10:07 am
Other than in 1986, 1992, and 1996, my usual tradition is to curse the majority of the voters for their outright foolishness.

Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 10:08 am
I’m usually just glued to the internet/radio/television pretty much all day. It’s like the Superbowl.

Actually, it’s a lot like the Superbowl because I usually end up drinking and shouting a lot. Maybe I’ll throw in some wings and go for the trifecta.

Comment by doubtful Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 10:23 am
Ditto to Skeeter. Though the last two elections I’ve spent wondering how I did well in the office pools from 1996-2000 and then sucked at predicting outcomes.

Comment by Archpundit Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 10:24 am
I picked up this stupid tradition from my first “staff” job under Mike B. I don’t shave for the last three weeks of the election. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid. I can not wait to shave this “ass hair” to reveal my otherwise good cheek.

Comment by Campaign Manager Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 10:26 am
I still get my hair cut. It’s a great break and refresher. Plus, my hair looks great for election night…

Comment by babs Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 10:31 am
Beer, pizza, think I’ll go with wings this year too while I watch the returns and cry.

Comment by cermak_rd Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 10:37 am
As it turns out, I have a forced tradition on Election Day. It’s always November and I have 10 shedding trees to rake up after. So far my bag total is 35 and I just picked up another 35 bags on the way to vote. I HATE this @#$%^%$# tradition!!!

Comment by Disgusted Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 10:39 am
I am the boss so I started a new tradition this year. I closed the office for the afternoon.

Comment by Lefty Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 10:40 am
Get signs out for my favorite candidates before pols open at 6, then try to be first in my precinct to vote. This year had 2 people in front of me and judges had no clue what they were doing regarding electronic machines so I just took the old paper ballot. Bring back punch cards. Watch national results on Comedy Central and local on any station that’s running a ticker

Comment by Downtown Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 10:43 am
My husband wakes up early to work a couple precincts not in our area. He stops home to vote,then at the end of the day he heads downtown to one or more parties, (I like to stay home and watch returns on TV). He drinks too much, stays out too late and I end up mad at him for several days. It’s so much fun.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 11:08 am
I tease the election judges. I ask for multiple ballots so I can vote often. Complain about the poll watchers and how they are infringing on my right to a secret ballot.

Comment by huh? Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 11:32 am
I start planning for the next election immediately.

Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 11:33 am
I vote with my wife. This year, we took our 15 onth old daughter who got some campaign material from Blago with us. I remember my mom taking me to vote with her or my dad.

Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 11:43 am
When my oldest son, who is now 10, was 3 I started taking him with me to vote. He and then his two brothers have been to every primary and general since. They have a remarkable grasp of the system at their young ages. Wait a second…could that be considered child abuse?

Comment by nancy Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 11:46 am
I always eat at White Castle on election day. I rarely ever eat Sliders on any other day.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 11:48 am
For years, I made a point of being out of the country on election day.

Comment by Frank the Frowner Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 11:56 am
I listen to Bjork albums. (Do I win , for weirdest Election Day tradition?) I’m a particular fan of _Vespertine_, at 5:00 a.m. - 6:00 a.m., when I’m on the way to a polling place. Normally NOT a big fan of Bjork, but her music is so odd and ethereal, somehow it captures the surreal feeling I get at the start of an election day. It’s such a weird day, full of suspense-but-also-tedium on the way to the climactic finish, and somehow Bjork’s music speaks to that.

Comment by ZC Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 11:59 am
I like to drink a lot of beer and hit on the ladies at the election party. It’s amazing, but this tradition seems to work.

Comment by oh well Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 12:02 pm
Paul Simon used to start the day by voting and then he’d plant a tree outside his house - all pretty normal - but then he’d go spend the day at a movie theater watching movies. He used to say there was little a candidate could do on election day, other than sit around the campaign office as a nervous ball of energy freaking out the sataff and volunteers, so he took off for a theater for a while.

Comment by Scott Fawell's Cellmate Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 12:07 pm
I always do election work early and then come back home around 10 a.m. to vote. We vote at a pancake house were we usually stay and have breakfast and talk with the neighbors as they go into vote. Then I usually finish up working a poll and then on to someones victory party.

And then my wife gets mad at me for staying out too late.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 12:25 pm
This is my fourth election (2 primary, 2 general) and it is the fourth time I have worn my Arnold Schwarzenegger “Don’t be a girly man… VOTE REPUBLICAN” t-shirt.

Comment by Lovie's Leather Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 12:51 pm
Lately? It’s been a stiff drink.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 12:59 pm
Like “Disgusted” I rake leaves.

Comment by Cal Skinner Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 1:04 pm
I drive home at 7:05 and swear that this is the last time I’m doing this.

Comment by Name/Nickname/Anon Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 2:00 pm
When following the electrion returns in the evening, when my candidate looked to be ahead, I would go to bed and wake up to hear the other guy won. Every darn time. After a few of these results, I vowed to stay up all night and be like Moses, with Aaron holding my arms up, so my side will win. The next day at work is usually a blur.

Comment by Free Pen Day Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 2:25 pm
George Bush used to get his teeth cleaned on election day

Comment by GHWB Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 3:36 pm
For the past I don’t know how many elections, I’ve always done election work on election day. GOTV stuff. Driving people to the polls, precinct walks, whatever was needed. Until today. Been sicker than a dog for the past two days, and this is the first time I’ve been up to the computer today. Voted early last week. Always vote early, because I’m always busy on election day. What a dope I am. I’m thinking maybe it’s time to take up a new habit.

Drinking beer the whole day sounds good.

Comment by Tessa Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 4:35 pm