American election question

[MiloMorai]

There are several times zones across the States. The voting booths are closed local time, yes? Can the results from the eastern side of the US be released before the the voting booths have been closed on the west coast?

[sluggish]

They are every time.

[Xasthur]

Ooooh... Politics! Ban!

 

 


Sorry, I'm being a avacado now.  I'm going to bed. 

[Mickey1992]

Partial results on the east coast are released as they come in.  This leads to many of the news outlets to "declare" a candidate a victor in certain states based on the early results.  There are many who feel that this may dissuade voters on the west coast from voting if a candidate is far ahead or far behind in the early voting.  Some polls on the east coast close while people on the west coast are still at work.

The official total results at the county and state level are usually declared official within a week of the election after all of the absentee ballots are totaled.

[Ripsnort]

There are several times zones across the States. The voting booths are closed local time, yes? Can the results from the eastern side of the US be released before the the voting booths have been closed on the west coast?

Milo, you can join us over at Flame Warriors for political discussions:
http://www.flamewarriors.net/forum/index.php

Here is the latest for the rules on this BBS:

Effective immediately, posts about politics, race, and religion are no longer allowed here.  

[bcadoo]

although elections are political, the actual process of polling is not.

[MiloMorai]

The reason I asked was because it is national election day here in Canada.

The Canada Election Act outlaws the publishing of election results until every poll across Canada is closed. That means websites, live audio and video streams and blogs will not be able to report election results until 11 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time. This came about because results from eastern Canada could, and did, effect the voters on how they voted in western Canada.

[BoilerDown]

The reason I asked was because it is national election day here in Canada.

The Canada Election Act outlaws the publishing of election results until every poll across Canada is closed. That means websites, live audio and video streams and blogs will not be able to report election results until 11 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time. This came about because results from eastern Canada could, and did, effect the voters on how they voted in western Canada.

How about exit polling?  Are they allowed to ask people who they voted for and report on it in the east before everyone has had a chance to vote in the west?

In the US it of course happens all the time, and having states out west as far as Alaska and Hawaii doesn't help those of us in the east who want to know who won before bed time if they were to change it.

[Mickey1992]

The US media would never let that happen.

[avionix]

The US media would never let that happen.

They wouldn't, but I would think that many in the public would be for it.  In essence, it can change the course of an election.

[MiloMorai]

How about exit polling?  Are they allowed to ask people who they voted for and report on it in the east before everyone has had a chance to vote in the west?

Not sure but would think the 'gag' order would also cover that.