2008 Election Results Analysis

Finally, it's over!! Let's get right to it.

Results as of right now:



Some important notes first. Missouri still has not yet been decided, but is leaning towards McCain. The vote percentage is 50-49 McCain, and he is up by 4968 votes. Now it may not be all that important for the presidential race, considering Obama won by 364-163 (as of right now) in the Electoral College, but there are other statewide and local races that were probably on the ballot, so waiting for all the votes to be counted and certified is important for those races and issues.

You also probably noticed Nebraska is purple instead of red, blue or tan (for Undecided); I'll get to that later on.

I'll post again my guess as to what I thought the end result would be:



I think I actually did a pretty good job. I put Obama above the 300 mark, but down by (currently) 53 votes. Pleasantly surprised! The only states I got wrong were Florida, North Carolina, Indiana and (partially) Nebraska.

I was very, VERY suprised Indiana was won over. Not so much on North Carolina or Florida, but I figured it would be very close, as it was.

Indiana was won by 25,836 votes; Florida by 204,577; and North Carolina by 13,692. So Indiana and North Carolina much close, but considering there were a total of 8,083,337 votes cast in Florida and it came down to a 51-49 split that's pretty darn close as well.

On to Nebraska. Like Maine, the only other state to do so, Nebraska awards two of its Electoral College votes to the candidate who wins the most votes in the state. The individual congressional districts also each award one Electoral College vote. So with Maine having 2 US House seats, and Nebraska having 3 US House seats, even if one candidate won the majority of votes in the entire state, it is possible to pick up one or two (depending on the state in question) Electoral College vote for the other candidate.

Now Maine went entirely for Obama (58-41), awarding him at least two votes, though the last district to certify its results leans more conservative than the other district. The same is true of Nebraska. Though McCain won the state over all (57-42) the heavily Democratic district that includes Douglas County (Omaha, NE) went for Obama 51-48. Word is Republican lawmakers in Nebraska will change for future elections and base all 5 of their votes on the overall state winner. Republicans hold control of the officially non-partisan unicameral legislative body, this will most likely go through.

So in the end the country has elected its first black president. A very exciting time indeed. I can be quite honest and admit there have been more than a few times where tears of joy have crept up on me. Even after Election Day, it still kind of waved over me. I'm sure this will happen at least one more time on Inauguration Day (1/20/2009), but most likely will be more than just then.

On to what I feel is other important Election Day news!

I'll just go in order of the list of issues up for decision by CNN. You can find out more about those issues at this page. I could write plenty of blog postings about each of these issues and measures, so I will not say more about each of them, other than whether or not I would vote for or against the ballot issue.

Abortion.

Colorado did not pass a measure defining the term "person" to include "any human being from the moment of fertilization," effectively banning abortion. South Dakota also failed to ban an anti-abortion measure, which would outlaw all abortions except in the case of rape or incest, or where the birth would endanger the mother's life.

I would recommend a NO vote on both measures.

Interesting note on the South Dakota measure. The proponents of this had already admitted they wanted it to pass so it could be challenged legally by those who support a mother's choice on abortion. That way it would have gone to the US Supreme Court, where conservatives have a one justice edge over traditional liberals. Would have been interesting, for sure.

The only abortion related measure still not yet decided was in California and dealt with parental notification. If it passes it would require physicians to notify a minor's parents or legal guardians at least 48 hours before performing an abortion.

I would recommend a NO vote on this issue as well.

Affirmative Action.

Nebraska passed a measure prohibiting the state government from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment for people based on their race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. This would effectively make illegal any and all affirmative action programs. Colorado has a similar issue that is still being decided.

I would recommend a NO vote on these issues. Had there been the inclusion of sexual orientation in the class of citizens not allowed to be discriminated against, then possibly would support it.

Drugs.

Michigan has legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes. Massachusetts has reduced the penalties for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana from criminal to civil penalties, such as fines and forfeiture of the drugs. Those less than 18 would receive drug counseling.

I would recommend a YES vote on both issues.

Marriage equality.

Arizona, California and Florida have all passed gay marriage bans. California's was the closest, but it has been determined to have passed. The result in California has the most impact, as the California Supreme Court has legalized marriage between adults of the same sex earlier this year. The vote in Florida must have been at least 60% to have passed.

I would recommend a NO vote on all three issues.

Other issues (in other states).

Figured I would put these together as they don't fit well in other categories. San Francisco is still deciding on decriminalizing prostitution. This would not legalize it, but rather would prohibit local authorities from investigating, arresting or prosecuting those who sell sex.

Washington State has passed a measure that allows terminally ill patients to request lethal medication prescribed by a physician. Said patients must be competent adults with six months or less to live. A physician would not be prosecuted for providing such medication.

I would recommend a YES vote on both issues.

Issues in the State of Ohio.

There were 5 issues sent to the voters of Ohio this election year.

Issue 1: moving the deadline for statewide issues to appear on a ballot from 90 to 125 dates before the election at which time the voters would approve or deny future issues.

Issue 2: authorized the State to issue bonds to pay for environmental revitalization and conversation.

Issue 3: protecting property rights in regards to "reasonable use" of water on or running under the property.

Issue 5: making changes to check cashing lending (pay day lenders).

Issue 6: creating a casino near Wilmington, OH.

I recommend a YES vote on Issues 1, 2, and 5.
I recommend a NO vote on Issues 3 and 6.

All passed except for Issue 6; Ohio voters have rejected issues allowing increased gambling in the state 3 times since 1990.

I will speak more to those issues in a later posting. Stay tuned!