Networks may call election before some polls close (when 270 electoral votes are achieved)

[UpInArms]

Source: Reuters

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - No matter who wins Tuesday's presidential election, you can be sure of one thing: The networks aren't going to hold back calling the election for Barack Obama or John McCain if either gathers the magic number of 270 electoral votes.

That means it's possible, if not altogether likely, that the presidential election could be called before polls close in the West. That happened once before, in 1980, when the election was famously called -- and conceded -- by 9 p.m. ET. But it'll be the Internet, cable and the speed of news that will be the driving factor this time.

The networks all promise to take the time to project the race accurately, and say they won't make any predictions before their time. But executives say it would be foolish for them to sit on a projection if they're sure, and it wouldn't be fair to viewers.

"There's no way to get around it," CBS News senior vp Paul Friedman said. "If one man gets 270 electoral votes before the West Coast polls are closed, we're not going to pretend (he doesn't)."

<snip>

"If you project a state and (the candidate) reaches the electoral vote, what are you going to do? Lie?" Alongi said. "We will project a state when we're comfortable with the projection. If one of them hits the required 270, you have to report that, and you can't hold back."

The networks all have agreed not to call an individual state before the voting stops there. But an overall projection could come before folks in California, Nevada and Washington finish voting. Executives know it's a fine line that they'll be walking, and it goes beyond a strict up-and-down counting to 270.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4A30KM20081104

[uppityperson]

1. according to this website, the first possible time is 8:30 pm EST. About 2 hours.

http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G08/closing.phtml?format=ec
holy shit

"275 total (21 new) electoral votes by 0130 UTC - 5 November 2008

This is the earliest at which a candidate could be projected to have been elected the next President of the United States, assuming a candidate has been projected to win the necessary 270 electoral votes to be elected."

Edited to correct my too fast typing

[tekisui]

2. My numbers say 9pm at the earliest.

[RainDog]

3. I think the CA ballot prop is enough to still get out voters if the race is called.

of course, conservatives may want the race to be called early to try to depress votes for this very reason. Keep voting, CA!!!

[msongs]

4. bullcrap its not about AMERICA its about competition between networks - EGO nuts nt

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[UpInArms]

6. your vote counts lots more than you know - look back at these

electoral vote maps - from the inception of our country basically -

it's a measure of who we are

http://www.100bestwebsites.org/alt/evmaps/electoral-maps.htm

[Barrymores Ghost]

7. Fill it out, drop it in the box, and it counts. It's that simple.

Now, go vote.

Fin.

[Kalifornia.Kid]

8. Too much at stake in CA - VOTE IT OUT ...

else the CA votes by way of the nutz calling the shot in Utah will count.

[americanmutt]

9. I'm with ya...

DO NOT LET IT BE OVER UNTIL WE ARE DONE WITH THE COUNTING!!! I was a california boy most of my life, and until 18 years ago, i always thought it did'nt matter 'cause they always called it before they even got to us.
BULLSHIT!!!
I want every vote counted this time, GOD DAMMITT!!!

[Ranting_Wacko]

13. I'll go one further...

Don't let it be over until Barack and Michelle have moved into the White House.

[Winterblues]

10. Maybe a bunch of Republicans won't bother to vote then

Maybe Prop 8 will go down and Democrats will win more seats..:thumbsup:

[bemildred]

11. I don't want the networks "calling" anything.

Calling elections is the business of elections officials. Just report the news, butt out of "calling" elections.

[2Design]

12. that is crazy - all the early votes and absentee don't get added in until the polls close

is my understanding - I wish they wouldn't allow them to talk at all until all polls are close - they drive the elections into the ground

[JeanGrey]

14. This is wrong. Give people a chance to feel their vote

counts and not make them say "why bother".


I am hooking up at a Taco Bell, because I am on a medical trip and no internet ON ELECTION NIGHT!!!

I AM SO HAPPY!!!!!! (We're winning!!!)

[Gap Spanner]

15. CBS is calling states with NO results

Check out CBS's live updates online. When you roll over a state, you're supposed to get the results. Half the states they're calling have no results at all. Are they going off voter polling or are they just posting their pre-election predictions???

[JeanGrey]

16. THIS IS RIDICULOUS!! I refuse to be conforted until

I see actual votes! How can they call a state with 5 percent of the votes in?