DOES weather seriously affect voter turnout?

[terrya]

It's nasty here in Chicago today...windy, cold, rainy. And more of the same tomorrow.

If the weather is bad in a lot of places...can this change things in some of the battleground states?

I'm nervous as hell. It would be ironic...or sad...that the weather could actually affect who wins.

Please tell me I'm a silly nervous nellie. I don't mind. I still think it will be a good day for us. :-)

[bluestateguy]

1. Depends. It can.

It can depend on where the precinct is, how far the voters live from it and which side has the most committed supporters. For example, if a precinct has very little indoor space, requiring people in long lines to wait outside that could depress turnout in bad weather. Some little old lady is not going to stand outside in the rain for two hours if it means she might get pneumonia.