<p>Election Night has always been something we did as a family. When hubbie switched sides a few years ago he started going alone to his party’s local watch event at a hotel while the kids and I watched at home. This year the kids are off at school, so I’m looking at watching the returns alone, which seems odd to me. It just seems like it should be a shared experience.</p>
<p>Yes, big family deal here. I can’t wait. Taking the 17 yo to do some phone-banking tomorrow. Election Night is like our Super Bowl. Or Olympics, I guess, as it’s every four years.</p>
<p>I’m so sick of this time. I’m going out to dinner with some friends to a place where there is NOT a TV. Then I’m coming home and going to bed. I’ll read the results in the paper in the morning.</p>
<p>Election night has always been a pretty big deal for me here too, starting when I was a kid and used to get a day off of school to pass out literature outside the polls. My kids are somewhat interested, but are busy usually with other things. I will be watching the results roll in on TV.</p>
<p>Watching the returns with closest friends and champagne. Some years we drink it, some years we don’t.</p>
<p>My dad and I are really political. My mom’s an immigrant and never quite understood why we treat it like March Madness. </p>
<p>This year, I’m driving home from school to go vote at home in person. My parents and I are going out to dinner and then coming home to watch the results (mainly my dad and I). There are several very personal reasons why I am very invested in this election so it’s going to be a very long and potentially tumultuous night. This is likely going to be the last time I can spend the election with my dad (who likely instilled my passion for politics) so I’m very excited :).</p>
<p>I scheduled a meeting about Kenya far from any TVs (and I expect a lot of people to attend). Following, I’ll likely attend the gay marriage victory party.</p>
<p>Working on get out the vote doorknocking tomorrow and Tuesday. Then attending a party for our state senate candidate at her house (I did a bunch of database work for her early in the election cycle). I don’t actually think she will win, but I thought I would know more people at her party than the other two election related ones I was invited to. You get invited to a lot of parties if you volunteer for multiple candidates and ballot initiatives. 
But honestly, I won’t stay late. Probably home by 9:30, it is a school night and I still like to tuck D2 in even though she is a senior in HS. But I will likely stay up late hitting refresh on my laptop in bed watching returns…</p>
<p>Mini, I sure hope we are having a gay marriage victory party in our state!</p>
<p>Apart from myself, my family isn’t very politically involved. When I decided to be Mitt Romney for Halloween (which my liberal friends really enjoyed), a couple of my family members didn’t know who he is. I’m used to watching the election results by myself.</p>
<p>This year, I’m at school and might watch the elections with some of my more politically-minded friends. Depending on the results of a referendum (same sex marriage) and an initiative (marijuana legalization), I hope to be leaving that and running to the grocery store for champagne.</p>
<p>mini and intparent, I’m sad that I won’t be in WA to see R74 pass.</p>
<p>If it’s close or I know my candidate is going to win we watch, often with good friends, food and drink. If it’s going to be a bad night we go to the movies.</p>
<p>I am in a ‘mixed’ party marriage, and we love watching the returns together. We love discussing politics, reading the election guide, and watching the returns on election night. </p>
<p>It was something that brought us together, even though we often disagree. At the end, we respect each other’s decisions because we know that our choices are well thought-out.</p>
<p>So, on election night, we clear the calendar, get out the bottle of wine, and sit down with CNN, Fox News and CSPAN!</p>
<p>We are talking about watching with friends for the first time. We are all on the same side of the Presidential election so it will either be a sob fest or a victory dance. They have invited us to spend the night and bring our doggie so we can drink.
We are all very interested in some local school bonds and some of the CA propositions.</p>
<p>Wow, I didn’t even realize gay marriage was on the ballot anywhere. You can tell how wrapped up I’ve been in state politics… </p>
<p>OTOH, I’ll be watching the marijuana legalization states.</p>
<p>I’ve volunteered to help at polling place for several,hours. I made cookies and bought apples for the occasion. I’ve had so much contact with local candidates, I cannot imagine being able to distract myself from their lives and political futures. So close and yet so far.</p>
<p>I’ve also volunteered at the polls several times. Mostly fun times mixed with some tensions when a long line develops and/or the polling machine malfunctions or some other mishaps. </p>
<p>With family, dad and I would end up arguing not only because we vote differently, but also because his reasons for voting/believing in the party he does is politically/ideologically inconsistent considering the basic economic theory and its derived polices he strongly supports are in complete opposition to what his favored party has stood for when it came to a head in 1929. </p>
<p>Then again, one older acquaintance is a retired conservative GOP politician despite the fact he’s also very pro-union and supports some pretty progressive-left economic policies/views. </p>
<p>However, he’s similar with Santorum when it comes to the role of religion in US society…something which I and those who are in strong favor of the First Amendment would vehemently disagree with.</p>
<p>Im surprised you hadn’t heard of states that have marriage on the ballot Romani- there’s a lot of money being spent.
Over $12.5 million in Washington.
[NWCN.com</a> Washington - Oregon - Idaho](<a href=“http://www.nwcn.com/home/?fId=177188971&fPath=/news/local&fDomain=10212]NWCN.com”>http://www.nwcn.com/home/?fId=177188971&fPath=/news/local&fDomain=10212)</p>
<p>SEA_tide, I am not in WA, I am in MN. The amendment here is to put opposition to it into the state constitution. It is already illegal by state law, this amendment is an extra step to make it that much harder to legalize in the future. So if we are celebrating, it will only be that gay marriage is still just illegal, but not unconstitutional in our state. :(</p>
<p>Romani, it is also on the ballot in Maryland. The vote in Maryland will make it legal if it passes. It was polling ahead 52% to 43% about two weeks ago.</p>
<p>OP here. I’m in WA, so the marriage and marijuana initiatives, along with the races, promise to make for an interesting night.</p>
<p>I used to spend all day doing GOTV and poll-watching, but since we’ve gone to all-mail voting I can’t even do that anymore. I’ll definitely have to get out of the house to be with fellow political-junkies!</p>
<p>We were in Chicago four years ago, but with the move indoors I don’t think I can score tickets. We have been invited to a few local candidate parties but I may just spend time with a few amazing people and do a virtual watching party.</p>
<p>M H and I will watch and prob cry. I hope Amy wins in MN. My D worked for her and loved her. We have the legal marjuiana and end of life legislation in our state. and a tough senate race should be interesting.</p>