Reporting winners based on exit polls...

[Luvia]

I don't doubt Obama will carry MS...but man, this little bit of info from ABC news blows my mind (along with all the other stations reporting). I love the big fat ZEROs and then the word winner out to the side. WTH? I know I know...exit polls. Still...

Candidate Votes Vote % Delegates Projected Winner
Clinton (http://abcnews.go.com/politics/elections/candidate?candidate=Clinton) 0 0 %0
Obama (http://abcnews.go.com/politics/elections/candidate?candidate=Obama) 0 0 %0 Winner
.

[countrygirl]

Hmmm....I'm really confused. I voted around 10 this am and the turnout then was really light in the North Forrest area. Hubby went later and said that he was like number 36 in the democratic primary that voted. Since the North Forrest area is predominately black, I expected a much larger turnout for the dem's...I'm just wondering what is going on...???? Any comments???

[Luvia]

Ok 2 out of 1912 precincts have reported...so I guess that's where their info is coming from?

hehe

I don't understand your question countrygirl...I'm just confused how they can report a winner at 7:25pm (polls closed at 7pm).

[aaron]

I was just thinking the same thing. If they have enough info to declare a winner, where's the info coming from? Are exit polls that reliable?

[Luvia]

I keep hearing "overwhelming lead" and "coasts to victory"...it's disturbing.

They are probably right, though.

I would love for it to be a close race so all these media outlets (ABC, Fox, MSNBC, CNN, AP, etc) would have egg on their faces. That's mean of me, huh?

I should be nicer. It bothers me though--that they reported things before a single vote was turned in.

[Tully Mars]

I am not sure what bothers me more, the fact that they or calling races based on exit polling or the fact that the HA blogger actually said, "Well, the AP has called it so now it is official". What the hell, since when is it the AP's job to officially certify election results?

[Hermione]

I hate the early exit poll stuff. Takes away what little fun is left in the process.

[mspolitics82]

I hate the early exit poll stuff. Takes away what little fun is left in the process.

I hate the Presidential Primary System....takes away the voice of millions of Americans!! Let's fight for a national "everybody vote on the same day", good old fashion primary election for PRESIDENT.

[OLDLADY]

It makes me wonder (and worry)....does my vote really count if they already know who the winner is that soon after the polls close??....hell just tell us at 8:00 a.m. and save me some gas at lunch to go vote????

[Luvia]

I hate the Presidential Primary System....takes away the voice of millions of Americans!! Let's fight for a national "everybody vote on the same day", good old fashion primary election for PRESIDENT.

Who decided to have the primaries like that? Who decides to continue doing it this way?

[jojobeans1120]

I don't know about other networks and media outlets, but FNC was projecting him as the winner not 2 minutes after the polls had closed. I'm sure they, along with every other network, was basing their information on exit polls, but as I've stated before, I don't think the people that participate in the exit polls always tell the truth. I think they lie to throw off the results of the polls, too!

[SueScribe]

Who decided to have the primaries like that? Who decides to continue doing it this way?

Each and every single state of the 50 we have. Some have "open" primaries, like Mississippi, which invite political shenanigans like the Cross-Over Limbaugh Conspiracy. Others have "closed" primary systems that only allow registered voters in the specific parties (with independents being the exception) to vote IN that primary.

I was just thinking the same thing. If they have enough info to declare a winner, where's the info coming from? Are exit polls that reliable?

The information is coming from exit polling PLUS early returns in key precincts. The mathematical calculations are complicated, but they usually (with the exception of Florida's call in the 2000 presidential election for Gore) turn out to be right. They don't call the percentage of the win - just the win. Exit polling is data that political wizards know how to use, along with those key precincts (ordinarily, chosen in different sections of a state, with a calculable number of evenly-split demographics).

Sue :-D

[Luvia]

Each and every single state of the 50 we have. Some have "open" primaries, like Mississippi, which invite political shenanigans like the Cross-Over Limbaugh Conspiracy. Others have "closed" primary systems that only allow registered voters in the specific parties (with independents being the exception) to vote IN that primary.



No, I mean who decided the primaries would all be held on different days...? Seems to make more sense that every state would vote on the same day...

I actually like the idea of open primaries, though. I don't vote for parties...I vote for which person I think will do the best job. I'd hate to think I *had* to choose democrat or republican, as I've voted for both parties before.

[SoMissTV]

I actually like the idea of open primaries, though. I don't vote for parties...I vote for which person I think will do the best job. I'd hate to think I *had* to choose democrat or republican, as I've voted for both parties before.

To be clear: what you're referring to is not an open primary. An open primary is what Mississippi currently uses; you're free to choose either party's ballot on primary day.

You're referring to a blanket primary, in which you are able to choose one individual for an office, regardless of party.The Supreme Court struck down this type of primary in 2000, in California Democratic Party v. Jones. The blanket system lives on in a modified form in Louisiana, though it is not used for federal elections, where a closed system is used instead.

[Luvia]

To be clear: what you're referring to is not an open primary. An open primary is what Mississippi currently uses; you're free to choose either party's ballot on primary day.

You're referring to a blanket primary, in which you are able to choose one individual for an office, regardless of party.The Supreme Court struck down this type of primary in 2000, in California Democratic Party v. Jones. The blanket system lives on in a modified form in Louisiana, though it is not used for federal elections, where a closed system is used instead.

Yeah, I don't have a problem doing it the way MS does it...

I'm mainly wondering why all states don't vote on the same day...and who decided that...

By the time we got to vote, the decision had pretty much already been made by other states. That seems skewed to me. Just wondering who decides to perpetuate that system...

[Conveyor Belt]

Yeah, I don't have a problem doing it the way MS does it...

I'm mainly wondering why all states don't vote on the same day...and who decided that...

By the time we got to vote, the decision had pretty much already been made by other states. That seems skewed to me. Just wondering who decides to perpetuate that system...

Well, the political parties play a huge part in it. They decide the convention dates and also okay dates for primaries from parties in each state

If you weren't aware, the primaries in MS aren't put on by the state, but by the parties.

At each precinct, you have duplicates of each position you would have in a normal election... thus, they cost twice as much.

Just for fun, last night, I was figuring out how much it cost in labor for the election in the precinct I was working. 2 R&R managers, plus 2 book workers plus 1 baliff per party. Two of the workers on the democratic side were no call/no shows for my location, so that cut the cost by $250. In all, it was a bit over $1000 in labor. When you look at how many votes were cast, it came in at about $5 spent by the parties for every vote cast. If you split it between repub and democrats, the Democrats spent about $1.81 per voter, the Republicans spent about $14 per voter.

[Butterball]

I'm tired, really tired, of all the 'politics' in this country.......especially in the Presidential race.

Our tried and true Electoral College system of electing our top official is outdated and not conducive to the general population's feeling that "your vote counts".....

Political parties select/appoint/elect their delegates........
Most states use the 'winner takes all' system of delegate votes.........
The actual race (vote) on election day doesn't represent the 'popular' vote and the will of the people.......JMHO.......

Thanks for listening to a voter who
feels dis-enfranchised and like voice in the wilderness.