Alaska can be proud....

[Blue_In_AK]

We had the third highest voter turnout of any state, 55%, and my district, District 21, had 60% turnout (and elected a Democrat, Matt Claman), third highest in the state. That's so much better than the 36% average nationwide. So even if the results aren't exactly what we wanted, at least we got out the vote.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Well done, my dear Blue!

[raven mad]

2. I was grateful to see the turnout here in the Interior as well.

Except that the voting machines "broke down" in Democratic stronghold districts, like mine. And the fears of "gay marriage" turned out the fundy vote in record numbers.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. I didn't pick up on much of that gay marriage fear down here.

That's not to say it didn't exist, just people weren't talking about it out loud. I'm still not sure how the carpetbagger managed to beat Mark (apparently). I'm wondering if Mark will take on backstabbing Lisa next time around.

[raven mad]

4. Being in the reddest part of a red state I saw some really outrageous stuff.

Including the West Fairbanks (University) districts with "voting machine breakdowns" (I was there; it was real, and I saw 2 of the elections folks put ballots in garbage cans instead of in the machine bottom.)

No one, and I mean to include my much more right-wing neighbors, voted for Sullivan or Parnell. Yet............

[Blue_In_AK]

5. I think elections here have been questionable since at least 2002,

and especially since 2004. It always seemed inexplicable to me that in the same election where people voted overwhelmingly to do away with the idea of governors appointing senate replacements (after Frank gave Lisa her seat), she was nonetheless re-elected, especially since Tony Knowles had been leading in the polls before the election.

And have you ever met ANYONE who admits to voting for Don Young in the past 10 years or so?

[raven mad]

6. No, in fact, I haven't!

My neighbor/landlord/friend is quite far more to the right than I am (of course, most Fairbanksans are) and if they voted for Young, Parnell or Sullivan, they're either too ashamed to admit it or are telling the truth and didn't. It was a MESS here and I can't believe the Begich campaign folks aren't all over it.

[Blue_In_AK]

7. I'm really sorry to hear that.

I poll watched in Fairview and things seemed to go quite smoothly. Maybe the Begich campaign is aware of irregularities and is just waiting to see what the final tally is and if it would be worthwhile to contest anything.

I thought it was really unseemly for Sullivan to pressure Mark to concede when there were still 50,000 votes to be counted. I know the chances are slim, but it would thrill me to death if Mark ended up beating him by six or seven votes. That would be so sweet.

[Crewleader]

8. Proud and beautiful~Alaska!

Grizzly Bears Catching Salmon, Alaska