Students went to the polls Tuesday in full force, knowing the presidential election might not yield a clear victor. That uncertain position was confirmed early this morning, as President Bush seemed to maintain an electoral advantage while Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards declared, "We've waited four years for this victory -- we can wait one more night."
The votes in Ohio, Iowa, Nevada, Wisconsin and New Mexico were still contentious, and might be homes for legal battles in the coming days if a clear winner has not emerged by today. Polls showed Bush had a marginal lead in the popular and electoral votes.
All day Tuesday across campus, the heightened passion and high stakes were visible. Some students went home to vote, and many others had already sent in absentee ballots.
And one who didn't receive her ballot in time took a 19-hour trip to Florida to vote. [Page 5]
Students wore t-shirts, buttons and bumper stickers to show support for their candidate. They streamed into polling stations in pairs and groups, hoagies in hand, and dutifully recited their campus address to the worker. They stepped out after pushing the button and proudly claimed the red, white and blue stickers that affirmed they had done their civic duty.
And from friends across the quad to professors in the classroom to students sitting at dining hall entrances came the question, "Did you vote?"
Tuesday's election saw a high voter turnout, both in Princeton Borough and nationwide. Alumnus Ralph Nader '55 received less than 1 percent.
Cheryl Cavanaugh, a poll worker in Princeton's Trinity Church in District 1, said Tuesday afternoon that the polling station had been extremely busy all day.
"It's definitely busier than four years ago, and it helps that one of the candidates is a student," she said, referring to the campaign of Evan Baehr '05 for Borough Council. Baehr lost to Democratic incumbents Roger Martindell and Andrew Koontz.
At the polling station, lines were up to 45 minutes long at their peak, winding around the corner and out the door of the church.
Some students woke up early to avoid the rush. Syon Bhanot '06 got to the polling station at 5:30 a.m., only to find that there was already a line.
The get-out-the-vote effort continued all day, with Princeton Votes — the nonpartisan voter registration organization — distributing 300 hoagies during the afternoon. As late as 7:30 p.m., volunteers were still sitting outside dining halls, reminding students to head to the polls.
"Have you voted yet?" Liz Toomey '07 asked students as they swiped their card to enter Wilcox Dining Hall.
Last night, the campus came to a standstill as students crowded around televisions in Frist Campus Center, eating clubs and dorms.
Dan Rakove '05 claimed a couch in front of the 100-level TV in Frist at 7 p.m. and planned to stay as long as it took to call a winner.
"I don't normally watch TV, so I can treat myself on election night once every four years," he said.
Hundreds were on hand in the Frist Multipurpose Room for an election-watching party that included comments from molecular biology professor Sam Wang, who started the website election.princeton.edu, Wilson School Dean Anne-Marie Slaughter '80 and economics professor Elizabeth Bogan.
Wang, whose website was covered in the Wall Street Journal, predicted that Kerry would take the election with 311 electoral votes to Bush's 227.
His analysis used a statistical approach to analyze a composite of all polling data available, including 1,000 polls in four months. He also took into account the variables of undecided voters and increased turnout, which tend to break against the incumbent.
"These factors should add three points to Kerry over the last poll," Wang said.
The numbers reported early by media organizations are based on direct count results, which depend on the demographics of the precincts that report early, he explained.
But the numbers this morning made clear that his calculations were off, and that the race would be much tighter than estimated.
Later, Slaughter spoke to students about the possible implications of a Kerry victory in foreign affairs.
"Kerry has a better chance of getting more global support, but it's by no means assured," she said.
Citing a possible watershed moment in Israel-Palestine relations with the declining health of Yassir Arafat and an impending crisis in Iran, Slaughter noted that Kerry would carry greater credibility in the eyes of our allies.
A narrow Bush victory, she said, would bitterly divide the nation.
"Some people say that a second Bush administration will moderate," she said, shaking her head. "But I don't think so."
Slaughter added, to cheers from students, "I truly, truly pray that there is a president tomorrow."
During the day, students who had already voted volunteered their time to direct others to the polls.
Some stood on corners, shouting "Happy Election Day!" to people as they passed by and holding signs that read, "Ask me how to vote" and shouting "Happy Election Day!"
Adam Baron '08 directed voters to the polls holding a sign that read, "Your ass doesn't have to be a dumb one." He spent the afternoon knocking on doors in Princeton Township.
Baron, who for months has worn a bumper sticker on his bag that says, "Let's not elect him in 2004 either," said he was surprised at the level of Bush support on campus. He had expected it to be overwhelmingly Democratic because, "Duh, Democrats are smart and smart people go to Princeton."
Some students who four years ago might have decided against voting after encountering problems made sure their voice would be heard this time around.
Wamiq Chowdhury '06 woke up at 8 a.m. to cast a vote in his hometown of Cranberry, N.J.
"I've only been up that early when I stayed up all night," he said. "It's the first time I've woken up that early."
Some students credited P-Votes with the high turnout. "You couldn't walk through Frist for three weeks without hearing, 'Have you registered to vote?' " said Meghan Bruce '05.
The voter registration drive on campus meant that students faced the decision of whether to register in Princeton or at home.
Aaron Spolin '08 and Carey Jones '08, both from Palo Alto, Calif., went separate ways. Spolin voted at home to support a candidate in a close state assembly race, while Jones registered in Princeton to support Evan Baehr '05 for Borough Council.
Whether they voted Tuesday or a week ago, students welcomed the unusually heated discussion on campus as a departure from the typical apathy.
"It's very exciting to see so many people out there and concerned," Jones said.
Chowdhury said he hoped the energy would be permanent, noting the College Democrats have been revived by the election activity.
"It's nice to see that students are so charged up," he said. "They're charged up by pure enthusiasm, and it's helped raise the state of the Democratic cause."
Students agreed on the importance of uniting the nation behind the eventual victor.
"It'll be a solid half disappointed either way, so no matter who wins, we have to move forward," Jones said.
While some said they would miss the daily excitement of the election, others noted a more practical benefit for when the results are decided.
"It'll be a good thing for it to be over because I'll be able to focus on work again," Chowdhury said.
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