Californians Voting in Historic Recall Election

Mornin' Kari:

Just got back from voting. Polls opened at 7 am and I got there at 7:15 and had to wait about 20 minutes to get my ballot and poke out the chads. This will be the last time the punchcards will be used in LA County!

The line was very long. Some in their business best ready to go to work after voting and others like me who looked like we just rolled out of bed. These are the longest lines I've ever seen since I've been voting in the Westside of Los Angeles. Three possibilities: (1) there was polling place consolidation so we have a larger pool of voters than normal or (2) turnout is going to be high or (3) a combination of both.

As you might guess, the Recall has been the big news item in the local print and electronic media. The blogosphere with a political or California interest have been covering the story like a wet blanket. One great source for new and opinion roundups with a pro-recall perspective is Presto Pundit.

I take it in your part of the world, the locals are only aware of the "fruits and nuts" of California Recall through the national media?

My impression is that the national media has been playing up the circus atmosphere of the elections. The local media here is taking it dead serious and seem to resent the national media's scoffing at what is going on here.

Anyway, don't think I'll be doing Glenn Reynold's Instapundit style hyper-active blogging. However, if interesting tidbits come up during the day, I may update this post.

Cheers,
Rene

UPDATE: (3:31 PDT) Turnout so far is running ahead of the 2002 elections. From KFWB news radio is this short report:

As of 1pm 22.09 percent of LA County's registered voters had gone to the polls, according to the county registrar. By comparison, 18.44 had voted by that time November

UPDATE: (3:43 PDT) Oh, I should put out the obligatory punditry and predict the outcome! Recall will pass 56-44. The Arnold gets 46%; Cruz 40%; Tom 10%; Camejo 3% and everybody else 1%. Calblog claims leaked newsies exit polling data is saying its going to be a short night. We shall see!

UPDATE: (5:52 PDT) News leak to Drudge:

LATEST EXIT POLLS SHOW 59% VOTE 'YES' FOR RECALL, TOP CAMPAIGN AND MEDIA SOURCES TELL DRUDGE REPORT, 51% FOR SCHWARZENEGGER, 30% FOR BUSTAMANTE, 13% MCCLINTOCK... DEVELOPING...

whoa!

UPDATE: (10:40 PDT) Am watching the Arnold give his victory speech! Amazing!! The recall is passing by a wide margin and the Arnold is rolling to a solid victory. Read about it here and here.

UPDATE: (11:00 PDT) Yahoo! News table of vote results. As of 46% of the precincts counted: the recall is passing 54-46; Arnold 49%, Cruz 32%, Tom 13%, Camejo 2%, Huffington 1%.