Election Day to Briskly Shine

It’s election day and if the political pundits are on target, one of the most important non-presidential runoffs in modern day America is about to take place.

Here at WSAZ, we have cackled our way through the election advertising season. You see we have a bird’s eye view of the ads that have run continuously for the past 6 weeks. Some have made their point rather eloquently; others have frankly been “laughable”.

But that all ends starting Tuesday at dawn as polls open and we have a forum to be heard.

Weather-wise, this first Tuesday after the first Monday of November will be conducive to a large turnout in our local 3 state area. A frosty chill will greet voters at dawn. Temperatures near freezing will inspire Jack Frost to cast his vote in favor of a warm coat for early electioneers.

Dare I recommend a pair of gloves for seniors as the polls open? Well, if lines are long and extend outside the polling places, it is conceivable a 15 minute wait will demand either a cup of hot coffee or pair of gloves in hand.

I will be timing my arrival at the polls with my morning walk. With the poll about 1 mile from my home, I hope to leave around 9:30 so as to miss the morning rush and to avoid the midday lunch bunch. Temperatures will rise into the 40s by 10AM under a day long "landslide" of sunshine.

Afternoon highs will reach the 50s in all local precincts with my "candidate" for the official high at 57.

Since the air will be very dry, a rapid drop in temperature will commence by 5pm as the sun gets low on the western sky. That means a drop back into the chilly 40s for last minute voters.

The polls are open from 6 til 6 in the Bluegrass. In both Ohio and West Virginia the polls open at 6:30 and close at 7:30.

From a national perspective with so many close races and the balance of power in the Congress hanging by a thread, I am glad to report that the weather will cooperate for a large voter turnout through most of America.

The lone exception to the fair weather rule will be in the Sunbelt from Eastern Texas to Georgia where showers and thunderstorms will roam with vigor across a roughly 4 state area. Cities like Dallas and Houston in Texas and New Orleans in Louisianna and parts of Mississippi and Arkansas will see some rain on Tuesday. This may hamper voter turnout in these areas. But not so here at home as election day 2010 will be as good as it gets weather-wise.

Whomever are your favorite candidates, get out and pull the lever with pride in our country and state!