It's finally here!  Election Day 2008.  I've spent the morning floating between a few polling places here in Nashville.  My first stop was Eakins Elementary School, situated between Vanderbilt and Belmont Universities.  It is the primary polling center for Vanderbilt University and Vandy students were out in full force, as were the locals in the neighborhood.  I spoke with James Pierces, age 23, as he stood in line.  It was 8 AM here and James, a recent Belmont University graduate, told me he had been in line for about an hour, from about the times the polls opened at 7 AM.  This polling center has designated machines for certain areas in the precinct, and he said he was informed that one of the machines designated for his area had been down for a short time but was now up and running.

Voter James Pierces, Age 23

This was by far the busiest polling place I visted.  I went by Belmont University, which was dead; no lines at all.  One of the poll workers told me there had been an early moring rush but things had settled down since then.  The campus itself was very dead, too.  I was there about 8:30 AM.  Next I went to the Edgehill Library in a majority African-American district on Nashville's 12th Ave.  The lines were very short there as well, though I was told they had an early morning rush, too.  I cruised by Eakins Elementary again around 9:15 AM and the lines were still long with Vanderbilt Students and neighborhood locals.

This is by no means, in any way, a scientific sample, but the majority of people I spoke with (less than 25 people, almost all in thier twenties) were supporting Barack Obama.  They cited a need for change, health care reform, and worries about the economy as central reasons for supporting Obama.  The McCain supporters cited his experience and the need for strong leadership during difficult times as their primary motivations for supporting him.  I spoke with one Vanderbilt student, a young man age 21, who said he was a Republican voting for Obama.  He said he had been supporting McCain but was disappointed with his pick of Sarah Palin as a running mate. 

Long Lines formed at Nashville's Eakins Elementary School, where many Vanderbilt University students were voting.

I spoke with many first time voters who were excited and enthusiastic.  Many expressed their enthusiasm in the fact that their first time voting was in a historic election, with an African-American running on one ticket and a woman on the other ticket.  They also mentioned how important this election seemed to be in our nation's history and were pleased that their first vote cast for President was at a time when the entire nation seemed focused, excited, and engaged.

Stay tuned for more updates...