update – As more poll places tally votes, numbers show McCain lead in Georgia widening to 62% to Obama’s 37%. According to CBS and MSNBC McCain has taken an overwhelming majority of the more than 90,000 ballots cast. So far 19 precincts totaling 1% of total polling places has posted results.
The first polls closed at 7 p.m. signaling the beginning of the end to this year’s exciting yet contentious presidential election. Georgia, South Carolina, Vermont, Kentucky, parts of Florida, and two of the most contested states, Virginia and Georgia all closed polling places moments ago. Between the states, 58 electoral votes are up for grabs.
According to Huffington Post, early exit polls show Sen. John McCain leading his Democratic rival in Georgia, 51% to 47%. In the article, Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg warns about the accuracy of exit polls. “The biggest problem with exit polls is …we do know that young voters are much more likely to do an exit survey and seniors are much less likely to do an exit poll.†Young people, who tend to lean towards Democrats, tend to weigh down the polls.
CNN.com reports a win for McCain in Kentucky. He leads Obama 52% to 47%, taking the state’s eight electoral votes.
Obama is the projected winner of Vermont taking the state’s three electoral votes.
CBS and MSNBC are reporting a South Carolina win for McCain
Renita Burns is the editorial assistant at BlackEnterprise.com