Real Time Indiana Election Updates and Results 2008

Because record voter turnouts were predicted for today's election in Indiana, I wanted to stay in the loop with live election updates and results - or as close to real time as possible. Real time updates alert voters to potential problems at various election sites in Indiana, as well as breaking election news. Although live television coverage will pick up and continue later in the day and early evening, you might not want to wait to track problems at voting sites or get the latest info on Indiana election results and exit polls.

For up-to-the-minute election information from Associated Content, check out the rolling coverage on the home page.

Luckily, you can keep up with breaking news about Indiana election results fairly easily - as long as you know which sites to check.

Here is a rundown of information which might be useful to Indiana voters:

Live election updates and voting results for Indiana

Listed below are some sites and sources which are useful for getting real time information for Indiana voters. Some are brand new, perhaps never before used in any other election. When you are ready to head out to vote, simply check some of these sites to see if there are long lines, broken voting machines or other issues. If you prefer, you can read the streaming information at some sites, keeping you in the loop about election issues in other parts of Indiana...or nationwide.

Real time information: Indiana polling places and voter sites

Before heading out to the polling stations, I checked here at Our Vote Live to see how many problems had been reported in Indiana. According to the latest information found there, 132 problems had been reported by 2:30 pm and they were broken down by type of problem, giving an exact number for Indiana voting machine problems (24), registration problems (38) and polling place problems (50). There were also 309 inquiries answered. I could also see which counties had the most reports or inquiries. In Indiana, Marion County topped the list, with 216 reports. You can also find links to live streaming reports and places to report problems.

I couldn't resist noting the nationwide figures of reported voting issues while at that site. That information could be found here and I saw that 7,960 problems had been reported to date, with the vast majority in New York, with the battleground states of Ohio and Florida also reporting significant issues, including voting machine issues.

Real time Indiana election updates, voter issues: check the local news before leaving home

Three Indiana schools, including one polling site, experienced robberies today and were on lockdown. Even though media coverage here at IndyStar indicated that elections would not be affected, information like this could be useful for voters to know before voting at specific polling sites in Indiana elections. Checking local news can truly provide real time updates that could provide real time election updates and news for Indiana voters.

Keep up with Indiana election updates, results with Twitter info, NPR and #Votereport streaming for real time updates

While not just focused on Indiana, Twitter's election sites are an excellent way to see what voters are reporting and you can definitely find info related to Indiana and various locations, although you will also see reports from plenty of other states as well. To keep up with the latest updates there, go here and add the keyword, Indiana, to limit searches to Indiana election updates. Be sure to look for this word, #votereport, to get news about today's election, in conjunction with NPR. More info about that can be found at blog.twittervotereport.com/

Although the site was temporarily overwhelmed and down for part of the day, the Indiana section provided information that was useful, including personal reports as well as links to news feeds like this one where Secretary of State Todd Rokita urged voters to get in line before 3 pm, found here Long lines are now being reported throughout the state, an update worth noting. The newest technology may have some glitches, if only because of overwhelming interest in the election results!

Indiana updates and issues on Election Day 2008 - don't discount the value of lower tech options

This tip comes from personal experience and is admittedly low tech, compared to clicking on an internet site with continuously streaming information. But it can be among the most useful ones for Indiana voters need real time information about where to vote in Indiana - and when. Simply pick up the phone and make a quick phone call, as I did when I called a Washington Township School Superintendent, James Mervilde yesterday, since I had concerns about schools being open on Election Day in Indiana. He told me that everything would go fine and that even though they anticipated some problems that they didn't foresee any major problems, although there have been reports of issues at various polling places (none of the online reports indicated traffic problems, not that I could find...yet).

In addition to contacting a school Superintendent, I also made a quick call to a local school today, one where I vote, to find out if it would be best to wait before voting there. I was told that parking space was currently at a premium and the parking lots were crowded. I decided to wait. The result? Real time information about a potential voter delay - obtained in minutes. Alternatively, I could have driven past the school or called friends who lived nearby. Traffic issues or not, they may have to be faced to vote before the polls close at 6 pm in Indiana.

Sources:

Personal experience

Our Vote Live: http://www.ourvotelive.org/map.php?id=18 here

Phone conversation with James Mervilde, Superintendent of Washington Township schools

Twitter live streaming of voting reports at #Votereport Indiana: here

Three Schools on Lockdown After Robbery, IndyStar, Nov 4: here

Indiana Officials: Get in Line by 3 PM (found via Twitter blurb), Southbend Tribune online, Nov 4: here