Hosting an election night party is a daunting prospect this year. Since the race is a nail biter, the night is sure to be fraught with tension and, according to recent polls, you have a 50/50 chance of ending up in tears at the end of the night.
If you're serious about your politics, do you want to curl up alone in a dark room on campaign night, just in case your candidate loses? Or do you want to surround yourself with friends on campaign night? If you do decide to take the plunge and open your doors, here are a couple of things to consider:
• Even though our rational selves know that people with opposing political views aren't soul-sucking aliens, it's safer to keep the guest list to like-minded folks.
• Don't think of it as winning or losing an election, think of it as an end to all the campaigning.
• No matter how crazy you get that day, please don't forget to vote.
• Stock lots and lots of alcohol. Lots.
Are you having people over on November 6nd? If so, what do you have planned? And no matter what your political affiliation, I wish you many happy returns.
(image: Dabney Frake)
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My friends get way too heated about this election for me to want to be anywhere near them that night. No thank you! I can't wait until it's all over and I don't have to hear the ranting anymore.
Keep calm.
Early Vote!
We have a devided house, so it's going to be miserable, no matter what.
I am going out to dinner and a show that night.Hopefully, it'll all be over when I come home.
I'm sure I'll stay tuned into the polling results, but hosting a party is the last thing I'd want to do! I've heard my share of arguing for a while. Even people who share my opinions can get on my nerves!
I am so tired of US politics - enough already.
I am sooooo tired of the election foolishness. I just want it to be over ... there's no way I'd host or attend any sort of party related to watching the election results.
50/50? More like 52/47.
Actually, the Nate Silver poll analysis gives the President 76% likelihood of winning, in case you care. Regardless of the polls. (Has to do with the electoral college...)
We don't have anything planned, but I wouldn't be surprised if a spontaneous event happens...
Bwahaha, Nate Silver is not Jesus.
Anyway, I already have my bottle of champagne! No party for me though, I'm volunteering for Romney all weekend so by Tuesday I'll be ready to relax.
There's nothing worse than being in a room of people who are belligerently unable to discuss politics in a civil manner, so the best rule is to only invite like minded people. I'm in the DC area, so we breathe political discourse. It's practically in the water, and thanks to Hurricane Sandy, there's a lot of water around.
Hide. Definitely, definitely hide.
Not to mention...there could be NO result at the end of the night. When do you end the party then? :)
Election night is no time to be alone! It is time to be with others to celebrate the American election process, woohoo your candidate's win or commiserate a loss. I am attending an election party with like-minded people and hoping for the best. Vote!!
Nate, is that you? And by spontaneous, do you mean like OWS? I'm intrigued! Please go on .....
Since I work in a field that often focuses on improving people's statistical intuitions, I feel it necessary to support the statement that was made here that a candidate's general popularity does not perfectly correlate with their probability of winning. For example, if in a population of 100 people, A is guaranteed 51 votes and B is guaranteed 49 votes, A's probability of winning is 100% (and not 51%). Thus while A is guaranteed a win, he is not by most standards a particularly popular candidate.
The second point of note is that whether the probability is 75% or 60% (as the prediction markets suggest) of one candidate, that leaves a strong probability that the other candidate would win. If the other candidate does win, it wouldn't be particularly surprising (statistically) given a 25% - 40% chance of winning. In no way should a statement of 75% probability of candidate A winning imply that candidate A will win for certain.
Finally, in defense of economic rationality, and to the point of this article. If you plan on drinking if your candidate wins *or* if your candidate loses, you might as well plan your party now. People often have a tendency to delay these decisions, often incurring higher costs, because they would like to know how the uncertainty resolves -- even if the uncertainty has no impact on their consequent behavior.
Yep. We'll be hosting a "Barack to the Future Election Extravaganza". 20 have RSVP'd so far. The plan is to open up a case of really good champagne when he wins. On the slim chance of an R victory, we'll bury the champagne in the yard until 2016. At least something good would come of it.
Given that both of the top candidates are mostly slaves to the same corporate and military interests, I think it's definitely okay to forget to vote. But parties are always fun.
Planning to vote early this weekend and just hole up on election night for some nail-biting.
Nitpick--November 6nd?
Love "Barack to the future." I will be hosting the NH version of this party and thanks to Facebook, I know who I won't be inviting!
Prompted by a Facebook post that was tired of BOTH parties and ready to create their own, we will be celebrating the Pizza and Beer party that evening. I strongly believe our candidates will win!
I voted more than a week ago, so during this period my stomach is in a complete knot and I couldn't think about entertaining. On election day itself, I will be a poll watcher for several hours during the day, then going home to bed with the covers pulled over my head. If Maddow gives me good news, then I can have a long, peaceful sleep.
Counting absentee ballots from noon till midnight...that's kind of a party, right? We'll have coffee and food...
Bless it.
My husband and I go out to vote, then go to dinner at a local bar, watch results for a little while on the TVs there, and watch patrons for all the various reactions. It's very entertaining. If chaos ensues, we can just go home.
Never heard of an election night party (that wasn't tied to a candidate directly). Given that my friends, family and acquaintances are about 50/50, not only would I not do it this year, I'd never do it. Wouldn't go to one, either.
It's my birthday, too! Obviously, WE should all host a party!
And wow...dusted off the ol' proverbial, patronizing soapbox for that one, huh?
How long have you been sitting on that one, waiting for the perfect chance to bring it up on some semi-public forum?