After months of anticipation by Temple students, faculty and staff, and a season marked by political discourse at events such as the “un-debate” between Temple College Democrats and Republicans and the student-led “Race in the Race” panel discussion, election day has arrived at last. 

For those who are first-time voters, the day can lead to both excitement and uncertainty. To help alleviate any concerns, groups across Temple have developed resources to assist students in performing their foremost civic duty. 

Voting nuts and bolts

• Staff in Temple University Libraries have compiled the Election 2012 Information Guide. Particularly useful for first-time voters, the guide provides information about polling locations and voter registration. It also helps students stay informed on daily campaign developments, read public statements made by candidates and see what is being said about candidates through RSS feeds from fact checkers, reporters, polls and bloggers.
• On Election Day, Student Activities will be tabling at various spots around Main Campus to direct students to nearby polling locations, while Temple students and staff volunteering with the Committee of Seventy will help community members navigate nearby polling places. 
• As long as you are registered, you will be able to vote on Election Day. In Pennsylvania, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The busiest times of day to vote are before and after normal working hours. So if you can, try going at less busy times. If you are in line by the time the polls close, you must be allowed to cast your vote.

Student news coverage

• Students in classes taught by Susan Jacobson and Karen Turner, professors in Temple’s School of Media and Communication, are participating in the election through a collaborative reporting project, “Crowdsourcing U.S. Election Day.” The project uses Facebook as a platform for students to post throughout the day from several locations. The professors cancel classes on Election Day so students are guaranteed time to participate. They will monitor the posts and encourage others, including colleagues and alumni, to follow along.
• TUTV will present live election night coverage. Student reporters from “Temple Update” will report the latest information from polling places throughout Philadelphia, including dispatches from campaign headquarters across the region. “America Votes" is a unique collaboration between two courses in Temple’s journalism department, “Crossroads” and “Experimental Journalism.” The program will offer viewers street-smart, long-form stories and insightful, live interviews from the Kal and Lucille Rudman Media Production Center.
  
  

Watching and celebrating

• The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Progressive NAACP and Media Meltdown Productions will host an election watch party in the Howard Gittis Student Center, room 200, from 7:30-11:30 p.m.
• Also on election night, Tyler’s Temple Contemporary will host an election celebration featuring a massive balloon drop and the musical works of Philadelphia’s own DJ King Britt. The evening starts at 8 p.m., with the balloon drop scheduled for 10 p.m., as election results are coming in.