Election Results Schedule

NEC Announcement:

Voting begins around the country at 6:30a.m. EST in the eastern states of Pennyroyal, Wayne, Conover, and Gearhart. All states allow voting until 7:30p.m. The National Election Commission will release vote results and seat projections as they become available.

Things to watch for:

1) While finishing an hour behind the eastern states, the five western states (Atrium, Bennett, Gerke, Hampton, and Hunter) have a history of reporting their vote totals first. Analysts will look for a number of indicators. First, how large are the FAP margins. If the FAP can roll up large margins in these states things look good for Party Leader Wilson. However, if the rival conservative parties are able to peel away votes it may prove to be a longer night. Second, can the PLP or LAP hold any seats in the west. If these two parties can win seats in the west things look good for them.
2) The largest bank of votes and seats lie in the east. Only 18.8% of the seats in the General Assembly come from the lightly populated five western states. If the FAP hopes to remain competitive looking at the results of the central and eastern states will be critical. In 2007, the FCP was able to combine its huge margins in the West with strong showings elsewhere allowing them to win the most seats. However, in 2009 the RKP was unable to match this.
3) Will the liberal base hold? Perhaps the biggest question is how the central and eastern states will vote. If the PLP and LAP see high turnouts in urban areas within these states things look good. Both parties will depend on voters showing up in large numbers in the seat rich states of Conover, Pennyroyal and Wayne especially.
4) Will any party emerge with a majority or with viable coalition partners? If the recent polls are to be believed it is unlikely any party will win an outright majority. However, the real drama comes with potential coalitions. Can the PLP and LAP (likely ideological allies) gain a combined majority? Can the FAP's conservative also-rans garner enough seats to create a center-right government?