NEW YORK: An Exit Poll for New Americans

Norman Eng with the NY Immigration Coalition shares what his organization is doing on Election Day to monitor the polls:

Exit poll data-entry teams camped out in the NYIC's conference room.

It's a busy day at the New York Immigration Coalition, to say the least. In addition to making a final push to get immigrant voters out to the polls today, we're coordinating the citywide New Americans Exit Poll to track the voting behaviors and opinions of New York City voters, with an emphasis on voters in immigrant communities.

We have more than 120 exit pollsters stationed at 32 sites throughout the city, teams of runners and poll supervisors, and an army of data entry folks camped out in our conference room and cubicles to input the survey results as they roll in.

This is the fifth time we've run the exit poll. Past poll results have shown that, in New York City, two out of three first-time voters are foreign-born; in other words, immigrants are the driving force behind the expanding electorate here.

We expect to be here late into the evening inputing data, and we're excited to release the findings on Thursday. Thanks to Barnard College, Columbia University, the City University of New York, and the New York Latino Research and Resources Network for sponsoring the poll!

NEW YORK: Mobilizing Faith Voters in Syracuse

Check out the media coverage of grassroots voter mobilization work done by the Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse. Here's a story from WSYR TV and a video from syracuse.com:

Groups make final push to get people to the polls

Cicero, New York (WSYR-TV) - Even though polls open first thing in the morning, volunteers are still making a last-minute push to get people to the polls -- and those efforts will continue into Tuesday.

Efforts to get people to the polls are being conducted by Republican, Democrat and non-partisan groups.

Republican volunteers canvassed Cicero, drumming up support for congressional candidate Dale Sweetland.

The group is focusing on the fastest growing suburbs, because voters there could go either way.

“You'll have a lot of people who may need a reminder -- Need urging -- It's critical we're out {Monday night],” says Republican volunteer Chad Abbott.

Meantime, across town, the energy was palpable inside Democratic Headquarters, where volunteers had calls going out to voters all over the country.

Efforts will continue Tuesday, with volunteers standing on busy corners holding up campaign signs.

“Its not the polls that matter but who gets out to vote,” says Lisa Daly, of the group Syracuse for Obama. “We have tremendous support in this area, but it’s our job to make sure every last one get out and vote.”

To many, it's not about who you're voting for -- just that you vote.

ACTS, or Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse, has been trying to inspire potential voters for months. They'll follow through on Tuesday with more calls, door knocking and free rides to the polls.

“I'm excited. I definitely think it's one of those historic elections...something people have opportunity to make a difference and get their voice heard, make actual impact and changes in their community,” says volunteer Max Patino.

Each person working with ACTS called 1 to 200 people Monday night alone. Some weren't sure where they're supposed to vote, so ACTS will call them back in the morning -- and offer them a ride if they need it.

NEW YORK VOTER TURNOUT: Lines, Lines and More Lines

The New York staff of the Center for Community Change team rolled into the office to start blogging a wee bit later than expected due to no doubt record-breaking turnout at polling places throughout New York City. I myself went to my polling spot at PS 282 in Brooklyn, NY, at about 7:30 figuring that, in my yuppie neighborhood, turnout is probably usually high so this election wouldn't be much different. How wrong I was. After an hour-plus wait, I finally got to vote (and buy my semi-annual Election Day bake sale cupcake).

I remember being in Indonesia about four years ago during an election and seeing local villagers in the most remote parts of the country riding around with banners and signs for their favorite party, active and enthusiastic about the political process. Someone I was traveling with talked about the passion with which many people in developing countries seek out information about the candidates, carefully consider the issue platforms and wade through nearly-impossible barriers to cast their votes. He said, "They don't take democracy for granted." Well, it would appear, neither do we.

Check out the photos. They're heartening.

NEW YORK VOTER TURNOUT: Unprecedented Turnout in NYC

Norman Eng of the New York Immigration Coalition reports from New York City where polling locations are facing an unprecedented turnout of voters!

New Yorkers line up to vote near 86th Street and Broadway

"Polls opened at 6am in New York, and the story seems to be unprecedented huge turnout at polling sites throughout the city. I went to vote just after the polls opened, thinking that the lines would be short at that time, but I was surprised to find a line snaking all the way down the block, around the corner, and down another block. It's never been like that before. We're hearing similar reports from many other poll sites. It's absolutely amazing!"