Leaving aside any partisan commentary on who has won or lost, a few quick notes on tonight’s election:

1) This is election as theater. What an exciting night — just to watch how these races are playing out is incredible. When 2.25 million votes can come down to a difference 2300 votes, it just sends a message about how important it is to vote. (And a note to the 25,000 Green Party voters in VA… your candidate withdrew. She left. In a race with national importances with a razor-thin margin, you may want to reconsider the time for a protest vote.)

2) I really want to see the national numbers on voter turnout. According to the Virginia live election results page, over 51% of registered voters came out to vote. And according to Infoplease, in 2002, 52.8% of registered voters voted in the mid-terms (which was 37% of possible voters.) In 1962, 81% of registered voters voted in the mid-term elections, and that was 47.3% of possible voters.) I’d love to see 2006, no matter who controls the Senate, be the highest voter turn-out in a few decades. But then, I’d also like to know why it seems that over the last 40 years, turnout has dropped. I really do believe it’s not just a right to vote, it’s a responsiliblity.

3) I really want to go to bed, but I really am addicted to watching the returns.