So you've cast your ballot, maybe even waited in line if you did so in person as turnout appears to be up around Bucks and Montgomery Counties. But how long will you have to wait to find out who'll be in the White House come January? It might be a late night. California voters have until 8 p.m. Pacific Standard Time to cast their Election 2012 ballots, but voting in other key swing states ends as much as an hour earlier, and exit polling could provide an early clue whether President Obama or Mitt Romney us closer to the White House. The earliest key state to watch is Virginia, where polls …

Just a few miles away from where thousands of people gathered to see Mitt Romney speak, key Democrats held a press conference reiterating their stance on women’s issues at a hotel in the Langhorne section of Middletown. Kathy Boockvar, congressional candidate for the 8th district, spoke first and began by noting the Democrats and Republicans have “stark differences” for the nation. The candidate also said Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are “far from the center.” Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, former Congressman Patrick Murphy, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards and Sandra Fluke all …

Mark Schultz was "a little dumbstruck," but not surprised when he received a robo-call at his house in Holliston, Massachusetts Saturday around noon. The call said "Hi, I'm one of your neighbors in Holliston and ... I want to urge you to vote for Elizabeth Warren and Barack Obama on Wednesday, November 7." The date, said the call, had been changed because of Hurricane Sandy. Thankfully the Democratic Town Committee member knew this information was incorrect, but he posted to Facebook to make sure others knew the same. The caller ID listed it as Massachusetts 000-0000.  The registered Democrat…

As Election Day approaches on Nov. 6, Bucks and Montgomery Patches are enacting a deadline for all letters to the editor on political and election matters. All letters should be emailed to your editor with “Letter to the editor” in the subject line. Political letters to the editor will be published no later than Sunday, Nov. 4. We will begin publishing political letters to the editor again on Wednesday, Nov. 7. Letters to the editor on all other matters are welcome and there is no restriction on nonpolitical or election-related letters. You can use Patch's open blogging platform throughout …

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP — Attorney General hopefuls David Freed and Kathleen Kane sparred over their independence and experience on Monday night during the only scheduled debate in the hotly-contested statewide race. During a snappy 50-minute exchange hosted by Widener Law School just outside of Harrisburg, the two candidates faced questions about their qualifications for the top law enforcement post in the state, their independence from state politics and their plans for the office, if elected. Kane, a Democrat, repeatedly attacked Freed as the “hand-picked” …

  Join the ConversationWatch the live stream of the presidential debate here and join the commentary during the debate with your Facebook friends, Twitter followers (#PatchPoliticsPa #PatchPolitics) and your local Patch editors. TV Channels Broadcasting Live: ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and more, including CNN Espanol. Also Live Streaming Online: YouTube's Election Hub, AOL.

Welcome to Patch's live, continuous coverage of the third and final presidential debate. We'll be be following reactions locally and through Facebook and Twitter including publishing your contributions — tweets (#patchpoliticspa #patchpolitics), photos and comments. To add your comments, just start typing in the text box above. You can upload photos too.

  New polls out this week show Gov. Mitt Romney has substantially narrowed what once seemed like an insurmountable lead for President Barack Obama in Pennsylvania. The polls were taken after the first presidential debate but before Tuesday's second town hall-style debate at Hofstra University. Bloomberg News reported that a Quinnipiac University poll of 1,519 likely Pa. voters favored Obama by just four percentage points over Romney. The poll was conducted between Oct. 12 and Oct. 14. Just one month ago, Obama held a 12 point lead in the state, and some news reports indicated that the Romney …

  In a town hall format, President Obama and Governor Romney squared off in the second presidential debate. In the first debate, Romney was awarded the victory in Patch polls. How was this debate compared to the first? Who won?

Welcome to Patch's live, continuous coverage of the second presidential debate. We'll be be following reactions locally and through Facebook and Twitter including publishing your contributions — tweets (#patchpoliticspa #patchpolitics), photos and comments. To add your comments, just start typing in the text box above. You can upload photos too.

  Nearly 60 million people tuned in Oct. 3 to watch the first presidential debate between President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. In that first confrontation, viewers and pundits claimed that Romney won, and his campaign got a bump in the polls as a result. Will Obama vindicate himself this time? There will be one more debates before election day. Here's the remaining debate schedule:  October 16, 2012 Topic: Town meeting format including foreign and domestic policyAir Time: 9-10:30 p.m. Eastern Standard TimeLocation: Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York (…

  Tuesday, Oct. 9 is the last day for Pennsylvania residents to register to vote in the Nov. 6 general election. Voters can get more information by visiting voter registration websites for Bucks County and Montgomery County or by calling: Bucks County Voter Registration 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday 215-348-6166 Montgomery County Voter Registration 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday-Friday 610-278-3280 After a court challege, Pennsylvania's Voter I.D. law was put on hold until after the Nov. 6 presidential election. That means any registered voter can vote on the day without photo I.D.

TV Channels Broadcasting Live: FOX 5, NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS, CNN, MSNBC, CSPAN. Live Streaming Online: Watch on HuffPost Live Comic Relief: Name-calling debate on YouTube, New York Times cartoon, Democalypse 2012 from The Daily Show, Obama vs. Romney on SNL Local Live Viewing Parties: Pennsylvania Reacts to Presidential Debate: Live at 8:30; join in and tweet about it (If you missed the first debate, watch the live recording above.) Presidential Debate Schedule October 3, 2012 Topic: Domestic policy Air Time: 9-10:30 p.m. Easter Standard TimeLocation: University of Denver in Denver, Colorado (…

Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson upheld Pennsylvania’s controversial Voter ID law, but that’s not the end of the story. At the conclusion of the hearing, both sides said they would appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court if they lost. In this case, the loser is American Civil Liberties Union legal director Vic Walczak. He told The Washington Post that the case isn't over. “It’s why they make appeals courts.” Do you agree with the verdict? Leave a comment. The ACLU and the NAACP claim voter ID laws disenfranchises voters, especially the elderly, the poor and minorities. Proponents of …

  A snap Red Keystone survey of GOP activists in Pennsylvania by Patch shows strong support for U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney’s choice for running mate. Ryan as vice presidential nominee will help galvanize Republican voters in the Keystone State, according to more than two thirds of respondents. More than half also say Ryan will help the GOP ticket win undecided voters. Respondents aren’t concerned that Democrats can win by running against Ryan's existing budget plans and particularly his proposal for Medicare. Several respondents noted that Ryan will help the GOP win young voters.  But…

Obviously, Republicans and Democrats are split. Republicans say Mitt Romney’s Choice for Vice President – Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin – is a great choice because Ryan is a rising GOP star bent on reining in federal spending. Democrats, on the other hand, say Ryan is an extremist in his views on revamping Medicare. Here’s what state party officials say: Pennsylvania Republican leaders praised Romney's choice of running mate. "I congratulate Paul Ryan on being selected to join Mitt Romney on the Republican Presidential ticket," said Rob Gleason, chairman of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania…

Mitt Romney has chosen Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan as his vice presidential running mate. His campaign announced the pick Saturday morning, dubbing the two, "America's Comeback Team." The two made their first appearance on the USS Wisconsin, a retired World War II battleship, in Norfolk, Virginia Saturday morning. Romney's campaign also released a biography of Ryan. Here are some of the facts: Ryan is in his seventh term in Congress representing Wisconsin’s 1st District.  He is Chairman of the House Budget Committee. He also serves on the House Ways and Means Committee. Ryan, 42, is …

Doylestown Borough Republican committeeman Joe Flood was prepared to spend several hours Saturday knocking on doors with one goal in mind. “We’ve lost a sense of optimism in this country,” he said. “I want to get it back.” Flood was among 50 or so stalwart Republicans who braved oppressive heat and humidity Saturday morning to mark the opening of a “Victory Office” on Broad Street in Doylestown. It was one of dozens of events nationally organized by the GOP to fire up the troops in advance of the November 6 election.  “Why are we here?” county GOP chair Pat Poprik asked the sweltering crowd …

  In March, Pennsylvania legislators passed a strict voter ID law, requiring all voters to show “acceptable" identification before voting. Voting rights groups challenged the law in court, arguing it’s unconstitutional. The case concluded Thursday, and the judge will give his decision the week of Aug. 13. What is your decision? Should you be required to show ID to vote? Why? Why not? Tell us in comments. To get up-to-date on the controversy, Here’s a guide to everything you ever wanted to know about Pennsylvania’s Voter ID law.

  In March, Pennsylvania passed a law requiring all registered voters to show a valid and “acceptable” photo ID before voting. This is one of the strictest voter ID laws in the nation. Voter advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP, challenged the new requirement and closed their arguments in Commonwealth Court Thursday. Across the country, 30 states have enacted some type of voter ID reform and it has become a hot button issue in an election year. Pennsylvania is no exception. Supporters say the laws prevent voter fraud; critics say the laws are a political…