Iie fiidiari 0aiI Ann Arbor, Michigan Tuesday, November 4, 2008 michigandailycom GUIDE TO ELECTION DAY '08 WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU VOTE Waiting in potentially long lines will at least be pleasant. Forecasts call for sunny weather and near-record highs in the mid-70s. Observers from both parties could be at your polling place. Your registra- tion or identity might be challenged. But if you registered, you have the right to vote. Don't give up on casting your ballot. EYou must vote at the precinct assigned to you. Find your polling place on publius.org. UPDATED COVERAGE For the latest news, check out michigandaily.com/election Updates throughout the day about voting in Ann Arbor and around southeast Michigan. Post your Election Day photos on michigandaily.com's precinct map. E-mail them to bridgeto@umichedu. See something interesting? Have trouble voting? We want to know about it. E-mail us at news@michi- gandaily.com or call the newsroom at 734-763-2459. FREE STUFF After you vote, check out these Election Day giveaways: Starbucks is giving out a free cup of coffee to anyone who votes. The Relaxation Station is giving a 10 percent discount to anyone with an "I Voted" sticker. Ben& Jerry's is giving out a free scoop of ice cream between 5 and 8 p.m. OTHER RACES TO WATCH There's a lot at stake in Michigan today further down the ballot. Here are a few interesting races to pay attention to as results come in. State Senate Minority Leader Mark Schauer is trying to unseat Rep. Tim Walberg in the 7th District U.S. Con- gressional race. Schauer has been doing well in polls, and Democrats are putting lots of resources into this race. National Democrats are also focused on knocking off Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-Bloomfield Township) from his seat representing the 9th District. Gary Peters and Knollenberg have been campaigning hard. Peters and Schauer are a key part of Democrats' plans to expand their majority in the House of Representatives. Two seats are open on the University Board of Regents - the University of Michigan's elected governing body. Democratic incumbent Larry Deitch is runningtfor re-election. Democrat Denise Illitch and Republicans John aFond and Susan Brown are also vyingtfor seats. DECISION DAY Youths shaped this race, but their biggest test.is today By JULIE ROWE and JACOB SMILOVITZ Daily StaffReporters Less than eight hours before polls open in Michigan tomorrow, Gov. Jennifer Granholm took the stage at the Michigan Union to rally students in support of Barack Obama. While wearing a shirt ban- nered with "1.20.09" - the last day George W. Bush will serve as president - 'Granholm told the crowd of 600 University students that their votes are needed to put ANALYSIS Barack Obama in the White House. "This is your election," Gra- nholm said. "You've got to prove them wrong when they say that young people don't vote.You've got to prove to them that your moment is now." The rally, which brought several Michigan Democratic heavyweights to campus, was a call-to-arms, attempting to mobi- lize members of the country's most unreliable voting bloc: 18- to 24-year olds. Behind the impassioned speech- es and fervent applause is a linger- ing concern that this election will be just like the last one, and many before that, in which Democratic candidates have counted on young voters to buck the trend and show up the polls on Election Day, only to discover that those votes never materialized. For older Americans, the Bush presidency is one of many they've seen in their adult lives. For col- lege juniors, the Bush presidency is almost all they know. He was first elected when they were in middle school. Political Science Prof. Michael Traugott, who studies political polls and surveys, said the Demo- cratic focus on younger voters has not proven effective in the past, but people between the ages of 18 and 24 support Obama over Republican nominee John McCain by a 2-to-1 margin. "The Democrats in particular See ANALYSIS, Page 7 Gov. Jennifer Granholm rallies University of Michigan students during an event held last night in the Michigan Union. About 600 students attended the rally, which also included a performance by the Ann Arbor-based band My Dear Disco. What0f9.0 Proposal Ipasses and medicinal marijuana is legalized? By STEPHANIE STEINBERG and ELIN BERGMAN Daily Staff Reporters Michigan voters will decide today whether to legalite marijuana for medicinal purposes. If Proposal 1 passes, Michigan will be the nation's 13th state to allow patients with severe illnesses to grow and own marijuana. The proposal says physicians can prescribe marijuana for registered patients with "debilitating medical conditions including cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, (multiple scle- See MARIJUANA, Page 7 Proposal 2 passes and stem cell research is legalized? By NICOLE ABER and LARA ZADE Daily Staff Reporters The outcome of Proposal 2, a ballot initiative that would loosen the state's restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, could have huge implica- tions for both the University of Michi- gan and the state as a whole. If passed, the proposal would over- turn a 1978 Michigan law, banning researchers in Michigan from obtaining their own stem cell lines from embryo's donated by-fertility treatment centers. These embryos would only be donated if they would be otherwise See STEM CELLS, Page 7 4 Hathaway or Taylor McCain or Obama wins a seat on the state . is elected the nation's Supreme Court? 44th president? By THOMAS CHAN By ELAINE LAFAY Daily Staff Reporter Daily Staff Reporter In the last few decades, incumbent justices in the Michigan Supreme Court have typically been reelected, with only one incumbent judge suf- fering defeat in about the last 30 years. But, history aside, what would happen if Diane Marie Hathaway defeated Jus- tice Cliff Taylor today? Simply paying attention to just cam- paign commercials, there's not much to go on. Judicial ethics prohibit judges fromcommenting on pendingcases and public issues, except when they release See SUPREME COURT, Page 7 Almost two years of speeches, con- troversy and campaigning culminates tonight in a historic election that will resonate throughout the world. But then what? Political Science Prof. Michael Traugott, who predicts Obama will win the popular vote by a landslide, said the first step for either candidate in office would be to evaluate the econ- omy and move forward from there. He said both candidates have focused on improving the economy, but while See PRESIDENT, Page 7 THE RIGHT TO VOTE RELIGION AND POLITICS Officials warn students Despite discontent, Muslim of challenges at polls voters expected to turn out Both parties expected to send poll watchers to local precincts By JILLIAN BERMAN Daily StaffReporter As voters hit the polls for today's high- ly anticipated election, there's a greater chance for challenges of voters at polling stations throughout Michigan. Kary Moss, executive director of Michigan's chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said she expects both Democrats and Republicans to send law- yers or law students to polling stations today to challenge the eligibility of vot- ers. "We expect that there will be Demo- cratic and Republican challengers, but there should also be poll watchers, and See POLLS, Page 7 Upset by use of Islam to attack Obama, Muslims remain focused on election By CHARLES GREGG-GEIST Daily StaffReporter When former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama last month, he cited an election issue that has troubled many American Muslim for months. "It is permitted to be said such things as, 'Well, you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim.' Well, the correct answer is, 'He's not a Mus- lim, he's a Christian,'" Powell said on Meet the Press on Oct. 19. "But the really right answer is, 'What if he is?' Is there anything wrong with being a Muslim in America?" The Muslim faith has been a prominent issue throughout the campaign. Polls have shown that more than 10 percent of Ameri- cans believe Obama is a Muslim. Even con- See MUSLIMS, Page 7 WEATHER HI 68 TOMORROW tO 45 GOT A NEWS TIP? 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