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"Election Day in Swing State Virginia\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRichmond, Va.\nVoters submit their ballots for the 2012 election. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRichmond, Va.\nMany in Virginia waited hours to vote.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHenrico, Va.\nIn Henrico County, voters are apparently torn within miles of each other.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHenrico, Va.\nIn some parts of the county, voters show support for Romney.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHenrico, Va.\nRising Mt. Zion Baptist Church offers refreshments to voters.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRichmond, Va.\nLines that wrapped around the block were clear in the city by around 11 a.m.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHenrico, Va.\nObama supporters offered voter information outside of a bank.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHenrico, Va.\nA decorated truck, whose owner is in support of Obama.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHenrico, Va.\nVoting in Virginia ran from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHenrico, Va.\n\nA new law went in place this year that requires all voters to present ID at the polls. \nLawyers were present at many polls to help voters with any last-minute questions or concerns.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRichmond, Va.\nApproximately two blocks from a polling location, pro-life protesters stand outside of a women's medical center.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRichmond, Va.\nMore protesters stand outside the women's medical center.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPortsmouth, Va.\nMixed party signs outside of Portsmouth, Va.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPortsmouth, Va.\nPortsmouth, Va. voted Democratic in 2008, but Republican signs are present outside the polling area this year.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPortsmouth, Va.\nMore mixed party signs.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA swing state is supposed to be a place where no single candidate has overwhelming support. That may sound like most are undecided, however it's seemed far from it during the 2012 election season. \nAs a Virginia resident, I've spent most of the presidential campaign in Richmond, Va. \u2014 with trips to Chesapeake, Va. and New York City in between. In 2008, Virginia won the Democratic vote by 53%. It was the first time since 1963, and it was a huge deal. This go-round is equally important in swing states like Virginia, and we know it too.\n\nThroughout this election, I have tactfully avoided talking politics with family members and friends, most of whom have made their beliefs \u2014 on both sides \u2014 deliberately apparent on Facebook and other social platforms. \nThat might seem the case for Internet users in any state throughout this election. But it is far more intense in states like Virginia. Offline, within one block, there are yard signs for one candidate or the other. Facebook and Instagram are the digital yard signs. Friends leave photos and status updates bashing one side or the other, and then others leave comments defending them. \n\nSEE ALSO: 22% Have Shared Their Vote on Social Media [STUDY]\nFacebook has played a couple of crucial roles this election season. One, it's opened an important discussion that many might feel more comfortable having from behind the security of a screen. Some might argue it's healthier to debate about our views in person, but we're not running for president. Airing our views in the semi-public digital space at least raises issue awareness, doesn't it?\nThat leads to the second thing Facebook has influenced this election. It's an online battleground. Whenever a big event happens, we often feel obligated to talk about it online. It's like a way of letting everyone know you're aware of it happening. This normally results in a highly concentrated Newsfeed for a few hours, until the updates go from acknowledging the event to labeling it as \"old news.\"                                \nIn the case of the election, it's lasted months. Many of my Virginia friends and family at this point are either fully positioned in their battlefields or just tired of the entire process. Most status updates on Tuesday, aside from the ones encouraging others to vote, were weary pleas to keep it civil.\nAre these online individual campaigns affecting the candidates? NBC12's political swing state reporter Ryan Nobles says that social media is important, but not enough to truly make an impact.\n\"Despite social media\u2019s growing influence in the campaign world, it has yet to eclipse most of the traditional forms of campaigning. It is still more important to invest heavily in TV advertising, direct mail and old fashioned retail politics,\" says Nobles.\nThe gallery above shows some Election Day partisan efforts in Virginia. The images come from various counties and cities.\nAre you a swing state voter? How has this election differed from ones you've experienced in the past? Share your thoughts in the comments below."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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