Costly drives to encourage balloting works as electorate braves long lines, bad weather. Any increase in turnout is due to people feeling in the last minute that the campaign mattered to them.
Nothing is predetermined.
Among those working to motivate voters was President Clinton. Firm numbers on voter turnout would not be available until today, so officials were left to rely on anecdotes from across the nation. Indeed, it was unclear whether voters in states where the leading candidates did little campaigning would turn out in force. While turnout is always important for the nation's democratic well-being, in a race this close it was crucial. In the critical state of Pennsylvania, Vice President Al Gore and running mate Joseph I. Lieberman made special TV pleas to voters via satellite, their messages carried on 5 p.m. newscasts.