It feels like the day after Christmas, doesn't it? Except the holiday season only lasts about a month, and this particular election season has dragged on for almost two years.

Back when it started, Democrat Tom Vilsack first filed papers with the FEC — and thus kicked off the race to the White House — Bob Barker was still hosting "The Price Is Right," CariDee was just about to win "America's Next Top Model" and America had not yet met Sanjaya.

Crazy, right?

And not only has it been prolonged, but it's been intense! With a campaign season that had more plot developments than the entire run of "Passions," it's hard to remember all the twists and turns the story took. Remember when Rudy Giuliani was considered a front-runner? Or what about when Joe Biden — a then-presidential candidate — got flack for calling Obama "clean?" And there was the Chuck Norris/ Mike Huckabee bromance! Jesse Jackson threatening castration! Hillary threatening scary 3 a.m. phone calls!

Watch Jim's video recap of the entire election, after the jump!

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By Todd Brown

While driving through Los Angeles over the past few days, I have noticed that one proposition on the California ballot is getting more attention than any other: Proposition 8, an initiative that would eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry. You can't go more than a mile on the streets of L.A. without seeing a sign for or against the proposition.

(More about Prop 8, after the jump!)
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Welcome to McCain HQ, where denial ain't just a river in Egypt.

After early bouts of enthusiasm, things have taken on a decidedly somber tone, as McCain's lead has evaporated and major networks have begun to call must-win states like Pennsylvania and Virginia for Barack Obama.

Of course, you would only know it of you were paying really close attention inside the Frank Lloyd Wright Ballroom, because as soon as states started falling Obama's way, the two screens flanking the stage were quickly shut off, their live feeds replaced with McCain political commercials.

Soon after, the Phoenix Boys Choir was ushered onstage and, in matching blazers and khakis, they delivered a touching version of "God Bless America."

Then Arizona Congressman Jeff Flake — looking tanned and strangely chipper — delivered a "rah-rah" speech, as Obama opened up a 62-point lead in the electoral vote count.

Of course, none of that was mentioned by the McCain camp and, after more speechifying, the "official" delegate count was posted inside the house: McCain 21-3. And as McFadden & Whitehead's "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" blared overhead, one couldn't help but think that the McCain camp was being a tad bit optimistic.

By most accounts, young voters came out in a big way today.

Now we want to hear from you!

How did it feel to vote? Where are you watching the results? Where will you be when the next president of the United States makes his victory speech?

We want to join your viewing party. We want to share your enthusiasm and disappointment.

Upload your video reaction to this historic day at YouRHere.MTV.com, or leave your comments below. Your message will appear on our election map and could appear on TV!

The massive stage, with its two dozen American flags waving in the breeze, two fat slabs of bulletproof glass and the sun-splashed Chicago skyline in the distance, is impressive. The gigantic white tents full of thousands of journalists jabbering in hundreds of languages and the miles of fencing and intense security are kind of intimidating. The infectious excitement of the dozens of teens and college kids lined up since daybreak for their chance to attend the rally is inspiring.

But nothing I've seen so far today on the site of Senator Barack Obama's election-night speech compares to the traveling media spaceship known as the CNN Election Express.

Imagine, if you will, a fully tricked-out high-definition TV studio. Then put it on wheels and schlep it around the country for 18 months and 60,000 miles, including more than 2,300 miles in Ohio alone. This afternoon Sway bumped into CNN anchor Don Lemon, who graciously invited us into the bus for a tour.

Once inside, we peeped CNN political reporter Jessica Yellin getting some inside scoop on her phone and ran into Josh Rubin, the lead producer on the Express, who gave us the "Cribs" tour of his cramped, high-tech home away from home. Hitting a button to make a giant HD screen drop down from the ceiling — it was tuned to MTV, of course — Rubin pointed out the 10 other high-def screens along the left side of the bus, tuned to CNN, as well as its competitors. "Everything you can do in one of our bureaus you can do right here on our election bus," said Rubin. "I would rather be here than just about anywhere else."
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"Sex and the City" star and real-life New Yorker Cynthia Nixon made her way to Florida for this Election Day. Florida Street Teamer Anthony Wojtkowiak caught up with the actress at the University of Miami today, where she was encouraging students to vote.

"I'm just talking to students here, making sure everyone is voting," she told MTV News. "If they haven't, I'm telling them the clock is ticking. Today is D-day. Gotta vote."

Nixon was also there to speak out against Florida's Proposition 2, which would define marriage as being between a man and a woman, effectively banning same-sex marriage. "It's an antigay initiative," said Nixon, who is in a lesbian relationship. Read more...

We've made it past miles of manicured lawns, golf courses and gated mansions to the epicenter of the McCain-iverse, the Arizona Biltmore, where in a few hours (or you know, like, 10), Mac will deliver a speech that's either gonna be a real barnburner or a certified bummer.

McCain will deliver this speech on the lawn you see here (he got married on this same spot 24 years ago). ... Exactly four minutes ago they closed it off to the general public, and tonight, a lucky (and heavily credentialed) 2,500 will be ushered inside to watch it.
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By Ashley Mastronardi

Hey, guys! Last time you heard from me was right after the 2008 VMAs, when I was Britney Spears' golf-cart driver. MTV's been letting me do more cool stuff, so last week I visited my alma mater, Townsend Harris High School in Queens, New York, to check out their presidential election simulation. I was impressed by their versions of Barack Obama, John McCain and Joe Biden, but it was the mini Sarah Palin, a.k.a. senior Barbara Cvenic, who stood out as, well, adorable.

"Something happens to me when I put on these glasses," Cvenic, a self-professed "quiet type," told MTV News. "I guess playing a different person makes it easier to be yourself and talk and be outgoing, because you have this mask."

But although her Palin impression has been getting raves from her classmates, Cvenic admits it's been difficult portraying the veep candidate. "I don't agree with just about anything she says," she said. "But it's good to see a different side of things. ... It's made me a stronger Obama supporter if anything."
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You gotta get up really early to make history. Or, in the case of 28-year-old Tom Krieglstein, stay up late. Hours before anyone else thought to line up for tonight's rally in Grant Park for Senator Barack Obama, the Wrigleyville, Chicago, native proudly took his place as the first person in the queue at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, a full 24 hours before the doors open for the event.

"It's history," he said, explaining why he showed up so early. "Having Obama as president is history, and that's why I wanted to be the first person in line." For two and a half hours, Krieglstein was the line, since his fiancée got sick and bailed on him. Then, around 10:00 p.m., a second person showed up. The #3 slot didn't get filled until early Tuesday morning. Read more...

By Akshay Bhansali

OK, OK. The lines may be a bit of a pain as you queue up to cast your vote for the next president of the United States today. But if his Diddyness can muster up the spirit, so can you! And let's see you try to do it with 10 cameras following you.

Well, perhaps his trip was a bit expedited. In fact, once Sean Combs entered the Coalition School for Social Change, his polling station in Midtown Manhattan, his visit to the voting booth probably clocked in at around eight minutes. And during those eight minutes, Diddy did what he does best: electrify the room. Sullen, drowsy would-be voters were jolted awake. Frowns and droopy eyes were quickly replaced with smiles, hugs and flash photography. Combs was cordial and friendly as many, including an 80-year-old fellow marathon-runner, struck up conversation with the entertainment titan. Read more...