Let the fun begin.

Election returns have begun to filter in, and the networks have begun to predict winners for the presidential contest in non-swing states and in some Senate competitions. DCist on election TV, Senate and House races to watch, and when the polls close across the nation in Eastern Time

Here’s some handy links for results: W. Post, Yahoo Election, CNN, NY Times, BBC News “Vote USA 2004”, DemocraticUnderground.com. To keep your eye on close House races, the DCCC’s Resultron is useful.

Reuters thinks early numbers showing Kerry up posted on blogs put them “on center stage”.

In related news, Wonkette (who ran early poll data like Drudge and Kos) was forced to temporarily re-design her site to accommodate a crush of election-related traffic, her counter registering almost 300,000 hits today at 8 p.m.

Photo shot by DCist photographer Grayson Shepard earlier this evening.

Update 8:35 p.m. – A reader writes “Penn Ave on the hill has been invaded by the bow tie set … it is crazy down there. Lines longer than new years eve … Hawn n Dove, Politiki, Capitol Lounge… even Tunnicliffs was very crazy, not a seat in the house”
Update 8:52 p.m. A group calling themselves the Beyond Voting Coalition is planning protests in 30 cities tomorrow, including D.C.:

Nov. 2 – converge at Lafayette Park at 9pm to demand that the winner of the election end the war and occupation of Iraq.
Nov. 3 – converge at Dupont Circle at 8am for an unpermitted march with loads of noise because “no matter who wins the system is rotten.”
Nov. 3 – converge at Lafayette Park at 6pm to speak out against the war and if necessary, to speak out against a stolen election.
Nov. 6 – (saturday) meet at noon at Dupont Circle, march on White House, (or Kerry’s home) to demand the end of the occupation of Iraq.