I love Election Day, because it's the only 24 hour period in politics where the bullshit basically stops. All the hype, the spin, the worn out campaign cliches promising "progress", the psychobabble about what the public wants, and the reading of the tea leaves mercifully comes to a halt - if only for a few hours - while regular people actually go out and work their will in the voting booth.

Of course, the tornado of BS will kick up again the minute the votes are counted, which is the nature of the beast. But here's something we do know: there are three races of significance today, all of which are in the national spotlight and being are viewed - fairly or not - as proxy fights between the two parties and the current occupant of the White House. Because we have an odd number of contests, today is bound to produce a  "winning side" and a "losing side." Just how strong and/or compelling that narrative is will depend on what happens today.

If the polls are any indication, it looks today will bring a Republican blowout in Virginia, something like a photo-finish in New Jersey, and it's anyone's guess what will happen in New York's 23 Congressional district where one final poll showed nearly one in five voters undecided on election eve.

Voters in New York City will also elect a Mayor today (Bloomberg is running ahead of his Democratic challenger) and residents of Maine will decide whether or not to repeal the state's recently passed law allowing gay marriage.

The polls are already open (see closing times below), so let's sit back today and enjoy the spectacle of democracy in action and find out what voters are really thinking. They'll be plenty of time after that to try and figure out what it all means.

Poll Closing Times
Virginia: 7 pm ET
New Jersey: 8 pm ET
NY-23: 9 pm ET
New York City: 9 pm ET