The final countdown to this year’s highly anticipated election is finally here and what better way to tally up the points than with a small party or a major celebration? GW is well-known for its proximity to the White House and its politically driven students, so there will be many opportunities for making this election night one to remember.

The College Democrats and College Republicans are the primary hosts of on-campus election night events. Democratic and Republican watch parties will both be held in the Marvin Center. The CDs’ party starts at 5 p.m. in the Continental Ballroom and the CRs start theirs at 6 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom.

Program Board will also be having its own party in Marvin Center’s Columbian Square.

Junior Swetha Ramaswamy, co-chair of political affairs for PB, said the party is for “students who aren’t as intense about watching elections and want to have fun with it” or those who need a break.

“If watching gets too stressful,” she said.

At the event, students will be able to participate in politically themed games such as a red, white and blue balloon dartboard, pin the tail on the donkey or elephant and patriotically themed spin art. Free food will be available, ranging from corporate sponsors like Ben & Jerry’s to dining hall cuisine. As a climax to the evening, board members from the CDs and CRs will pie each other in the face as swing-state results are reported.

There are also many opportunities to party off campus on election night.

Because D.C. is home to the nation’s politics, a quiet night of vote tallying shouldn’t be expected. One party for people over 21 is “Ballot 4 Beer,” which has been called D.C.’s “biggest roaming election party” because it is held at four different bars throughout the city. Sponsored in part by Miller Lite, the event promises to make election night one to remember, or not, depending on how the night goes.

For those who aren’t of drinking age, but would like an insider’s view of election night, there is 2008 Election Day Private Viewing, which is hosted by TeamBBC at The Park, located at 920 14th St. Five-dollar cocktails and entrees will be available from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

And though there will be plenty of options on and off campus, some students prefer to stick to their dorm rooms.

Sophomore Redgie Collins already has a party in mind.

“My friends are having people over to JBKO and we’re going to dress up. I’m probably going to go as Sarah Palin,” Collins said. “We’ll get excited when Wolf Blitzer comes on and we’ll switch between Fox News and others to see the differences in coverage.”