US elections in Slovenia

The US election may have happened half a world away, but for many Slovenians, Barack Obama’s victory hit close to home.

It looked like any other polling place. The walls were adorned with American flags, poll workers handed out official-looking ballots, and voters cast votes for their chosen candidate in realistic voting booths. This election, however, took place in Ljubljana and most of the voters weren’t US citizens: The majority were high-profile Slovenians – actors, directors, writers -- determined to let their voice be heard. It was all a high-profile mock election, an artistic performance of sorts – and a culmination of Slovenia’s intense public interest in the election.

Hours before American voters headed to the polls, these mock voters gave Obama an early landslide victory: He received 96 votes, compared to just ten for McCain. The final results on the other side of the Atlantic were somewhat closer, but as Slovenia slept early on November 5, the candidate who had captured Europe’s imagination and good will emerged as the President-elect by a wide margin.