Campaign 2012: Happiness Is a Big Red Button

当美国选民最终投出自己的一票后，漫长的2012年竞选旅程也进入了尾声。

图中显示的这个图像是全美千百万选民在使用电子投票机时最后都会看到的一个大同小异的屏幕。

这不仅意味着选民个人即将完成投票程序，而且意味着美国历史上历时最长、耗资最高的一场选举即将结束。

11月7日，插在庭院中的选举标牌将被取下，竞选办公室将会关闭，选民们总算不再接到民意调查员和政治助选人员打来的电话了。而且，全美家家户户的电视机又开始播放推销产品的广告了，不再播放宣传候选人的广告。

For millions of voters across the United States, this image or one very much like it is the last screen choice offered in electronic voting.

It not only marks the end of the voting process for an individual, but also signals the end of one of the longest and most expensive election cycles in U.S. history.

On November 7, yard signs will come down, campaign offices will be closed, and the telephone calls from pollsters and political operatives will finally cease. And, in living rooms across the country, television advertisements will be back to selling products instead of promoting candidates.