How Mercury Retrograde Will Affect the Election

This year’s U.S. presidential election may be déjà-vu all over again, providing a seeming flashback to the brouhaha surrounding the contest between George W. Bush and Al Gore. The cosmic connection between then and now? Messenger Mercury will be retrograde on November 6, as it was on election night 2000.

Mercury retrograde’s reputation precedes itself. Miscommunications, lost information and technology breakdowns are just some of the commonplace occurrences during this three-week time period. Not surprising, then, that the Bush/Gore election is remembered for hanging chad disputes, ballot recounts and an infamous Supreme Court case that decided the outcome.

The results of the Obama/Romney election may be even more confounding. The astrological reason being that not only does Mercury start its retrograde period this very day, but the messenger planet will be in Sagittarius. This could make truth --something this Fire sign loves -- even more elusive. Add to this that Mercury will also makes a challenging connection to smoke-and-mirrors Neptune, and it seems the only thing we can be certain of is that there will be a lot of uncertainty.

It’s probable that we won’t know who the president-to-be will be that evening, and we may not for a while. Potentially, it could take until after December 14 -- when Mercury returns to the same position that it was on November 6 -- for a winner to be declared.

Knowing that it’s a day of miscommunication and snafus, what can you do? Confirm the hours of your polling place. Make sure to bring your ID with you. If you are voting by mail, retain a receipt. And hold tight, remembering that the discovery of finally knowing who the next U.S. President is may be a very protracted journey.