After nearly two years of rallies, phones calls, yard signs and campaign buttons, Election Day is finally here.

Hoping to increase voter turnout on campus and throughout the city, University of Wisconsin students have been campaigning for both Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate John McCain, making one last push for their candidates.

UW Students for Obama and UW College Democrats spent the morning going door-to-door dropping off election material to voters on campus and held a late night rally in Library Mall for some last minute campaigning.

Claire Rydell, UW College Democrats chair, said student Obama supporters gathered last night to make sure no one woke up today without knowing it was Election Day.

“We need to make sure students get to the polls and remember it’s Tuesday, Nov. 4, and they can register and vote at the polls,” Rydell said.

Despite Obama’s lead in state and national polls, Rydell still has a lot of work to do before the polls close today.

Student McCain supporters also set up in Library Mall today, and will continue to spread McCain’s message to help students find their polling locations.

“We have had a major ‘Get Out The Vote’ initiative and have obliterated goals in contacting people to show them how Sen. McCain is the right choice for Wisconsin and the country,” said Mark Bednar, co-chair for UW Students for McCain.

College Republicans and UW Students for McCain will also both be working around Madison to get citizens to vote by making phone calls, knocking on doors and offering assistance in getting to the polls.

The Republican Party of Wisconsin is also working across Wisconsin from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to “Get Out The Vote,” Communications Director Kirsten Kukowski said.

The 18 volunteer offices across the state, as well as county party offices and satellite locations, have been full of volunteers throughout the last few days, she added.

Kukowski said volunteers have been enthusiastic about the campaign and will continue making phone calls and knocking on doors today.

“It’s going to matter; it’s going to make a difference,” Kukowski said. “We’re hitting our stride at the right time and we’re feeling good about it.”

On a state level, the Obama campaign has filled more than 70,000 volunteer shifts at 200 volunteer locations across the state and will be knocking on doors and having “face-to-face conversations to make sure people know where to vote,” said Matthew Lehrich, deputy communications director for Obama’s Wisconsin campaign.

Lehrich added campaign volunteers have worked hard throughout the campaign to elect Obama today.

“By virtue of that hard work, and by talking about Sen. Obama’s plans to turn this economy around, we have put ourselves in a very strong position to win,” Lehrich said. “But we are not taking anything for granted.”

And for the candidates themselves?

McCain campaigned in seven states Monday and will cast his ballot this morning in his home state of Arizona. Obama held rallies in Florida, North Carolina and Virginia Monday and is expected in his home state of Illinois today.

Follow badgerherald.com throughout the day for election results and look for the Nov. 5 issue of The Badger Herald for full results and special reports.