For Americans in Europe, election parties this week are not likely to get really exciting until long after midnight: It will be 5 a.m. Wednesday in most of continental Europe when the polls finally close in California, Washington and Oregon.

No matter: people are already planning to stay up. Sold out election parties in Berlin, for example, are keeping their doors open and the drinks flowing until the results are announced. Some are installing tents outside with heaters to entertain the overflow they are expecting.

That is because there is there is unprecedented interest in this particular election, one that see a historic choice between Democrat Barack Obama, and John McCain, the Republican contender. Obama visited Berlin in the summer drawing a crowd of 200,00. And European media, like their counterparts in the world, has closely followed the race. Most observers say, they have never seen this level of interest from both Americans abroad and locals before.

"It’s crazy," said a German involved with transatlantic issues. "It’s like everyone is caught up in a frenzy, almost a fever."

Whichever candidate they prefer, many American nationals abroad seem to welcome the prospect of change from the administration of President George W. Bush - he will leave office with both the Iraq War and the global financial crisis unresolved.

"It’s time for morning in America," said one frustrated American who lives in France. "We need a change."

Making up one's mind can be easier than actually voting. Because of bureaucratic obstacles, most American nationals abroad who vote have tried to cast their ballots well in advance, taking advantage of absentee voting laws in their home states.

The US embassy in Berlin estimates that 100,000 US nationals living in Germany qualify to vote.

Steve Chismar, an American journalist living in the German city of Munich, described the hassle, beginning with the hour he spent online trying to find the right place to download the necessary documents.

"In a democracy, which the United States is supposed to be, it ought to be easy to vote," he said, complaining that the US consulate in the city had not been able to help him.

"When I ring there, I only speak to computers," said Chismar, who came to Germany as a windsurfing instructor and who favors Obama.

Postal votes are counted later than ballots cast in person. Chismar says his may not arrive in the United States until after the result is already known. But no matter: every vote counts. One problem is that registration and voting deadlines vary among the 50 states. Another is some states, like Maryland, require one fills out the ballot with a number two pencil. Where in Europe does one get those?                                                                 Michael Ricks, chairman of Republicans Abroad in Munich, has seen the whole gamut of rules as he helps other McCain voters.

"The easiest thing would be to get on a plane and go home to vote," he joked. Ricks' own vote was posted home to Oregon weeks ago.

Some people have followed his advice. One couple flew home from India after failing to receive their overseas ballot, the New York Times reported over the weekend.

Obamamania

In Berlin, the local branch of Democrats Abroad is confident it will not be McCain making a victory speech after the American television networks begin to offer the first predictions.

The Democrats have rented a city movie theatre for celebrations and the slogan for the party is, "Watch the Sunrise with Us."

Berlin-based comedian entertainer Gayle Tufts says she never hesitated.

"I voted Obama," she said. "I'm a life-long Democrat."

The US embassy in the city will not be in party mode Tuesday.

"Obviously each of us has got a personal opinion," said embassy media spokesman Bruce Armstrong. "But at work, and in public, we are strictly non-political." The diplomats are to attend a couple of star-studded Berlin parties with handpicked German guests Tuesday evening as the last votes are being cast. Those events will be broadcast live by German TV networks.

One party, on Unter den Linden, just across from the embassy, will be held in the palatial headquarters of Germany's Bertelsmann Foundation. The colors of the American flag will be projected on the building and mock voting papers will be handed out to guests.

Another similar event, to be broadcast by ZDF public television in Germany, will play out in the luxurious Berlin offices of the German phone conglomerate Deutsche Telekom, owner of the T-Mobile wireless network in the United States.

"On Nov. 5, we are all Americans," said Stefan B., a German planning to attend the festivities. "It means a lot to us, too."

JB/Nicole Gruen/Ulrike von Leszczynski/DPA/Expatica