Learn me Something

[hedgeflower]

I don't live in a state that allows early voting.

I don't really understand early voting and why it is necessary.

Is early voting the same as sending in an absentee ballot?

I'm not trying to sound dense I just don't understand the reasoning behind 1/10 of the country getting to vote early.

Comments

[z_mom]

Ours actually sets up polling booths at 4 locations throughout the county, and then the individual smaller precincts are just open on Nov. 4th. You can vote for 2 full weeks ahead of time for no reason other than you want to avoid standing in lines, etc. You fill out a sheet with your info and then go through the line like normal. It is recorded (now electronically) in our county, just as if you had voted on the 4th.

[baldomom]

Yeah, what J. said.

I voted early because I'm Baldo Patrol on election day, and my office is almost over the county line from my polling precinct. I'd have to wait at the polls after dinnertime for a couple of hours with a cranky kid.

I also think that it's supposed to ease traffic and wear and tear on the election judges.

[maureenfh]

What they said. It improves voter turnout because anyone who can't/won't wait in line can do it early to avoid that, or anyone who has a schedule that might not accommodate that particular Tuesday in November can do it.

I've considered doing it, because in case lines are long even at the weird times I tend to go, I'll have to suffer through with 2 whiny kids. That alone would deter some people, although not me. Here in Ga, we can actually do absentee ballots without any reason, so dh did that, since he has an hour commute each way, and doesn't want to stand in line for hours at the peak times.

[starflower5]

This is the first time I've lived somewhere that allows early voting, and it's strange to me as well!

I think the general idea is that an awful lot of people don't have the time to stand in line for 2-6 hours on election day, so they're being given the option of coming in to vote at their own leisure before the actual election. That was me. The polling places aren't anywhere near as crowded right now as they will be on election day. It was nice to only wait 10-20 minutes instead of HOURS. Fewer voters will be walking out in frustration, and fewer polling locations will be overwhelmed and chaotic.

It also means that a significant percentage of voters won't be swayed by any October Surprises, because their vote has already been cast.

The flip side to early voting is that the candidates can clearly tally the numbers for which states they are most likely to lag behind, and step up the campaigning for the rest of the voters in those states.