Changes

'''Early voting''' refers to extending voting over many days, and even weeks, and allow people to mail in ballots rather than show up in person on election day without having to provide a valid excuse.  Traditionally, absentee voters had to state one of several allowed reasons to vote before election day, while early voting is available to all eligible voters. Scholars consider both early voting and no-excuse absentee voting to be forms of "convenience voting",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://earlyvoting.net/research/journal-article/convenience-voting-gronke-galanes-rosenbaum-miller-toffey-2008/|title=Convenience Voting|author=Gronke, Galanes-Rosenbaum, Miller, Toffey|accessdate=October 30, 2012}}</ref> which are used by more that 30% of United States voters.

'''Early voting''' refers to extending voting over many days, and even weeks, and allow people to mail in ballots rather than show up in person on election day without having to provide a valid excuse.  Traditionally, absentee voters had to state one of several allowed reasons to vote before election day, while early voting is available to all eligible voters. Scholars consider both early voting and absentee voting to be forms of "convenience voting",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://earlyvoting.net/research/journal-article/convenience-voting-gronke-galanes-rosenbaum-miller-toffey-2008/|title=Convenience Voting|author=Gronke, Galanes-Rosenbaum, Miller, Toffey|accessdate=October 30, 2012}}</ref> which are used by more that 30% of United States voters.

Early voting has spread as [[liberals]] learned how to mobilize their electoral forces around it, something that the Republican Party has lagged in. Early voting has been adopted in many countries, including Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Thailand.  As pushed by [[Democrat]]s, many states in the United States have laws adopting forms of early voting. According to the Early Voting Center at Reed College, the following states allow early voting in 2012: North Carolina, Indiana, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Georgia, Arkansas, Idaho, Maryland, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Louisiana, Wyoming, North Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Florida, California, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Alaska, Colorado, Kansas, Nevada and Hawaii.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://reed.edu/earlyvoting/calendar/|title=Early voting calendar, 2012|accessdate=October 30, 2012}}</ref>

Early voting has spread as computer technology simplifies the task of preventing multiple votes by the same voter. Early voting has been adopted in many countries, including Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Thailand.  As pushed by [[Democrat]]s, many states in the United States have laws adopting forms of early voting. According to the Early Voting Center at Reed College, the following states allow early voting in 2012: North Carolina, Indiana, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Georgia, Arkansas, Idaho, Maryland, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Louisiana, Wyoming, North Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Florida, California, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Alaska, Colorado, Kansas, Nevada and Hawaii.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://reed.edu/earlyvoting/calendar/|title=Early voting calendar, 2012|accessdate=October 30, 2012}}</ref>

In 2008, one-third of Americans voted prior to Election Day, and that fraction continues to increase.  In the [[Mystery:Nevada Election 2010|Nevada Election 2010]], more than half the votes cast were by early voting.  Some states make the list of early voters and absentee voters available to the public or to the political campaigns.

In 2008, one-third of Americans voted prior to Election Day, and that fraction continues to increase.  In the [[Mystery:Nevada Election 2010|Nevada Election 2010]], more than half the votes cast were by early voting.  Some states make the list of early voters and absentee voters available to the public or to the political campaigns.

A state-by-state analysis is available showing the percentage of ballots cast in early voting,<ref>http://elections.gmu.edu/early_vote_2008.html</ref> but note that the percentage is growing rapidly with each election.

A state-by-state analysis is available showing the percentage of ballots cast in early voting,<ref>http://elections.gmu.edu/early_vote_2008.html</ref> but note that the percentage is growing rapidly with each election.

== Colorado ==

== Colorado ==

Virginia provides the list of people who have requested absentee ballots or have in-person absentee voted to political parties "upon request and for a reasonable fee."<ref>[https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?000+cod+24.2-710 Va. Code § 24.2-710.]</ref>  The parties then contact voters based on that data.<ref name=disclose>{{cite news|title=Campaigns pay to track absentee ballots in Virginia|first=Errin|last=Haines|work=Washington Post|date=October 27, 2012|page=B1}}</ref>

Virginia provides the list of people who have requested absentee ballots or have in-person absentee voted to political parties "upon request and for a reasonable fee."<ref>[https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?000+cod+24.2-710 Va. Code § 24.2-710.]</ref>  The parties then contact voters based on that data.<ref name=disclose>{{cite news|title=Campaigns pay to track absentee ballots in Virginia|first=Errin|last=Haines|work=Washington Post|date=October 27, 2012|page=B1}}</ref>

==Wisconsin==

==Wisconsin==

Wisconsin does not have formal early voting.  However, Wisconsin allows both mail-in and in-person absentee voting.  In-person absentee voting is held in the two weeks before each election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gab.wi.gov/elections-voting/voters/absentee|title=Absentee Voting|work=Government Accountability Board|accessdate=October 30, 2012}}</ref>

Wisconsin does not have formal early voting.  However, Wisconsin allows both mail-in and in-person absentee voting.  In-person absentee voting is held in the two weeks before each election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gab.wi.gov/elections-voting/voters/absentee|title=Absentee Voting|work=Government Accountability Board|accessdate=October 30, 2012}}</ref>