Changes

'''''Early voting is a liberal gimmick that has the effect of partially disenfranchising the value of informed votes on Election Day'''''.  In 2013, states began working toward a restoration of [[Election Day]] voting by cutting back on the expansive early voting.  For example, Nebraska trimmed its period of early voting back a bit.<ref>https://www.propublica.org/article/voting-rights-by-state-map</ref>

'''''Early voting is a liberal gimmick that has the effect of partially disenfranchising the value of informed votes on Election Day'''''.  In 2013, states began working toward a restoration of [[Election Day]] voting by cutting back on the expansive early voting.  For example, Nebraska trimmed its period of early voting back a bit.<ref>https://www.propublica.org/article/voting-rights-by-state-map</ref>

{{cquote|I would prefer more educated voters than a greater increase in the number of voters. If you don't believe this is an effort to maximize Democratic votes pure and simple, then you are not a realist. This is a partisan stunt and I hope it can be stopped.}}

{{cquote|I would prefer more educated voters than a greater increase in the number of voters. If you don't believe this is an effort to maximize Democratic votes pure and simple, then you are not a realist. This is a partisan stunt and I hope it can be stopped.}}

So observed Georgia legislator Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody), explaining his opposition to having early voting on Sunday at a mall "dominated by African American shoppers."<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/millar.ga/posts/718236501557052?comment_id=718266534887382&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22%7D]</ref>.

So observed Georgia legislator Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody), explaining his opposition to having early voting on Sunday at a mall "dominated by African American shoppers.".<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/millar.ga/posts/718236501557052?comment_id=718266534887382&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22%7D]</ref>

Mail-in voting, which is the biggest type of early voting, is universal in eight states (see below). Two additional states allow mail-in voting at the option of each county: Nebraska and North Dakota.  Ten states authorize specific mail-in voting for certain minor elections:  Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming.

Mail-in voting, which is the biggest type of early voting, is universal in eight states (see below). Two additional states allow mail-in voting at the option of each county: Nebraska and North Dakota.  Ten states authorize specific mail-in voting for certain minor elections:  Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming.

While early voting plainly undermines the notion of a uniform [[Election Day]], various arguments are used, typically by Democrats, to advocate its adoption by state legislatures.  One argument is that early voting increases overall turnout.  Another argument used in [[Ohio]] is that Ohio voters should not have to wait in line until 4:00 a.m. the following morning to cast a ballot in a presidential election, as happened in 2004.<ref>http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2004-11-17-early-voting_x.htm</ref>  Of course, extra poll workers, voting machines, and booths could be added for Election Day to address this concern.  Some, including Ohio's Cuyahoga County, argue that early voting can save money in this regard, as the same machines and equipment that would otherwise be idle can be used, avoiding the need to purchase new and expensive election equipment.  But political science professor Todd Eberly argues that early voting adds millions of dollars in expense while '''''lowering''''' overall voter turnout:<ref>http://marylandreporter.com/2012/09/10/early-voting-costs-counties-2-6m-but-hasnt-increased-turnout-yet/</ref>

While early voting plainly undermines the notion of a uniform [[Election Day]], various arguments are used, typically by Democrats, to advocate its adoption by state legislatures.  One argument is that early voting increases overall turnout.  Another argument used in [[Ohio]] is that Ohio voters should not have to wait in line until 4:00 a.m. the following morning to cast a ballot in a presidential election, as happened in 2004.<ref>http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2004-11-17-early-voting_x.htm</ref>  Of course, extra poll workers, voting machines, and booths could be added for Election Day to address this concern.  Some, including Ohio's Cuyahoga County, argue that early voting can save money in this regard, as the same machines and equipment that would otherwise be idle can be used, avoiding the need to purchase new and expensive election equipment.  But political science professor Todd Eberly argues that early voting adds millions of dollars in expense while '''''lowering''''' overall voter turnout:<ref>http://marylandreporter.com/2012/09/10/early-voting-costs-counties-2-6m-but-hasnt-increased-turnout-yet/</ref>

{{cquote|Early voting is actually a waste of taxpayer money that does not boost turnout.  In a study of the 2008 election, researchers at the University of Wisconsin actually found that early voting results in lower turnout – not higher. Specifically they found that though more than 30 percent of votes cast in the 2008 presidential race arrived before Election Day, the study determined early voting actually depressed turnout in a typical county by 3 percentage points.}}

{{cquote|Early voting is actually a waste of taxpayer money that does not boost turnout.  In a study of the 2008 election, researchers at the University of Wisconsin actually found that early voting results in lower turnout – not higher. Specifically they found that though more than 30 percent of votes cast in the 2008 presidential race arrived before Election Day, the study determined early voting actually depressed turnout in a typical county by 3 percentage points.}}

In a 1996 study of early voting turnout in Tennessee elections in 1994, Lilliard E. Richardson, Jr. and Grant W. Neely said that early voting could increase overall turnout.<ref>L.E. Richardson, Jr. and G.E. Neely.  "The impact of early voting on turnout: The 1994 elections in Tennessee." ''State & Local Government Review'' '''28'''(3):173-79 (1996)</ref>

In a 1996 study of early voting turnout in Tennessee elections in 1994, Lilliard E. Richardson Jr. and Grant W. Neely said that early voting could increase overall turnout.<ref>L.E. Richardson, Jr. and G.E. Neely.  "The impact of early voting on turnout: The 1994 elections in Tennessee." ''State & Local Government Review'' '''28'''(3):173-79 (1996)</ref>

In a 2007 paper, Paul Gronke, Eva Galanes-Rosenbaum, and Peter A. Miller (all affiliated with Reed College) found that early voting improves the procedural integrity of elections and results in a modest increase in overall turnout.  The authors nevertheless conclude "It is no longer a question of whether early voting is a smart reform; the question now is what sort of early voting to allow and how to adjust to its impact."<ref>P. Gronke, E. Galanes-Rosenbaum, and P.A. Miller. "Early voting and turnout." PS-WASHINGTON '''40'''(4):639 (2007).</ref>

In a 2007 paper, Paul Gronke, Eva Galanes-Rosenbaum, and Peter A. Miller (all affiliated with Reed College) found that early voting improves the procedural integrity of elections and results in a modest increase in overall turnout.  The authors nevertheless conclude "It is no longer a question of whether early voting is a smart reform; the question now is what sort of early voting to allow and how to adjust to its impact."<ref>P. Gronke, E. Galanes-Rosenbaum, and P.A. Miller. "Early voting and turnout." PS-WASHINGTON '''40'''(4):639 (2007).</ref>