Changes

Then Ohio did an emergency application to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is usually rarely granted.  In a remarkable 5-4 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, September 29, 2014, it blocked the lower federal court decisions from taking effect and allowed Ohio to shorten its early voting period from 35 to 28 days for the November 2014 election.

Then Ohio did an emergency application to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is usually rarely granted.  In a remarkable 5-4 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, September 29, 2014, it blocked the lower federal court decisions from taking effect and allowed Ohio to shorten its early voting period from 35 to 28 days for the November 2014 election.

In North Carolina, the court rejected a request by challengers to block for the November 2014 election portions of a law passed in 2013 that, among other things, limited the number of days of early voting (while guaranteeing the same number of hours of early voting as there were in 2010).  The Court of Appeals held that, even if the challengers could show they were likely to succeed on their challenges, it was too late to reinstate early voting for the November 2014 election.

In North Carolina, the court rejected a request by challengers to block for the November 2014 election portions of a law passed in 2013 that, among other things, limited the number of days of early voting (while guaranteeing the same number of hours of early voting as there were in 2010).  The Court of Appeals held that, even if the challengers could show they were likely to succeed on their challenges, it was too late to reinstate expanded early voting for the November 2014 election.

While an average person might support the concept of early voting for the convenience of the voter, not everything that "sounds good" is really good after also.  The more early voting there is, the less significant Election Day itself is.  Some studies show that early voting actually reduces overall "turnout" by voters (the percentage of people who are eligible to vote who then actually do vote).  The reduction in voter turnout is probably due to the loss in focus on Election Day.  Fewer people would be interested in the Super Bowl also if it occurred over many days, rather than one evening.

While an average person might support the concept of early voting for the convenience of the voter, not everything that "sounds good" is really good after also.  The more early voting there is, the less significant Election Day itself is.  Some studies show that early voting actually reduces overall "turnout" by voters (the percentage of people who are eligible to vote who then actually do vote).  The reduction in voter turnout is probably due to the loss in focus on Election Day.  Fewer people would be interested in the Super Bowl also if it occurred over many days, rather than one evening.