Difference between revisions of "Early voting"

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'''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 excuseTraditionally, 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.
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'''Early voting''', better described as "political-machine voting," refers to extending voting over many days or weeks, without safeguards against voter fraud.  '''''It is a liberal gimmick that has the effect of partially disenfranchising the value of informed votes on Election Day'''''In 2013, states began working towards 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>http://www.propublica.org/article/voting-rights-by-state-map</ref>
  
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>
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{{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>
  
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.
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Early voting increases taxpayer expenses by millions of dollars but does not increase turnoutDoug Preisse, a Republican member of the Franklin County Board of Elections, described early voting as "contort[ing] the voting process to accommodate the urban — read African-American — voter-turnout machine."<ref>[http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/08/19/fight-over-poll-hours-isnt-just-political.html]</ref> "Early voting, in a sense, is like having my students evaluate my course halfway through the first class," said Professor Matt Streb, who also observed that early voting does not increase overall voter turnout.<ref>http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20121111/news/711119900/</ref> 
  
Most states allow early voting in some form, but the percentage of votes cast by early voting varies from 100% to just a few percent.
+
Traditionally, absentee voters had to state one of several allowed reasons to vote before election day, while early voting permits all eligible voters to cast ballots that are not fully informed, prior to Election Day.<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 Democrats realize that the uninformed votes give them a comparative advantage.  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>  Liberal-leaning foreign nations have also adopted some form of early voting, such as Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Thailand. 
 +
 
 +
In 2008, one-third of Americans voted prior to Election Day, and that fraction increased to 40% or so in 2012.  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.  By contrast, all states make the list of voters available after an election. 
 +
 
 +
The [[Democrat Party]] pushes hard for early voting.  A January 2014 report by the President [[Obama]]'s Commission on Election Administration stated, "In order to limit congestion on Election Day and to respond to the demand for greater opportunities to vote beyond the traditional Election Day polling place, states that have not already done so should expand alternative ways of voting, such as mail balloting and in-person early voting."<ref>[http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/pcea-final-report.pdf The American Voting Experience: Report and Recommendations of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration], p. 3</ref>  The report further described a "bipartisan consensus of election administrators in favor of voting before Election Day".<ref>[http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/pcea-final-report.pdf The American Voting Experience: Report and Recommendations of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration], p. 57</ref>
  
 
The convenience voting data for 2010 in the [[swing state]]s for the [[Presidential Election 2012]] is as follows, with bolding for the States which do not allow no-excuse early voting.
 
The convenience voting data for 2010 in the [[swing state]]s for the [[Presidential Election 2012]] is as follows, with bolding for the States which do not allow no-excuse early voting.
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|Ohio
 
|Ohio
 
|18
 
|18
|25%
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|25% (increased to nearly 40% in 2012)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|'''Virginia
 
|'''Virginia
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|}
 
|}
 
==Possible impacts==
 
==Possible impacts==
There are two major objections to early voting.  First, it facilitates voter intimidation, particularly by unions and large employers that try to increase turnout by their people.<ref>"Executives at the [[casino]] giant Harrah's pushed company employees to vote early in an all-out effort to help the [[Harry Reid]] campaign, according to internal emails obtained by Battle ‘10." [http://nation.foxnews.com/harry-reid/2010/11/02/hot-air-did-harrahs-casino-pressure-employees-vote-reid#ixzz2AYEDHlaD]</ref>  Second, it increases the potential for [[voter fraud]], particularly in the absence of protections that safeguard the integrity of physical votes.<ref>See, e.g., "Early Voting Fraud," ''National Review'' [http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/251345/early-voting-fraud-deroy-murdock].</ref>  Some critics claim early voting establishes a mechanism where union bosses and the Democratic machine can harass Americans until they vote.  This risks infringement on the right '''''not''''' to vote.
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There are two major objections to early voting.  First, it facilitates voter intimidation, particularly by unions and large employers that try to increase turnout by their people.<ref>"Executives at the [[casino]] giant Harrah's pushed company employees to vote early in an all-out effort to help the [[Harry Reid]] campaign, according to internal emails obtained by Battle ‘10." [http://nation.foxnews.com/harry-reid/2010/11/02/hot-air-did-harrahs-casino-pressure-employees-vote-reid#ixzz2AYEDHlaD]</ref>  Scholars have noted that early voting, vote-by-mail and similar schemes eliminate the secret ballot—which is essential to preserving electoral integrity.  Second, it increases the potential for [[voter fraud]], particularly in the absence of protections that safeguard the integrity of physical votes.<ref>See, e.g., "Early Voting Fraud," ''National Review'' [http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/251345/early-voting-fraud-deroy-murdock].</ref>  Some critics claim early voting establishes a mechanism where union bosses and the Democratic machine can harass Americans until they vote.  This risks infringement on the right '''''not''''' to vote.
 
+
  
 
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 am 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 am 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>
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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.
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 +
Some people argue that early voting helps one political party over the other, but the impact of early voting depends on the circumstances of each particular election.  Early voting has drawn support from both Republicans and Democrats.
  
 
== Colorado ==
 
== Colorado ==
  
 
In [[Colorado]] in "2008, Democrats had about a 25,000-ballot advantage over Republicans in early voting. But Republican turnout zoomed past Democrats' on Election Day, and more Republicans than Democrats ultimately voted in 2008."<ref>http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_16495705</ref>  In 2010, there were about 1,638,000 votes cast for the [[U.S. Senate]] seat from [[Colorado]], but well over 1 million people participated in early voting.<ref>http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/article_322cccba-e3e1-11df-9a7b-001cc4c03286.html</ref>
 
In [[Colorado]] in "2008, Democrats had about a 25,000-ballot advantage over Republicans in early voting. But Republican turnout zoomed past Democrats' on Election Day, and more Republicans than Democrats ultimately voted in 2008."<ref>http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_16495705</ref>  In 2010, there were about 1,638,000 votes cast for the [[U.S. Senate]] seat from [[Colorado]], but well over 1 million people participated in early voting.<ref>http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/article_322cccba-e3e1-11df-9a7b-001cc4c03286.html</ref>
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==Maryland==
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[[Maryland]] voters approved a constitutional amendment in November 2008 to allow early voting starting with the primary elections in 2010.  Maryland now offers both early voting in person and absentee voting by mail.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.state.md.us/voting/early_voting.html |title=Early Voting |publisher=Elections.state.md.us |date= |accessdate=November 14, 2012}}</ref>
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 +
In the 2012 General Election, 430,573 early votes were cast in Maryland. Of these early votes, 13.9% of registered Democratic voters and 9.3% of registered Republican voters voted early.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.state.md.us/press_room/2012_stats_general/evpg12/statewide.pdf|format=PDF|title=Unofficial Early Vote Turnout (Statewide)|accessdate=November 14, 2012}}</ref>
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== Virginia==
 
== Virginia==
 
Virginia does not have formal early voting.  However, Virginia provides for both mail-in and in-person absentee voting.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2012/10/inperson-absentee-voting-starts-today-va|title=In-person absentee voting scheduled today in Va.|first=Julian|last=Walker|work=The Virginian-Pilot|date=October 27, 2012|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref> To vote absentee, the voter must fill out an affidavit stating that one of several reasons for absentee voting applies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/AbsenteeVoting.html|title=Absentee Voting|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref>  In contrast, in early voting states, any voter can vote before election day without stating a reason.
 
Virginia does not have formal early voting.  However, Virginia provides for both mail-in and in-person absentee voting.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2012/10/inperson-absentee-voting-starts-today-va|title=In-person absentee voting scheduled today in Va.|first=Julian|last=Walker|work=The Virginian-Pilot|date=October 27, 2012|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref> To vote absentee, the voter must fill out an affidavit stating that one of several reasons for absentee voting applies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/AbsenteeVoting.html|title=Absentee Voting|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref>  In contrast, in early voting states, any voter can vote before election day without stating a reason.
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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>
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 +
In November 2012, liberal, [[Planned Parenthood]]-endorsed<ref>http://www.janethowell.com/content/endorsements</ref> [[Democrat]] State Senator Janet Howell renewed her call for Virginia to adopt early voting after a very small percentage voters had to stand in line for hours in the 2012 General election.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/long-lines-reignite-push-for-early-voting-in-virginia/article/2513294#.UKN4aIU5V4s|title=Long lines reignite push for early voting in Virginia|date=November 12, 2012|work=Washington Examiner|accessdate=November 14, 2012|first=Steve|last=Contorno}}</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>
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In North Carolina, the list of absentee voters is available online without any charge.<ref name=disclose/>  Iowa authorized in-person absentee voting starting 40 days before a primary or general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/absenteeinperson.html|title=Absentee Voting in Person|accessdate=October 30, 2012|work=Iowa Secretary of State}}</ref> Iowa charges for the absentee voter list on a per voter basis.<ref name=disclose/>
 
In North Carolina, the list of absentee voters is available online without any charge.<ref name=disclose/>  Iowa authorized in-person absentee voting starting 40 days before a primary or general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/absenteeinperson.html|title=Absentee Voting in Person|accessdate=October 30, 2012|work=Iowa Secretary of State}}</ref> Iowa charges for the absentee voter list on a per voter basis.<ref name=disclose/>
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==Voting by mail==
 +
Oregon and Washington use mail voting for all voters.  This scheme allows voters to cast their votes in advance of election day. In 1998, [[Oregon]] voters passed an initiative requiring that all elections be conducted by mail. Voters may also drop their ballots off at a county-designated official drop site.
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 +
In 2011, Washington passed a law requiring all counties to conduct vote-by-mail elections.<ref>{{cite news
 +
|url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2011/04/05/vote-by-mail-is-now-the-law-in-washington/
 +
|title=Vote-by-mail is now the law in Washington|date=April 5, 2011
 +
|publisher=seattlepi.com|accessdate=November 15, 2012
 +
|first=Chris|last=Grygiel}}</ref> Local governments in Washington had the option to do so since 1987, and statewide elections had permitted it since 1993.<ref>{{cite news|title= Vote-by-mail gets new look in wake of low-voter turnout|work=The Seattle Times|date=May 25, 1990|author=Keith Ervin
 +
}}</ref><ref name=STimes09>{{cite news
 +
|title=First big all-mail election results posted smoothly - VOTE BY MAIL
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|work=The Seattle Times|date=August 19, 2009|first=Nicole|last=Tsong
 +
}}</ref> In the Washington system, ballots must be [[postmark]]ed by election day, so complete results are delayed by several days.<ref name=STimes09/>
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Other states allow no-excuse absentee voting by mail.
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== References ==
 
== References ==
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== External links ==
 
== External links ==
*http://www.uakron.edu/bliss/research/archives/2010/EarlyVotingReport.pdf -- A study of early voting in Ohio
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*http://www.uakron.edu/bliss/research/archives/2010/EarlyVotingReport.pdf—A study of early voting in Ohio
  
[[category:politics]]
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[[Category:Politics]]

Revision as of 11:32, August 8, 2018

Early voting, better described as "political-machine voting," refers to extending voting over many days or weeks, without safeguards against voter fraud. It is a liberal gimmick that has the effect of partially disenfranchising the value of informed votes on Election Day. In 2013, states began working towards 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.[1]


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."[2]

Early voting increases taxpayer expenses by millions of dollars but does not increase turnout. Doug Preisse, a Republican member of the Franklin County Board of Elections, described early voting as "contort[ing] the voting process to accommodate the urban — read African-American — voter-turnout machine."[3] "Early voting, in a sense, is like having my students evaluate my course halfway through the first class," said Professor Matt Streb, who also observed that early voting does not increase overall voter turnout.[4]

Traditionally, absentee voters had to state one of several allowed reasons to vote before election day, while early voting permits all eligible voters to cast ballots that are not fully informed, prior to Election Day.[5] which are used by more that 30% of United States voters.

Early voting has spread as Democrats realize that the uninformed votes give them a comparative advantage. As pushed by Democrats, 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.[6] Liberal-leaning foreign nations have also adopted some form of early voting, such as Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Thailand.

In 2008, one-third of Americans voted prior to Election Day, and that fraction increased to 40% or so in 2012. In the 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. By contrast, all states make the list of voters available after an election.

The Democrat Party pushes hard for early voting. A January 2014 report by the President Obama's Commission on Election Administration stated, "In order to limit congestion on Election Day and to respond to the demand for greater opportunities to vote beyond the traditional Election Day polling place, states that have not already done so should expand alternative ways of voting, such as mail balloting and in-person early voting."[7] The report further described a "bipartisan consensus of election administrators in favor of voting before Election Day".[8]

The convenience voting data for 2010 in the swing states for the Presidential Election 2012 is as follows, with bolding for the States which do not allow no-excuse early voting.

State # Electoral College votes in 2012 Percentage that voted early or absentee in 2010
Nevada 6 65%
Colorado 9 70%
Wisconsin 10 10%
Iowa 6 33%
New Hampshire 4 7%
North Carolina 15 45%
Ohio 18 25% (increased to nearly 40% in 2012)
Virginia 13 7%
Florida 29 42.5%

Possible impacts

There are two major objections to early voting. First, it facilitates voter intimidation, particularly by unions and large employers that try to increase turnout by their people.[9] Scholars have noted that early voting, vote-by-mail and similar schemes eliminate the secret ballot—which is essential to preserving electoral integrity. Second, it increases the potential for voter fraud, particularly in the absence of protections that safeguard the integrity of physical votes.[10] Some critics claim early voting establishes a mechanism where union bosses and the Democratic machine can harass Americans until they vote. This risks infringement on the right not to vote.

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 am the following morning to cast a ballot in a presidential election, as happened in 2004.[11] 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:[12]

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.[13]

In a 2007 paper, Paul Gronke, Eva Galanes-Rosenbuam, 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."[14]

A state-by-state analysis is available showing the percentage of ballots cast in early voting,[15] but note that the percentage is growing rapidly with each election.

Some people argue that early voting helps one political party over the other, but the impact of early voting depends on the circumstances of each particular election. Early voting has drawn support from both Republicans and Democrats.

Colorado

In Colorado in "2008, Democrats had about a 25,000-ballot advantage over Republicans in early voting. But Republican turnout zoomed past Democrats' on Election Day, and more Republicans than Democrats ultimately voted in 2008."[16] In 2010, there were about 1,638,000 votes cast for the U.S. Senate seat from Colorado, but well over 1 million people participated in early voting.[17]

Maryland

Maryland voters approved a constitutional amendment in November 2008 to allow early voting starting with the primary elections in 2010. Maryland now offers both early voting in person and absentee voting by mail.[18]

In the 2012 General Election, 430,573 early votes were cast in Maryland. Of these early votes, 13.9% of registered Democratic voters and 9.3% of registered Republican voters voted early.[19]

Virginia

Virginia does not have formal early voting. However, Virginia provides for both mail-in and in-person absentee voting.[20] To vote absentee, the voter must fill out an affidavit stating that one of several reasons for absentee voting applies.[21] In contrast, in early voting states, any voter can vote before election day without stating a reason.

The absentee voting period begins 45 days before election day.[22] In response to Hurricane Sandy reducing in-person absentee voting opportunities before the 2012 election, on October 28, 2012, Republican Governor Robert McDonnell announced that he was requesting the State Board of Elections to expand the number of in-person absentee voting hours between the end of the storm and the election day.[23]

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."[24] The parties then contact voters based on that data.[25]

In November 2012, liberal, Planned Parenthood-endorsed[26] Democrat State Senator Janet Howell renewed her call for Virginia to adopt early voting after a very small percentage voters had to stand in line for hours in the 2012 General election.[27]

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.[28]

Other states

New Hampshire and Pennsylvania do not offer early voting.[29]

In North Carolina, the list of absentee voters is available online without any charge.[25] Iowa authorized in-person absentee voting starting 40 days before a primary or general election.[30] Iowa charges for the absentee voter list on a per voter basis.[25]

Voting by mail

Oregon and Washington use mail voting for all voters. This scheme allows voters to cast their votes in advance of election day. In 1998, Oregon voters passed an initiative requiring that all elections be conducted by mail. Voters may also drop their ballots off at a county-designated official drop site.

In 2011, Washington passed a law requiring all counties to conduct vote-by-mail elections.[31] Local governments in Washington had the option to do so since 1987, and statewide elections had permitted it since 1993.[32][33] In the Washington system, ballots must be postmarked by election day, so complete results are delayed by several days.[33]

Other states allow no-excuse absentee voting by mail.


References

  1. http://www.propublica.org/article/voting-rights-by-state-map
  2. [1]
  3. [2]
  4. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20121111/news/711119900/
  5. Gronke, Galanes-Rosenbaum, Miller, Toffey. Convenience Voting. Retrieved on October 30, 2012.
  6. Early voting calendar, 2012. Retrieved on October 30, 2012.
  7. The American Voting Experience: Report and Recommendations of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration, p. 3
  8. The American Voting Experience: Report and Recommendations of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration, p. 57
  9. "Executives at the casino giant Harrah's pushed company employees to vote early in an all-out effort to help the Harry Reid campaign, according to internal emails obtained by Battle ‘10." [3]
  10. See, e.g., "Early Voting Fraud," National Review [4].
  11. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2004-11-17-early-voting_x.htm
  12. http://marylandreporter.com/2012/09/10/early-voting-costs-counties-2-6m-but-hasnt-increased-turnout-yet/
  13. 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)
  14. P. Gronke, E. Galanes-Rosenbaum, and P.A. Miller. "Early voting and turnout." PS-WASHINGTON 40(4):639 (2007).
  15. http://elections.gmu.edu/early_vote_2008.html
  16. http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_16495705
  17. http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/article_322cccba-e3e1-11df-9a7b-001cc4c03286.html
  18. Early Voting. Elections.state.md.us. Retrieved on November 14, 2012.
  19. Unofficial Early Vote Turnout (Statewide) (PDF). Retrieved on November 14, 2012.
  20. Walker, Julian. "In-person absentee voting scheduled today in Va.", The Virginian-Pilot, October 27, 2012. Retrieved on October 27, 2012. 
  21. Absentee Voting. Retrieved on October 27, 2012.
  22. Walker, Julian. "Early voting period in Virginia has begun", The Virginian-Pilot, September 30, 2012. Retrieved on October 27, 2012. 
  23. Wilson, Todd. "McDonnell urges caution and preparation; will expand hours for absentee voting", Hampton Roads Daily Press, October 28, 2012. Retrieved on October 30, 2012. 
  24. Va. Code § 24.2-710.
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 Haines, Errin. "Campaigns pay to track absentee ballots in Virginia", Washington Post, October 27, 2012, p. B1. 
  26. http://www.janethowell.com/content/endorsements
  27. Contorno, Steve. "Long lines reignite push for early voting in Virginia", Washington Examiner, November 12, 2012. Retrieved on November 14, 2012. 
  28. Absentee Voting. Government Accountability Board. Retrieved on October 30, 2012.
  29. "How Sandy Affects Early Voting in Swing States", ABC News, October 29, 2012. Retrieved on October 30, 2012. 
  30. Absentee Voting in Person. Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved on October 30, 2012.
  31. Grygiel, Chris. "Vote-by-mail is now the law in Washington", seattlepi.com, April 5, 2011. Retrieved on November 15, 2012. 
  32. Keith Ervin. "Vote-by-mail gets new look in wake of low-voter turnout", The Seattle Times, May 25, 1990. 
  33. 33.0 33.1 Tsong, Nicole. "First big all-mail election results posted smoothly - VOTE BY MAIL", The Seattle Times, August 19, 2009. 

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