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November 02, 2004
Early Voting Effects
A study of the effects of early voting would be interesting, since the percentage of early voters has risen enough to affect the election. For this election nationwide, one poll showed about 11% of registered voters who had already voted early, and another 11% planned to vote before Election Day. There were similar percentages locally, Washington County had around 14,000 out of 88,000 voters voted early, which is roughly 16%.
If these figures are any indication, early voting is bringing out at least some voters who likely wouldn't have voted at all. Which is why I think all the 'reliable' indicators of which candidate will win are out the door. (You know, the ones that say things like 'no incumbant has ever won a race after my cat has refused to use the litter box on the 32nd day before the election'.)
Early voting is more convenient since it spreads voting out over a couple of weeks. And since it's spread out, it also should lessen the effects of such things as weather, last-minute scandals and/or concentrated campaign pushes.
I'm really curious to see how this will affect this year's election.
Posted by Rita at November 2, 2004 07:27 AM