The Hidden Costs of Voting Early

The New Media Journal ^ | October 21, 2008 | Nancy Salvato

[The_Tick_01]

Voting early in the presidential election? Seems like a great idea to many Americans.

For folks who have done their homework and believe themselves absolutely certain that their mind is made up about who they want to win an election, there is probably nothing to lose. For the person who reads all the information available regarding each of the candidates, even an October surprise will likely not come as a surprise. Rather, it will probably validate his or her existing beliefs about who should be our next president.

“More than 100,000 people cast their ballots in the first week of early voting in Chicago and suburban Cook County that began Oct. 13.” [1]

It is guaranteed there will be countless more numbers of folks heading to the polls when it’s most convenient for them.

[The_Tick_01]

Early voting definitely benefits the Democrat base; these people don’t think, they feel. They are subject to emotion over logic and either have no idea what the constitution says about how the government should or simply don’t care. Hopefully the reasoned voter who uses his head will trump the damage done by the early voting crowd and ACORN’s massive attempts at voter fraud.

[The_Victor]

Early voting definitely benefits the Democrat base; these people don’t think, they feel.

I'm pretty sure I disagree on this one. People who have made up their mind early are the one who have looked at the facts, weighed the options, and reached a logical conclusion, without the emotional hype of the campaign. I just voted, and I made my mind up when McCain selected Palin as his running mate. At least he was willing to acknowledge the value of conservatives in his administration.

[Cyclone59]

It is guaranteed there will be countless more numbers of folks heading to the polls when it’s most convenient for them.

Voting is not a thing you do at your convenience, you do it on the day that it is held or by absentee ballot.

[pgyanke]

It's also the Democratic voters who would react emotionally to last-minute inputs (the ones who would suffer a cost to voting early). They are far more likely to change their vote impulsively than someone who has reasoned their vote with all available information.

[laotzu]

Early voting definitely benefits the Democrat base..

What?!! How?

[TribalPrincess2U]

We vote early all the time.

Altho we are going with Mac/Sarah we are waiting
for the lines to slow a little.

[Pilsner]

Early voting allows you have all day on election day to drive other voters tot he polls, to hand out campaign materials, or to poll watch.

Oh, and doing all that also helps your blood pressure. By the time I got home on election day in 2006, the talking heads were calling it close. I missed all the hours of their semi-repressed smiles and smirks, as the exit polls showed Lurch running away with it, and 10,000 (at a rough guess) "woe is me, Kerry has won" posts here on Free Republic.

[Sarevok]

Absentee Voting?

I thought they only count absentee votes if the raw number of absentee votes would change the election results?

[WOSG]

Well, here in Austin, they put the early voting locations at places convenient for the Democrats. Tilts the turnout.

Many big city machines are using early voting that way.

[laotzu]

here in Austin, they put the early voting locations at places convenient for the Democrats

Which is pretty much anywhere/everywhere in Austin.

I understand that in San Francisco, they only allow voting at places convenient for the Democrats too.

In San Antonio, there are early voting locations placed throughout the entire city; and you are able to vote at any of your choosing.

The exact same is true in Austin.