Why in the world do we allow early voting? Allowing people to vote almost a month prior to election day is crazziness. So much can happen in a month. Sorry, but I liked it better in the old days. We voted on election day... period.
For some of us, early voting means we can actually vote without requesting an absentee ballot.
I think that a month is overkill. But, a couple of weeks is really useful. It means that I can vote when I'm home on the weekend, and not have to worry about being out-of-town on business during election day.
In Texas, early voting (in person, not absentee) starts on 2012-10-22.
Actually in the old days balloting took place over a period of months.
The early voting does not bother me. I just want people to vote. I worked with the get out the vote effort here in San Antonio just encouraging people to vote...explaining they do not need the Voter ID....providing transportation. So much effort goes into getting people out to vote. I am for anything that makes it easier for them.