Wow: 30% of 2008 election ballots were cast before Election Day. Is this a good trend? Early voting that is?

That was a strong indication of how disgusted people were with the Bush administration. It was a repudiation of their policies as most of the early voters, voted Democrat.

I thought it was a good trend. It showed a lot of people were eager to vote. I also know several people who told me they went early to avoid the long lines - and they might have left without voting if they waited until Election Day. I worked as an Inspector at the polls on Election Day so I voted early for that reason. I live in Indiana and we had no real problems regarding early voting that I am aware of.

Well, first of all, the absentee ballots are sent out early to give the voter time to get their ballots back to their polling place. Now, here in Oregon (where I live), ALL voting is done strictly by mail--we have no physical polling places, except city hall. Therefore, all of our ballots are received by the voters about 15-20 days before the actual election is held. In the outcome of the election, I don't think it really matters, as most of the voters have already chosen their candidate well before they cast their ballot--early or on election day. It will all come out the same in the results.

Why does it matter?

I know of a place who, during the primaries in March, didn't have enough ballots for the democrats (because people kept switching over party lines to vote for Hillary to hurt her). So it's probably good that people are using absentee ballots because they don't have to worry about all the problems that could arise on Election Day.

I think so. My Mom voted early. I wish I would have but it's a big family thing so I didn't. I think maybe after the last 2 elections people wanted to make sure their vote was counted. Also, maybe some were worried about trouble at the polls.

Not necessarily by any means.

It can mean more people are finding it difficult to get to regular polls. Maybe they're even just too out of shape to even risk standing in a line for a bit. Or maybe the lines have just become absurdly long, otherwise discouraging people from voting.

It can mean people are making up their minds too rapidly and superficially and without maximum information and voting too early, thus resulting in poor choices. Similarly, it can be a sign of increasing polarization. It can show they're less interested in debate and discussion and the process and just want to punch the boxes and be done with it....

It's a good trend, because more people have more options but... People shouldn't have to vote early in order to be able to vote at all. The polls should be ready for expected voters, and nobody should have to wait long on election day.

Yes, why not. The results are not published so they have no affect in drawing in other voters. It does allow those that cannot for reason vote in a election. Out of all democratic countries US Voters are the worse in either not caring and not voting and of course they are also the ones that complain the most about the choices made.

I voted about 10 days early...I loved it! People who work sometimes have a hard time fitting it in...and Tuesday is at the beginning of the work week. And if you travel any distance to work....there is not much time left in the day!

I think early voting is an excellent idea!

The higher the voter turnout the better. We need more involvement of our population in the process. When more people vote we are less likely to get leadership from the fringe of either party.