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NEWS ABOUT: early voting

America Risks a Return to 'Jim Crow Voting Laws'

States are rigging the 2012 election: EJ Dionne Jr.

(Newser) - After electing its first African American president—thanks in part to a surge of new voters—the US is in danger of seeing “a subtle return of Jim Crow voting laws,” writes EJ Dionne Jr. in the Washington Post . New laws being passed here, supposedly to prevent voter... More »

Dems Doing Just Fine in Early Voting

But Republicans say they're pleased with early results, too

(Newser) - For all the talk of a Republican "wave election" and an enthusiasm gap, Democrats are pretty pleased with early voting results. Millions have already cast ballots in the 2010 election, and Democrats say their $20 million voter turnout program is bearing fruit; in Iowa, for example, the percentage of... More »

Now You Can Vote Naked in Illinois

Ad campaign has fun with new mail-in ballot option

(Newser) - It's not as much fun as you might think. Illinois is now allowing early voting by mail. So, in theory, you can fill out your ballot naked. But whether or not Illinoisans do, the campaign to raise awareness of the new law is hysterically funny. It features a lot of... More »

Few Voting Problems in Key States

Most problems reported in Michigan

(Newser) - The 2008 election is proceeding well in most states. Cleveland polling places were hit with high turnout at the 6:30am open, but voting tapered off as the morning continued, in part thanks to the 250,000 who voted early, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. In South Florida, voters faced... More »

Ignore Those Exit Polls!

Sample sizes and enthusiasm gaps can skew results

(Newser) - Exit polls can be addictive for those who can't take Election Day suspense, but poll analyst Nate Silver recommends you resist the temptation. Here's why:
  1. Exit polls have high margins of error because they are taken at only a few precincts in a state.
  2. Exit polls overstated Democratic support in
... More »

Florida Extends Early Voting Hours

Governor makes move to cut down on hours-long lines

(Newser) - Florida Gov. Charlie Crist decreed yesterday that early-voting locations stay open 12 hours a day instead of the usual eight, in an attempt to address hours-long lines at many polling places, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Crist's failure to consult with his party's leadership has ruffled some Republican feathers, but the... More »

Voting by Mail Is 2008's Big Winner

Voters like to go at own pace, but some worry about fraud, lost ballots

(Newser) - Nearly half of California's ballots this year will be cast by mail, marking an upward trend that isn't restricted to the Golden State, the Los Angeles Times reports. Washington and Oregon are almost completely mail-in only, and voter-rights organizations across the country hail the convenience of sending in votes. But... More »

Democrats Surge in Early Voting

Republican advantage no more

(Newser) - Early voting is usually dominated by Republicans, as wealthy, well-educated whites tend to be the ones who turn out. But not this year, the Los Angeles Times reports, as high proportions of Democrats and African Americans are being seen everywhere in the 32 states where voters can cast early ballots... More »

Black Voters Hitting Polls Early

Early voting big among African Americans

(Newser) - Black turnout isn’t just expected to be high this year; according to early voting records, it already is, the Wall Street Journal reports. African Americans account for 36% of early ballots in Georgia, for instance, despite making up just 29% of active voters. In 2004, blacks represented 25% of... More »

Early Fla. Voters Hit Hours-Long Lines

Lines overwhelming at FL early voting sites

(Newser) - Early voters in Florida, where polling places opened Monday, endured daunting lines and 2- to 5-hour waits to cast their ballots, reports the Miami Herald. Democrats contend that the blame goes to a law passed in 2005 cutting the number of hours per day that early voting is available from... More »

Early Voters Mob Fla. Polls

(Newser) - The start of early voting in Florida today brought hordes to polling places, forcing voters to contend with long lines and voting machine failures, the Miami Herald reports. Miami-Dade and Broward counties added a million registered voters each to their rolls this year. The crowds signaled the usefulness of the... More »

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