I think all the early voting is happening because

[retrowire]

People are worried about Trumpers doing stupid shit at polling sites on Nov 8th. I know that's why I'M voting early.

[BobbyDrake]

2. I voted early a) because I could and b) to get it done.

Honestly, I know that if I left it to myself to remember to go vote at one spot on a specific day, I'd forget.

[Achilleaze]

3. Well, there's also the raw, primal gut-level impulse to want to do something

to take action now to stop and to repudiate the degenerate Republican madness,
and to do something constructive by voting to support
fundamentally decent human and American values and practices.

[Hoyt]

4. Actually, if I really thought Trumpsters were going to do anything but act ignorant and obnoxious,

I would not vote early. I think most people are voting early to avoid long lines, illness, other commitments, etc. But, if their threats of voter suppression are the cause of more early voting, good. I hope Trump and down-ticket candidates get trounced.

[barbtries]

5. for me

it was more about 1. I want this OVER already and 2. what if i die between now and Nov 8???

voted on the 1st day I could.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

9. I did too.

I also wanted to see the early turnout for this election. I was pleased to see only Clinton volunteers outside of the polling area (over 100' from the building) and no deplorable volunteers anywhere!

[global1]

6. Is There Any Chance That The Early Voting Votes Can Be Tampered With?.....nt

[ecstatic]

27. I worry about that too. However, in GA, you can go to your voter profile page

and check the status of your absentee / advance voting ballot. It shows the date my vote was collected. Other states should have something similar. On the other hand, if I had waited until Election Day, there'd be no record whatsoever of whether I had voted or not.

[bettyellen]

32. Florida's AG tried to contest a lot of early ballots in court- with absolutely no evidence at all...

The judge told them he knew he was trying to screw over voters and that they would count them. I think it was something like 15k ballots?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. People vote early because it's so convenient.

I honestly don't think that many people are worried about stupid shit at polling sites on Nov 8th. Although, if you live in a state with no early voting, such as Pennsylvania or New York, perhaps you should be worried, but in those states you can't vote early in the first place.

I vote early, and have since about 2000, because it is so easy. Which reminds me, I have some errands to run, and early voting is part of them. Bye for now.

[TexasBushwhacker]

10. Not having early voting is idiotic n/t

[frazzled]

8. I think it's because many just want it to be OVER

And also because they are being heavily encouraged to get their votes in early ... with messages from everyone from Hillary's large volunteer phone bankers to President Obama.

I don't like to vote early unless I know I can't be there on Election Day, but I'm considering doing it this year. My motivation? I want this to be OVER! I'm sick of it.

I just downloaded my sample ballot, and once I work myself through all 12 pages of it (damn all these Metropolitan Water Reclamation District candidates and the fifty-eleven judges I need to look up), I may just go ahead and vote before Election Day. It is, however, more of a pain in the neck for me: on election day I can walk less than a block to my polling place. To vote early I'm going to have to take a train and then walk a bunch more blocks. And it will probably be more crowded, since there are fewer sites.

[LeftInTX]

11. It felt good that it was "over"!!!

Then realized that there were issues at the polling place with Poll Watchers wearing Republican tee shirts and standing only 10 feet from the line I was in. Now I feel I need to report it.

[retrowire]

12. Wait.

There are sample ballots???!

Keep in mind my first vote ever was during the primaries for Bernie so I'm still a newbie here.

[Wounded Bear]

13. Goes by state, I guess...

but I imagine they should be available almost everywhere. I know my state (WA) mailed out the voter info pamphlet two weeks ago. I got my mail in ballot last week, filled it out over the weekend, and dropped it in the drop box yesterday.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

14. Yes, there are plenty of sample ballots available.

Just google Sample Ballot with your state's name.

[frazzled]

17. Find the website of your local Board of Elections

Or go to your state Secretary of State site. Since down ballot races will be particular to your specific community (and not statewide), you need to get the specific ballot you will be using. Usually, they have a spot to put in your address, and it will verify your voter registration status, tell you where your polling place is located, and have a place to download your sample ballot.

Good luck!

[Moonwalk]

19. If you check your mail, you might have been sent a sample ballot...

A lot of places (where I live at least) send out sample ballots both local and state. They often include arguments for and against the issues and estimates of how much certain changes to the law or way things are done will cost.

As said, however, if you didn't get one of these in the mail, you can always download. That way you can see who is running (Judges, school boards, etc.), research them, and mark off who you want. You can bring your sample ballot with you to the polls, you can even bring it on your phone (mark it on your phone if the download will let you, or snap pictures of the hard copy).

And by the way, WELCOME NEW VOTER!

What an amazing year to become a voter. Wear your "I voted" sticker with pride. And I hope you're planning some party with fellow voters, to watch the returns. I always think some kind of celebration or pot-luck gathering should be part of election day activities. We should make as much or more of Election day as we do of the 4th of July. Election days are, after all, proof of concept. Democracy in action.

Please post a thread on November 8th letting us know how it went for you!

[Lucinda]

15. Our ticket encourages early voting at every campaign stop. But if I lived in a place

where there was potential for intimidation, I would certainly vote early too!

[liberalmuse]

16. I love voting early.

Just put my ballot in the ballot drop box today! It only took me this long (Washington State) because I had to research judges. It felt so good!

[TonyPDX]

18. I think people just want to put this awful process the hell behind them.

Or maybe it's just me. Dropped my completed ballot off less than 24 hours after I received it.

[Moonwalk]

20. If voters are voting early thanks to fear of Trump intimidators....

...(which I don't think they are, but some maybe), then thank you Trump! He meant to scare people away from the polls, but all he did was make them go to the polls faster and sooner, rather than skipping out on election day. And being scared of Trump types, more likely to vote Hillary.

Yet another "backfired" on Trump. I'm beginning to understand how he lost a billion dollars in the casino business if this is how he schemes and does business.

[NCTraveler]

21. I hope it goes smooth. If not I will follow Clintons lead.

I'll hold my head high and deal with whatever happens. Walk in tall, walk out tall. Some women are going to endure harassment at the polls as we send the first woman to the Oval Office. Really fucked up.

[Blue Idaho]

22. I think more people are voting absentee/early this time

Because they are so sick of Trump's shit they want it over with. I know once my wife and I voted, we stopped paying as much attention to the election noise on the M$M machine.

We haven't stopped working, but we have stopped paying attention to that loud mouthed drunk.

[Madam45for2923]

23. I knew it'd feel great to have voted early! Now I can do GOTV or help on election day!

I feel relieved & happy I voted! Trump is beside the point now! We are closer to getting HRC to the WhiteHouse!!

[spooky3]

24. I think they believe turnout will be HUGE and they want to avoid long lines if possible.

That's in addition to what you say and the reasons offered by others in this thread. I think many factors are at play. And I hope turnout for our side IS huge.

[bettyellen]

33. That's why I don't mind going. I want to see the voters because I know it will warm my heart.

[spooky3]

35. good point!

[bettyellen]

38. But I'm in a liberal area and though we have pockets of sexist assholes in not worried at all....

If I was in another community... I would have moved a while ago. Lol. Life's too short to put up with that shit.

[ecstatic]

25. I did it to avoid long lines and to make sure it gets done.

For me, waiting until the last minute doesn't usually end well.

As far as Trump's illegal poll watchers, I can see how that could get really ugly really quick. I think Atlanta metro area Trumpkins (if they exist) know better than to try that. That wouldn't end well either.

[beachbumbob]

26. We voted early because it's way convenient to do so

[Roland99]

28. I do it to avoid long lines. I waited about 20 secs just now

And I'll be at sea on Election Day!

[Coyotl]

29. Doubtful. People aren't paranoid about idiots.

[central scrutinizer]

30. Important reason to vote early

As ballots are received, names are checked off the lists. GOTV campaigns get updated lists from the election office. That way they don't waste their time calling people who have already voted.

[spooky3]

36. I did not know that. That's good info - thanks!

[Butterbean]

31. I voted early because

I have kids and work nights. It's just much more convenient for me.

[Dem2]

34. No early voting here

I did check. Not worried about any Trump supporters. It's not as if I have "FLAMING LIBERAL" tatoo'd to my forehead.

[MicaelS]

37. Disagree.

I think people are voting to save time on election day, since people are expecting lines to be very long. Plus being able to say it's done and over.