A third of electorate could vote before Nov. 4

[babylonsister]

A third of electorate could vote before Nov. 4

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER and JULIE PACE
Associated Press Writers



WASHINGTON (AP) -- Election Day will be something of an afterthought for tens of millions of Americans - they'll be voting well ahead of time.

In fact, six weeks out from Election Day, some voters in Kentucky, South Carolina and Virginia already are done.

Nationwide, about a third of the electorate is expected to vote early this year, thanks to expanded early voting provisions and fewer restrictions on absentee voting, researchers project. In all, more than 30 states allow any registered voter to cast an early ballot, some in person and others by mail.

Greg Dearing, of Louisville, Ky., locked in his ballot for Barack Obama on Thursday.

"I'm usually a straight party voter," said Dearing, who will be vacationing in California on Nov. 4. "It would take something very far-fetched to make me regret my vote."

Early voting has been on the increase in recent years: In 2004, 22 percent of voters cast an early presidential ballot; in 2000, 16 percent voted early.

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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EARLY_VOTING?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

1. It scares me a little bit. How will people ensure that their vote counted?

[Curtland1015]

2. How do we ever? (NT)