Iowa early voting statistics: Dems still lead with requests for ballots and returns

[WI_DEM]

Iowa is a state that gives us weekly updates on how early voting is going and while recent polls show Dem Gov. Chet Culver and Senate nominee Roxanne Conlin behind by nearly 20-points--early voting shows that more dems are requesting and returning ballots than the GOP. I thought it was the GOP who couldn't wait to get out and vote because of all that enthusiasm?

DES MOINES
– Secretary of State Michael A. Mauro today announced that the number of absentee ballot requests processed for the 2010 General Election has surpassed the early voting totals from previous midterm elections.

“As of today, more Iowans have requested an absentee ballot for the election this fall than voted early in the 2002 or 2006 General Elections,” Secretary Mauro said. “While many of these ballots still need to be completed by voters and returned to county auditor’s offices, we’re confident the record for total number of early voters for a midterm election will be broken this year.”

As of this morning, 249,513 Iowans have requested an absentee ballot. In the 2006 General Election, 242,385 Iowans voted absentee. In 2002, 242,357 voted absentee.

Secretary Mauro also released the latest absentee ballot totals by political party. Those figures are as follows:

Party
Ballots Requested
Ballots Received
Democrat
115,017
60,156
Republican
92,128
41,321
No Party
42,178
17,850
Other
190
103
Total
249,513
119,430

http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.iml?Article=214501

[Kdillard]

1. Good news. I truly hope there are going to be some good surprises for Dems.