How Will Early Voting Impact the Decision on Election Day?
coupled with the country’s economic problems, the lingering war in Iraq, and the health care crisis, it is anticipated that Americans will vote in record numbers. The percentage of those eligible to cast a ballot who have taken advantage of early voting is estimated at a staggering 30% or higher. One of many academics who are keeping tabs on the vote is political scientist Michael P. McDonald of George Mason University. McDonald says that as of Nov 1, as many as 20 million people have all ready cast their ballots. The long lines at polling stations reported in all 31 states that allow early voting clearly indicated the level of interest Americans have in the outcome of this presidential race. Waits of more than 2 hours are now typical in several states including Florida, California, and Senator McCain’s home state of Arizona. In Florida, one of the hotly contested battleground states, the early voter turnout has stunned officials. As of October 30, absentee voting has all ready surpass
