Early voting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Early voting, is the process which voters can cast their vote on a single or series of days prior to an election. Early voting can take place remotely, such as by mail, or in person, usually in designated early voting polling stations. The availability and time periods for early voting vary based on jurisdiction and type of election. The goal of early voting is usually to increase participation and relieve congestion of polling stations on Election Day.
An advance poll (also "advance voting") is held in some elections to allow participation by voters who may not be able to vote on the set election day(s). This may include people who will be out of the polling area during the election period, poll workers, campaign workers, people with medical procedures scheduled for that time, among others.
Contents |
[edit] Australia
In Australia, early voting is known as pre poll voting.
[edit] New Zealand
In New Zealand, early voting is a form of special voting, which allows voters who will be outside their electorate or incapacitated on election day to vote in advance or at another polling place.
[edit] United States
In many U.S. states the period varies between four and fifty days prior to Election Day. Early voting can be considered synonymous with "no-excuse" absentee voting. Fifteen U.S. states currently allow early voting, and sixteen allow no-excuse in-person absentee voting[1]. As of November 4, 2006, 35 US states permit either absentee voting or early voting.[2]
[edit] Florida
The U.S. state of Florida officially began early voting in 2004 as part of post-2000 election reform.
Turnout for early voting exceeded one million in 2004. There were some problems: 1st-day computer failures in Orange County and Broward County; accidentally-erased votes in Volusia County; and a lack of early voting sites in Jacksonville. Reforms are being discussed to address the known issues, as well as possibly eliminating the standard poll in favor of modified early voting.
[edit] Maryland
In August 2006, a judge ruled in favor of several plaintiffs that the state constitution only permitted voting on the day of the election. The plaintiffs were challenging a new early-voting law on the probability of fraud. Absentee ballots appear to remain acceptable for the time being.
[edit] Other states
A list of early voting & absentee voting states is maintained by the National Conference of State Legislatures. At present (July 7, 2006), US states which still prohibit early voting or in person absentee voting include Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania , Rhode Island, South Carolina and Washington. In Oregon (and 34 of 39 counties in Washington), all ballots are cast using postal voting.[3]
[edit] Sweden
Sweden has traditionally a high participation in elections, and tries to make it as easy as possible to vote. No registration is needed since everyone is registred with a home address. Normally a voter should vote on the election day in their specified polling station. But everyone can vote during the last week at an early polling station, anywhere in the country. These places are usually municipality owned places like libraries. Also on the election day some of them are open, even though the election day always is a Sunday. In hospitals and homes for elderly there special voting opportunities. In elections until year 1998, post officies were used for several decades as early voting stations. Swedes living abroad must register their address and can vote at embassies or through mail.
[edit] References
- ^ Early and Absentee Voting Laws (As of 7/26/06) Electionline.org
- ^ Clark Kelly, Carol Anne (November 2006) Early Voting: Getting the Jump on Election Day NPR
- ^ Absentee & Early Voting States National Conference of State Legislatures
