Home  News Local News Early voting begins October 20
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Early voting begins October 20 |
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Sunday, 19 October 2008 |
Early voting in the 2008 general elections begins in South Florida on Monday, October 20 continuing until Sunday, November 2. Over the past 20 years an increasing number of states have introduced early voting up to two to four weeks prior to the traditional Election Day in November. Previously, in some states, only the elderly, infirm, and residents living out of state where allowed to cast votes before Election Day either in person or by mailing in absentee ballots. However, several states have amended their voting laws to allow for more in-person early voting.
Expanded in-person early voting was implemented in Florida in 2004, as one of the solutions to the problems created in the chaotic 2000 presidential elections. In 2004, the state legislature defined early voting as “casting a ballot prior to Election Day at a location designated by the supervisor of elections.” The new system was implemented to provide more convenience to voters, increase voter turnout in the state, while easing the pressure at voting precincts on Election Day. During early voting, voters can vote outside their designated precincts at sites announced by the respective supervisors of elections. Early voting in South Florida begins 16 days before the date of an election, and ends two days before.
Since its introduction, early voting has proven to be popular with voters. And, according to a official at the Florida Department of Elections, who requested anonymity, early voting has proven to be a significant “pressure reliever” to the normal Election Day rush.
Greta Lynford, a polling precinct supervisor who worked in general and local elections in both Palm Beach and Broward counties since 1986, confirmed that since early voting was introduced in 2004 there has been a definite ease in the election day pressure. “During early voting, polling station workers have more time to assist voters, remedy dispute relevant to voting cards and voter’s lists, and get the chance to identify snags in the voting system, so these can be corrected by Election Day,” Lynford said.
In early votes cast in the January presidential primaries in South Florida, it was estimated that approximately 25 percent of voters cast their votes before the January 29th elections date. It is expected that this percentage will be much higher for this year’s general elections.
Of over 100 registered voters surveyed by the National Weekly over the past two weeks, 61 percent said that they plan to vote before November 4. The main reason offered for this is that voters expect an extremely large turn out on Elections Day. Based on the record number of new voters registered in Florida since 2004, assuming a large percentage do turn out to vote on Elections Day there could be very long lines and waiting periods.
Newly registered Brandon Lewis of Miami Gardens says he plans to vote either on October 20, or soon thereafter. “This is the first time I will be voting, and I definitely will vote early to ensure my vote counts.” Sixty-three year old Ivan Mullens said, “I am not waiting until November 4. Anything can go wrong on that day. There could be problems with the voting machines, voters list, or the weather. When I vote early should any problem arise, there will be a time-window for corrective measures to make sure my vote is cast, and cast properly.”
Other say, early voting provides more time to vote, especially where their jobs are far from their designated precinct. “Why wait until the Election Day, when I have more time to vote on a Saturday or Sunday before then. Early voting really makes a lot of sense,” Lewis said.
In South Florida the times for early voting are, Mondays to Fridays 10:00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m, Saturdays, 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 a.m., and Sundays 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
In states where early voting has begun, huge turnouts have been reported. In Ohio voters camped outside election offices to be first in line to cast their early votes, and in Georgia, election officials were overwhelmed by the large number of early voters, some who waited hours to vote.
It is expected that with the high interest in the presidential elections the turn out will be massive all over the country. Some election officials are predicting that some 150 million voters could cast votes, a record number, with 33 percent of these voters expected to vote before Election Day, an increase of 22 percent over 2004.
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