Houston Texas early turnout breaks records

[thevoiceofreason]

From: Houston Chronicle: Sat. 2/23/2008

By Matt Stiles

Quoting Beverly Kaufman, Harris County Clerk:

"I've never seen anything like it."

After 4 days of the 11 day early voting cycle, Harris County has already had more people vote early in the Democratic Primary than voted in the ENTIRE early voting season, BOTH PARTIES, in 2004. Unbelievable.

[zanne]

1. I have a question for Texans. (Not nasty)

What is the reason for early voting? Is it just another term for absentee voting or can anyone just go to their polling place eleven days before the election?

[crispini]

2. There are designated early voting locations that are not your precinct.

There are something like 10 early voting locations throughout my city.

Early voting period runs two weeks before the election and is actually open this weekend. I like it. I think it gives more voters flexibility and time to vote. If you go vote early and the line is too long, you can come back the next day. If you wait until election day, and the line is long, you may have to go to work and not be able to return to vote.

[zanne]

3. I'm afraid I still don't understand. DUH

Is it because people might live far away from the nearest polling place? Or is it strictly for voting out of your precinct?

[crispini]

5. Well, the basic reason to do it is just to give more people a chance to vote.

The reason they don't open an early voting location in every precinct is that there are a LOT of precincts. I think on election day we will have something like 800 voting locations in Dallas County. Each voting location requires at least 2-3 pollworkers. Can you imagine staffing 800 voting locations with 2-3 people for two solid weeks? That's a lot of staff!

So they open something like 10-20 early voting locations citywide, during early voting, and you might have to go a bit farther to actually get to early vote, but you can vote at any location in your county.

Does that make sense? :D

[zanne]

7. Yup. That makes sense. thanks nt

[thevoiceofreason]

4. It was put into place to make it easier to vote

There is no "rationale" or excuse needed to early vote. It runs from 15 days to 4 days before the election. It opens up the system to those who otherwise might not be able to get to the polls (especially on Tuesday elections). We have it for both the primary and the general elections. So, I guess that makes Texas one of the more enlightened places in the US as far as opening up the process and being inclusive -- pretty shocking, actually.

[MaineDem]

6. We have it in Maine, too

We also allow anyone to absentee vote with no reason.

One difference in our system is that if one votes via absentee and then a candidate drops out there is a provision to get that ballot voided and vote again. Early voting is actually a vote in the ballot box and can't be retrieved.

[zanne]

8. I learn something new every day.

We have absentee voting in NH for any reason, but no early voting.

[rox63]

10. I wish we had it here in MA

Because of my work hours and night school classes, the only time I can usually get to the polls on election day is between 7:00-7:30 AM. If we had early voting, I'd have more a chance to cast my vote at a convenient time. I'm for anything that encourages people to vote and get involved in the political process.

[MoJoWorkin]

9. "Houston, we have lift-off!"