Up to one-third of voters are expected to cast their votes for president before Nov. 4 this year, a number that shows a growing trend in how the United States is approaching elections.
According to the Early Voting Information Center's Web site, 30 states permit early voting or allow citizens to submit an absentee ballot without providing an explanation.
In Oregon, where voter turnout is the third highest in the country, all voting is done by mail. In several other states, such as Washington and Colorado, the number of citizens casting their vote early or by mail is nearing the majority. This growth in early and absentee voting has changed Election Day for many states and changing how presidential campaigns are being run, according to the Web site.
"It's political reality now - they have to adjust to it," Jason Mycoff, assistant professor of political science, said. "Election Day is now different in every state, and they have to respond to it - it has to be a state-by-state analysis."
He said while previous campaigns have had the benefit of one set Election Day, the current presidential candidates now must coordinate their campaigns differently in states where early voting is allowed.
"There is a feeling among many that early voting is a way to increase the opportunity to participate, by making voting much easier," Mycoff said.
The rise of early and absentee voting has been in part an effort to increase voter participation. According to a U.S. Census Bureau study on voter turnout, approximately 814,000 registered voters did not vote in the 2004 election due to bad weather conditions. Many more did not vote because of work or scheduling conflicts.
BeAbsentee.org is a volunteer organization dedicated to spreading information about absentee voting by providing important information for absentee voters. Members of the organization want to help change the way voting is conducted nationwide, with the goal being to make absentee voting the primary means by which elections are conducted.
"People should be able to vote on their own time, and they should be able to do it from their own homes," Heather Johnson, content developer and communication strategist of BeAbsentee.org, said.
Johnson said she sees the estimated number of early and absentee voters as a sign of progress for her organization, as well as others like it.
"I think people are starting to catch on and states are slowly catching on as well," she said.
Much of BeAbsentee.org's attention is directed toward college students, a demographic in which absentee voting is very important, Johnson said. Since some students are unable to make it home to cast their votes on Election Day, early and absentee voting is seen as a means of making it simpler for college students to still participate in the election. In states like Delaware where absentee voting is allowed only with an excuse college students are able to receive absentee ballots easily.
The College Democrats have begun a neighbor-to-neighbor campaign throughout residence halls. The goal is to provide all the resources necessary for students to be able to cast their ballots in time to be counted for the election.
"It's a very expansive, very aggressive program," said Paul Ruiz, president of the College Democrats, said. "But that's what this campus needs."
Senior Jen Schnitker, who lives in New York, said she already has her absentee ballot.
"It's at home waiting for me," Schnitker said. "I used a absentee ballot in '04 and again this year. It's really easy."
She said she has not seen any univeristy efforts to promote absentee ballots.
"I know alot of people already use them, but I think alot of people just might not know where or when to apply," Schnitker said.
Freshman Katherine Borah, who lives in Baltimore, said she applied for an absentee ballot online.
"I just looked it up online and found the forms," Borah said. "It's much easier than having to drive home on Election Day."
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