Early ballots in primaries rose 50% from 2006

By John Fritze, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The number of voters who cast early ballots in this year's primary elections increased 50% over the 2006 midterm, a USA TODAY review of key states shows, the latest uptick in a trend that is reshaping political campaigns.

Nearly 6 million people took part in early voting during this year's primary elections in the 13 states reviewed, including California, Florida and Texas. That's up from just over 4 million voters in those same states during the 2006 primary election.

The growth in early voting, which is driven in part by state laws that make casting a ballot before Election Day easier, is forcing campaigns and advocacy groups to readjust their calendars as they reach out to voters in advance of the Nov. 2 election.

Early voting, in which a voter may cast a ballot at an elections office, is underway in 14 states. In all, 33 states and the District of Columbia offer some form of in-person early voting, while others allow voters to file absentee ballots early, according to the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS).

"You need to be talking to these people now," said Max Fose, an aide to Arizona GOP House candidate Paul Gosar. Early voting begins theretoday.

In the 2010 primaries, more than 893,000 Texans cast an early ballot for governor, up from about 460,000 in 2006, according to results provided by the secretary of State's office. Early ballots accounted for 41.3% of primary ballots this year, up 2 percentage points from 2006.

More than 56,000 Utah voters cast an early ballot in this year's primaries, about a quarter of all voters, compared with 13,513 voters, or 8% of the electorate, in 2006, state data show.

For the first time this year, Illinois voters are casting absentee ballots without having to explain why they are doing so — known as "no excuse" absentee voting. Dan Seals, a Democrat running for a House seat near Chicago, is actively seeking the voters.

"It expands the electorate," said campaign spokeswoman Aviva Gibbs.

The trend is also changing the way outside political organizations operate. American Crossroads, a Republican group created with the help of GOP strategist Karl Rove, is mailing notices to remind people about early voting in West Virginia, where a close U.S. Senate race is underway.

In the 2008 presidential election, about 30% of votes were cast before Election Day, said George Mason University political scientist Michael McDonald. He suggested the share of voters casting early ballots will likely not be as high this year.

State election officials have generally supported the influx of early voters, partly because it can help alleviate long lines on Election Day, said NASS spokeswoman Kay Stimson. "Election Day," she said, "has morphed into election season."

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