Ohio isn't the the only state that has early voting this week. Indiana, Wisconsin and Montana started the early vote push today. Voters in Indiana have today to register and vote before tonight's registration deadline. Montana residents have until October 14 to register and vote in one stop. Newspapers in these three battleground states highlighted the importance and impact of voter registration and voting early...
From the Journal and Courier in Indiana
More than 100 voters have already visited the Tippecanoe County Courthouse today to cast an early ballot. Today is the first day of early voting for the Nov. 4 election - and also the final day that residents can register to vote. ...Donna Kemper of Lafayette joined roughly 50 other supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in a procession to the courthouse, led by a fife and drum, to cast early votes. "I want to show people that they need to get out and vote, especially women and seniors," Kemper said of her decision to vote on the first day. Early voting is being touted by the Obama campaign and others as a way to avoid long lines and waiting on Election Day, when record turnout is expected.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in Wisconsin:
In Wisconsin, voting begins Monday for the fall election, with each side pushing to lock in votes by absentee ballot long before Nov. 4. State officials expect about 15% of all ballots this year to be cast as absentee votes, including by those who visit local election offices and vote in advance in person. A Journal Sentinel review of statewide registration data shows an increase of about 4.75% so far this year, with some of the largest numbers in counties that went Democratic in 2004. ...The Obama campaign also is advocating early voting, but a spokesman said it is less of an issue in Wisconsin than in many other states. "Same-day registration means there's not as much of an urgency to get people registered and voting early," said Matt Lehrich, a state Obama spokesman.
From the Great Falls Tribune in Montana:
Though Election Day isn't until Nov. 4, election officials expect tens of thousands of voters across the state to retrieve their absentee ballots from their mailboxes this week and begin casting their votes. Monday marks the first day electors in Big Sky Country can begin voting by absentee ballot either through the mail or by visiting their local elections office. For voters, absentee voting offers the convenience of voting from home or the flexibility of showing up at their elections office anytime between Monday and Nov. 4. ...Democrat Barack Obama, who launched a field operation in the state in April, has 20 field offices and more than 40 volunteers working throughout Montana. Obama's campaign staff, along with a small army of volunteers, has been busy identifying supporters, registering them to vote and encouraging them to vote early. "We're going to be pushing people to take advantage of the early vote option. Starting Monday, we will be encouraging our supporters to get in and cast their ballot," said Caleb Weaver, Obama's Montana spokesman. "It's a way of making sure that people get to the polls and cast their ballot. This way, they have a month to do it, not just one day. We want to make sure they don't miss their chance to vote." An informal survey of elections officials in 35 counties found that the significant portion of new voter registrations are the result of efforts by the Democratic Party and the Obama campaign. Yellowstone County election clerk Barb Cox told the Billings Gazette that her office is receiving about 100 registration cards a day from the Obama campaign. Cox said Republicans are turning in between 50 and 100 cards each week.
Find your early vote location and vote today. If you, or anyone you know, is not registered visit VoteforChange.com to register before it's too late.
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