Biden's Edge - 'Early/Absentee Voters'?

[WhiskeyGirl]

Who are these people?

Early voters arrive in records numbers: 361,615

Early voting closed across the state on Sunday, and a record 361,615 voters cast their ballots before primary election day this year, higher than the two previous primary election cycles.

Compared to the 2008 primary, when county ballots were filled with mostly local races, early voting is up 44 percent (from 251,110.) Compared to the 2006 primary, when the headline races were two hotly contested primary battles for governor -- between Republicans Charlie Crist and Tom Gallagher and Democrats Jim Davis and Rod Smith -- early voting is up about 40 percent (from 258,917.)

Election officials caution, however, not to make too much of this early voting surge. For one, they don't include the number of absentee ballots cast, and they don't generally mean there's going to be a corresponding increase in voter turnout. Instead, it's usually a sign that more voters are choosing the convenience of early voting over the rigidity of heading to their precinct on Election Day.

more here - http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2010/08/early-voters-arrive-in-records-numbers-.html

Will America's future be decided by early and absentee voters?  Those that register once, maybe without government ID and no background/reasonable verification? 

Is America lost to the greedy and despotic?

[WhiskeyGirl]

Early voting comes to Maryland

SALISBURY -- With the debut of early voting, Marylanders won't have a good excuse for failing to cast a ballot this election season.

For the primary election, voters will have six additional days for the first time -- from Sept. 3-9, excluding the Sunday date -- to vote in person. Voters can also cast ballots on the day of the primary, Sept. 14. Early voting for the general election will run from Oct. 22-28, minus the Sunday date. Election Day, as always, is Nov. 2.

"It's a little bit of variety for the voters," said Anthony Gutierrez, director of the Wicomico County Board of Elections.

The Maryland state Board of Elections has framed early voting as an opportunity for people to avoid Election Day crowds and pick a time convenient for them. The early voting centers will be open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Wicomico's voting center is at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center; Worcester's is at the Gull Creek Senior Living Community; Somerset's is at the Somerset County Office Building.

Democrats, hoping to capitalize on higher voter turnout numbers, supported bringing early voting to Maryland. Republican state lawmakers tried to block the effort out of concerns it would increase voter fraud. In 2008, voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing early voting, and the Legislature created it in 2009.

http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20100824/NEWS01/8240378/Early-voting-comes-to-Maryland

Early and absentee voting in the primaries...is it a way to stuff the box in favor of unpopular candidates?