Getting out the Vote

The USA Today reports in an article in its weekend edition that thirty-five states and the District of Columbia offer some type of in-person early voting, either at voting machines or by filling out absentee ballots. You can vote by absentee ballots in all fifty states. In Maryland, there has been a big spike in absentee voting, especially in the wake of the problems encountered on primary day, when polling places opened with no key cards for voters to use in the electronic voting machines. In addition to that there is the issue of having no paper trail with the electronic voting machines and the possible irregularities that could result in that.

The drawback / advantage to early or absentee voting is that it does not change the outcome of the election. Absentee ballots are not counted until after election day concludes, but in some races this year, absentee ballots may make the difference in some closely contested races.