Come on folks. More Dems showing up for early voting doesn't mean anything.

[El Supremo]

It is how the Independents are voting. You won't get that information until election night. We already know that the Dems are excited and motivated. So much so that they want to vote early. But how will the others vote?

[fascisthunter]

1. Alot of Independents may Have Registered Dem for this Election

Besides, it does matter... every single bit. Keep up the good work folks.

[El Supremo]

3. You don't have to be a Dem to vote Dem in the General Election.

Many Independents want to keep their "independence".

Oh well, I guess I'm just a pessimist.

[fascisthunter]

11. Could Be a little Pessimistic...

but maybe not. Whatever keeps you motivated to help win this thing in what ever way you can. That's all that matters I guess...

[elocs]

2. So you actually believe that no independents are also excited and want to vote early?

Early voting excites everyone who will vote for Obama, both Democrats and independents.

[El Supremo]

7. Where are their numbers? I haven't heard.

An early heavy turnout by them may be a good thing.

[DevonRex]

22. Isn't the question who they voted FOR instead of which party they're

registered AS?

[LibraLiz1973]

4. Is your real name Debbie Downer?

[Emit]

5. The numbers of registered Democrats have increased in large numbers, so, yes, it does matter

[El Supremo]

12. The increase in registered Dems is a good sign, but...

the early voting numbers don't mean as much. It just shows you that the Dems are excited, it doesn't show you that the others are.

[TheDonkey]

6. This early-polling thrill is much like the exit-polliung rush of 2004

We cannot assume rethugs will just sit at home on Nov 4th

[damntexdem]

15. So let the GOPers be discouraged by long lines on Nov. 4.

Fewer of them are voting early, so more of them will face election-day hassles.

[Compline]

8. Thanks

I'm not a registered Democrat, and I had been excited about voting early...until I read your post and realized I shouldn't be. :cry:

I'm going to find some pie.

[El Supremo]

13. Not a registered Democrat????

So you left the choosing of Obama up to us? Thanks! :-)

[Compline]

16. Nope

I voted for Obama in the Texas primary :)

[El Supremo]

20. Oh, I forgot about those weird states.

Sorry. And welcome to DU!

[damntexdem]

17. Hey, I'm not a registered Democrat, but I was an Obama supporter at the Dem State Convention.

Texas is one of the states that doesn't register by party.

[book_worm]

9. Actually it does mean something. Early voting in '04 was split between dems and reps

and early voting this time is heavily favoring dems. It shows that dems have the enthusiasm on their side and that many people this year have registered as dems this year and it is paying off for us.

[Youphemism]

10. It's a floor wax *and* a dessert topping...

There's nothing wrong with being happy about the early voting results -- that's a very good sign.

But late-breakers in the primary trended away from Obama... And overseas military votes aren't counted until election day.

No question there are some very different demographics among early and election day voters. So it would be bad to read too much into this.

On the other hand, it's good news, and good news should always be enjoyed.

[damntexdem]

14. Yes it does:

1) they are getting their votes in.

2) if they have been purged from the roles, they have some time to appeal this before election day.

3) if they encounter any other problems, there is time to react.

4) if they are discouraged by long lines, they have time to come back and vote.

5) the more who vote early, the fewer to be caught up by last-minute, election-day GOP shenanigans.

6) it makes us feel better while we wait out the last agonizing days.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

18. I dunno. I was listening to NPR on the way home and one of the folks they interviewed said

that in 2004 early voting favored the pukes. That was news to me, but if it's true then the current tidal wave of dem early voters is showing that we're fired up and ready to go to the polls, which may be more important then indie turnout.

[beachmom]

19. What it points to is enthusiasm of Dem voters and that the Obama

GOTV effort, specifically getting folks to vote early, has been effective.

Agreed that it doesn't point to what the end result will be.

I will add one more thing: if lines are super long on Nov. 4th, well, then that benefits us since we got a lot of our voters out early.

[Zynx]

21. Independents are going for Obama by 8-20 pts.

[Overseas]

23. It means a lot to me. Republican attempts to slow down voting on election day

will be a little less successful thanks to folks voting early.

In Ohio 2004, Republican put operatives at polling places to double check voter registrations (but just in Democratic areas). Fake identity voting is a minuscule issue, less than 50 cases, but it gives them an excuse to question voters which slows the voting down for hours and hours. Some Democrats can't wait that long and thus the Republican goal of reducing Democratic vote totals is helped along.

So I'm glad a lot of Democratic voting is being done early.

But there are still lots of problems-- emergency info at www.stealbackyourvote.org

[ORDem]

24. Early voting, in and of itself, means a LOT to McCain's people

That's why he's now targeting PA, since it has no early voting. He has almost zero chance to overcome Obama in swing states that have already started voting, since the pool of influencable voters is now smaller. PA is his last hail-mary pass, the only state where he can still have influence before the vote and the only one with enough EVs to overcome the deficits in the other swing states (which he is abandoning almost daily).

:dem: