WashingtonD.C, Aug. 21 : A research on voting patterns in the United States has pointed out that early voting affects the political campaigns and election outcomes.
Researchers compared the demographic characteristics of early voters in the fall 2012 elections and those who voted on Election Day.
An article, "The Dynamic Election: Patterns of Early Voting Across Time, State, Party, and Age," also highlights that currently about 25-33 percent of votes in the US are cast prior to Election Day.
Paul Gronke, editor of an election journal, explained: "Typically, most observers think of the 'early vote' as one homogenous mass of voters who choose to cast their ballots prior to Election Day.
These authors discover that 'early' early voters tend to be older and more partisan, while 'late deciding' early voters are younger and more likely to be independents." Adding, "This has important implications for the way we understand early voting returns in elections.
We need to look very skeptically at the first voting totals that will be reported in mid-October; they are far from representative of the final electorate." The study also highlights several other important trends related to voter age and partisanship.
The study is discussed in an article in Election Law Journal..
Source: ANI
