The 2008 Early Vote

With nearly a third of ballots cast prior to November 4, Democracy Corps analyzes who voted early and why during the 2008 presidential election. The report cites numerous factors that affected early voting including state laws, age, voter engagement and enthusiasm, more focus from the campaigns on early voting and the potential convenience of voting early as opposed to voting on Election Day. Some specific findings about the 2008 election include:

• Early voting was concentrated in the West and the South;
• Women and African Americans made up a larger share of the early vote than the non-early vote;
• Early voters skewed older, but less so in states that do not require an excuse to vote early versus those states that do require an excuse;
• There were higher levels of early voting in urbanized areas versus less densely populated areas;
• Almost half of 2008 early voters were first-time early voters;
• Early voters were more politically engaged than non-early voters;
• and The early vote favored President-elect Barack Obama

For the complete report, please click here.