Early (absentee) voting in Mississippi favors Democrats ... link

[Alhena]

You have to read down in the article to find that though. The fact that Dems lead among absentee voting in a state that always goes Republican is huge.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20081023/NEWS/810230377/1001/news

Early voting numbers suggest more Mississippians are voting in this year's presidential election than in 2004, and election workers expect those numbers to rise in the remaining days before Nov. 4.

Circuit clerks statewide report higher numbers of absentee voting, Mississippi's only form of early voting. College students, active duty military, seniors, the disabled and residents who will be away from the county on election day can vote absentee.

Residents can vote absentee at circuit clerk's offices on weekdays until Nov. 1. Many offices will be open during the morning hours on the next two Saturdays. Mail-in ballots must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Nov. 3, and by 7 p.m. on Nov. 4 for the presidential race.

Election officials attribute increases to higher levels of voter interest in the race between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama. Also on the ballot are high-profile races for U.S. Senate and congressional seats, as well as judicial contests.

Clerks in predominantly white counties report an increase in absentee voters, as well as those in predominantly African-American areas of the state.

"We anticipate many, many more within the next week or so," said Timaka Jones, circuit clerk in the Delta county of Humphreys. "A lot of people are galvanized and excited and ready to participate in the presidential election, especially young voters."

In Hinds County, where officials are still processing thousands of newly registered voters, 2,598 people have voted absentee.

In Rankin County, 2,000 residents have requested absentee ballots. Of those, 1,350 have voted in person; the rest are mailing in their ballots.

Rankin County Circuit Clerk Carol Swilley said 3,500 people voted absentee in the 2004 presidential election, and she expects more than 5,000 this time.

In Madison County, 2,036 people have voted absentee, an increase from the 2004 election.

In the north Mississippi county of DeSoto, officials in the circuit clerk's office say they help about 75 voters per day who visit the courthouse to vote absentee.

"We have had more college students requesting absentee (ballots) than usual ... lots of disabled people ... They want to make sure they vote," said Circuit Clerk Dale Thompson, adding that 2,500 people have voted absentee.

Thompson said many older residents are voting absentee, and most are only interested in the presidential election.

In the coastal county of Harrison, 3,000 people have voted absentee, Circuit Clerk Gayle Parker said.

"Each day it gets busier and busier," she said. "A lot of elderly people are voting absentee because they said they can't stand in long lines."

Most states allow all voters to vote early. Mississippi is not one of them.

Early voting numbers indicate Democrats are turning out in higher numbers than Republicans.

Analysts are quick to point out that could change, though.

Absentee voting can make a difference if an election "is extremely close," said Mary Deason, a political science professor at the University of Mississippi.

A recent Associated Press poll says the presidential race is essentially even. Other polls put Obama further ahead of McCain.