Citizens in many battleground states have made their voices heard early by casting their vote before Election Day.

Early voting was made available Monday for citizens in Texas, Florida, Colorado and Arkansas. In other key states, in-person early voting has already begun.

Early voting refers to people casting their absentee votes early for any number of reasons. Voters can either mail it in or vote early in person, the specifics of which are decided by each state.

Sandy Hoffman, the election specialist in Utah County, said most people in Utah County are voting early because they will be out of town, others because they don't want to wait in line on Election Day.

Quin Monson, an assistant professor of political science, said there are other reasons besides being on vacation that campaigns are emphasizing early voting.

"In competitive presidential states it changes the dynamics somewhat because you have incentives with campaigns to do something called banking the vote," he said.

Monson said banking the vote is essentially finding the solid voters, sending them an absentee ballot, finding out when they receive the ballot and calling them to make sure they vote and send it in. He said it gets the vote in the bank early.

"A lot of that has been going on in battleground presidential states this year," he said. "It's an effective way of trying to ensure that you get a victory."

Absentee voting got easier in states such as Utah with the introduction of the no-excuse absentee ballot.

Previously in Utah there were provisions that regulated absentee voting. Voters had to be out of town or have medical conditions that forced them to be homebound.

This year, voters in Utah can cast their ballot early for whatever reason they choose.

Hoffman said people have been voting in Utah County since the last week of September.

"I cast my vote early because I know I'm not going to be leaving here on Election Day," she said. "And none of the campaign ads are changing my mind. I already know whom I want to vote for. Most people know what they want to do before they even vote."

Monson said no-excuse absentee balloting has become prevalent in campaigning because candidates don't need to come up with an excuse to get votes in early.

Monson moved from Ohio years ago and is registered to vote in Utah, but still receives absentee ballot requests from one of the presidential candidates.

"They are going into new depths to get names on absentee ballots," he said. "They are really beating the bushes here for every last vote."

Spencer Jenkins, the executive director of the Utah Republican Party, said the no excuse absentee ballot is having an effect on campaigning strategy here locally.

"We are encouraging people to vote absentee," he said. "It's the first year of the no excuse absentee ballot, so it is a lot easier to get it."

Jenkins said it will take a couple election cycles for campaigns to adapt and make it a more key component in their strategy.

Monson said in addition to the benefits of early voting, there are also drawbacks, such as late developments in the race.

No-excuse absentee ballots in Utah must be cast in person or received in the mail by Oct. 29. Voters can cast their votes at the county office.

Copyright Brigham Young University 18 Oct 2004