Early voting has downside

[4dsc]

So, you think you are ready to take advantage of early voting? Maybe you already voted Thursday, the first day when Iowans could cast ballots for the general election, which officially occurs Nov. 2.

There's just one little problem: What do you really know about the names on the ballot?

Certainly, we want to encourage citizens to exercise their right to vote and be part of the democratic process. But being informed about the candidates also is a key part of making democracy work. Voters just aren't that informed in September.

http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=296928

Unbelievable that any editorial board in this country would make these claims.

[OHdem10]

1. You make and excellent point. The Democrats do not even start

their serious campaign Ads and serious campaigns
until Oct. Many early voters will have voted
before the Democrats make their case.

Either the Democrats in the future need to start
fighting back earlier and getting their case out
to the public all along.

Sometimes the Mail-in voting comes early also.

[rurallib]

2. I have been working hard to elect the group I voted for

And I think I could safely say that those who joined me are well informed.
Besides in this day and age I would never vote for any Republican. Won't even consider it until they drop their tea party, religious, lying crap.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. geez, editorial board. Whose fault is that?

Who decides to run stories on Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan, Sarah Palin and whether Semi Moore broke up with her boytoy? Who failed to find out just how crazy O'Donnell was before the primary? Who failed to look into Rand Paul's ridiculous past (including a self created licensing board that simply seems to exist to certify Rand's own license?)?

If the public is not informed, whose job is it to inform them? Maybe the media? Maybe? Maybe?

[jdlh8894]

4. Lots of things can happen in 5 weeks

What if who you voted for dies? Lost your vote. Issues haven't been debated yet.So you are voting on name only(stupid,IMO)

[bluestateguy]

5. Early voting can reduce the impact of October Surprises upon elections

I view that as a good thing.

[liberal N proud]

6. I will vote early this year only because I have to

But I will wait until as close to the election as possible.

I will be on an international trip the last two weeks of October and into November.