Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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November 3, 2008

Early Voting Draws Millions in Key US States
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1F1AA18:A6F02AD83191E160DD48EA20143B9A6898CBE7246176B735&
 
Officials say more than 23 million have already cast ballots for next
president in highly contested states 
Students wait in line to vote early at a campus polling site in Davis,
California Election officials say more than 23 million Americans in
several highly contested U.S. states have already cast ballots for the
next U.S. president. Authorities had estimated 30 percent of voters
would participate in early voting in 34 states across the country. In
some states, voters waited in long lines for up to six hours to cast
ballots in person ahead of election day Tuesday. Democratic Party
officials say they are encouraged by the early turnout numbers, with
figures showing Democrats voting early in greater numbers in the states
of Ohio, North Carolina, Iowa, Nevada and New Mexico. In Florida,
Republicans have an edge among absentee voters, but Democrats have lined
up in larger numbers in person at early voting polling places.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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