US Election Assistance Commission - Voluntary Voting System Guidelines Vote
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Name :   Doug Jones
Organization :   N/A
Post Date :   9/27/2005

Glossary Comments
Glossary Term :  Early Voting
Definition :  
Comment :  In response to your request for comments on the draft glossary of voting system terminology, I offer the following, picking up with the letter D, having completed A through C in previous comments. As before, in each case, I am quoting the original and then offering an alternative definition.

Early Voting: Voter completes the ballot in person at a county office or other designated polling site or ballot drop site prior to Election Day. Also known as Early In-Person Voting or On-Site Absentee Voting.  

Early Voting: Broadly, voting conducted before election day, including Absentee Voting. When used specifically, this term frequently refers to voting in person at county offices or Satellite Polling Places. In many states, such early voting is legally a form of absentee voting, with voters signing in by filling out absentee ballot request forms, which are processed immediately so that the voter can vote the ballot and then return the ballot immediately to the election officials.