Voting begins in US state of Ohio http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7643682.stm Early voting is getting under way in the US battleground state of Ohio, five weeks exactly before the 4 November presidential election. It comes a day after Ohio courts ruled that new voters could register and cast an absentee ballot on the same day. Republicans, who argue same-day voting opens the door to voter fraud, opposed the measure; Democrats backed it. Both John McCain and Barack Obama have been campaigning hard in Ohio, seen as a key swing state. John McCain, accompanied by running mate Sarah Palin, used a rally in Colombus, Ohio, on Monday to attack his Democratic rival over his economic policies. Mrs Palin, Republican governor of Alaska, is preparing for the vice-presidential debate scheduled for Thursday night, in which she and Democrat Joe Biden will face each other for the first time. She has come under increasing pressure after a series of TV interviews which critics say have exposed her lack of readiness for the role. Minorities Monday's Ohio Supreme Court decision, backed by two federal judges, cleared the way for same-day registration and voting during a week-long period up to 6 October, when voter registration ends. The Democrats hope the same-day voting period will benefit Mr Obama The ruling was welcomed by state Democrats, who hope to encourage college students and other groups such as minorities, the poor and the homeless to make use of the same-day voting period. Previously, voters had to be registered for at least 30 days before receiving an absentee ballot, which tended to reduce participation among such voter groups. They often favour the Democrats. The ruling was seen as a victory for Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat, who had been criticised by Republicans for telling county election organisers to allow same-day voting. Both Mr Obama's campaign and the Republican National Committee have urged supporters to make use of Ohio's 35-day early voting period to cast their absentee ballots. Ohio was an important swing state in 2004, when it went to President George W Bush by a narrow margin, helping him to re-election. A number of states, including the battleground states of Iowa, Virginia, Nevada, New Mexico and North Carolina, allow early and absentee voting. Some voters prefer it because they fear potential problems and long queues at polling stations on election day. The Obama campaign believes its strong on-the-ground organisation in many states could give it an advantage in encouraging people to cast their ballot early. ============================================================================== 美国‧36州提前投票‧2候选人须改变策略 http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/82809?tid=2 （美国‧弗吉尼亚州）美国大选的竞选活动进行得如火如荼，虽然现在距离11月4日全国 投票日尚有一个多月，但今年有36个州的选民可以在11月4日之前提早投票。 战况激烈的弗吉尼亚州是其中之一，周五（9月19日）开始容许已登记的选民投票，成为 最早投票的一个州份。 今年有这麽多州份容许选民提早投票，这项安排可能会迫使两位候选人民主党的奥巴马和 共和党的麦凯恩，改变竞拉票和各项宣传活动的计划，包括时间、地点和行程。 除了弗吉尼亚州外，其他安排选民提早投票的州份，还包括两位候选人不容有失的重要战 场，例如艾奥瓦州、俄亥俄州、威斯康星州、佛罗里达州和明尼苏达州。 选民取向影响选情 奥巴马和麦凯恩现时在这几个州份的支持率都打成平手，提早投票可能反映选民的取向， 从而对选情造成影响。 艾奥瓦州将於周二（9月23日）提早投票，俄亥俄州是9月30日，而佛州则是10月20日 今年安排选民提早投票的州份，数目之多创下了一个高纪录。相比之下，在2000年大选选 年，只有11个州作出这项安排。民主党一向主张和大力推动提早投票这项机制，相信这样 做可以鼓励更多穷人和黑人选民去投票。 2候选人对救市意见不同 另一方面，奥巴马表示支持联邦政府关於出台金融救援计划的决定，但麦凯恩却表示政府 不应参与救市行动。 到现在为止，奥巴马和麦凯恩均未提出振兴经济的详细计划。但美国舆论认为，选民更赞 同奥巴马应对当前金融和经济问题的主张。 星洲日报／国际‧2008.09.20 ============================================================================== 36州提早投票 维州919抢头香 http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/sep/21/today-int5.htm 〔编译张沛元／综合报导〕今年美国总统大选投票日是十一月四日，然因有多达三十六州 实施提早投票，估计今年美国总统大选至少有三分之一的选民、约四千万人，早在十一月 四日以前便已决定新任总统人选。一般相信，提早投票对民主党的选情较有利，而此一措 施也迫使两党总统候选人的竞选团队重新评估其竞选策略。 十一月四日前 四千万人先投票 维吉尼亚州在众多举办提早投票的州中抢得先机，日期为距离正式投票日超过六周的九月 十九日；率先举行初选的爱荷华州的提早投票日紧接在後，日期是九月二十三日。接下来 ，首度采行此措施的俄亥俄州在九月三十日举行提早投票，佛罗里达州在十月二十日提前 开放部分投票所，科罗拉多州则自十月二十二日起提前投票。 众多提早投票的州中，不乏共和党总统候选人麦肯与民主党总统候选人奥巴马势均力敌者 ，如俄亥俄州、威斯康辛州、佛罗里达州与明尼苏达州。相较於两千年大选时仅十一州获 准提早投票，今年举办提早投票的州数之多，彻底打乱传统上从全代会、电视辩论到万圣 节起的选前走透透竞选时程。毕竟，就在才刚宣布副手人选并在全代会上正式获得提名的 麦肯与奥巴马，开始准备巡回全美各州催票时，不少他们还没来得及涉足莅临的州，竟已 开始投票了。 民主党策士迪威表示，估计将有四千万人在十一月四日前投票；两名总统候选人现在得更 改拜票行程与所购买的媒体广告时段，「（提早投票对总统大选竞选过程构成）史无前例 的冲击」。 美国总统大选投票日并非国定假日，除了早已协调当日放假的工会劳工，绝大多数美国人 若想投票，只能仰赖雇主的配合与通融。为了冲高投票率，若干州十年前提出提早投票措 施（选民可邮寄选票或亲赴投票所投票）；两千年总统大选有十五％的提早投票选票，二 ○○四年成长至二十％。到了二○○六年国会期中选举时，近四分之一选票来自提早投票 。民主党人曾积极推动提早投票，理由是认为此举有助於减少穷人与黑人选民的投票权遭 到剥夺。 --

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