[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/10/28/art.e.voting.ohio.ap.jpg caption="Voting booths and tables are filled with early voters at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Columbus, Ohio."]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Record early voting is under way in 30 states. Voters are casting their ballots either at the polls or through absentee ballots. In both Georgia and North Carolina for example, an estimated 20 percent of registered voters had already voted as of Monday.
In some states, voters have been willing to stand in line for hours while waiting to vote early. This kind of energy and interest is in stark contrast to some past elections where you couldn't get voters out of bed on Election Day to go to the polls. The eight years of the Bush administration has energized our democracy like never before and indications are Republicans aren't going to like the outcome.
An estimated 122 million Americans, or about 60 percent of registered voters, voted in the 2004 presidential election, according to the committee for the study of the American electorate. That was a six percent increase from the 2000 election and the highest turnout since 1968.
But if new registrations and early voting this year are any indication, this could be an election for the record books.
Here’s my question to you: What does record early turnout mean for next Tuesday's election?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Marge from New Port Richey, Florida writes:
It's a sign that shows how crucial this election is. A lot of normally apathetic citizens who take everything for granted are obviously hurting and are now paying attention. Too bad things have to get so bad before people take notice. But it's human nature.
Matt writes:
I think it means that Americans have realized that it’s time for a progressive change in America. We haven't had a social one since the 60's, and an economic one since FDR.
T.J. writes:
It means McCain is toast. The polls on McCain are not factoring in the hidden dynamics of this race. First-time voters, the youth and left-out citizens who are determined not to be left out this time. They are going early to avoid the lines and any flim-flam that happens at election sites on election day. This might be over before it starts.
Ron from Oregon writes:
Having already voted in the nation's only all mail-in balloting, it is clear that people are serious and want their vote to count. Why doesn't everyone just go to the mail-in ballot? It is so much more convenient, and people have more time to do it. And there has never been an accusation of voter fraud in Oregon related to the mail-in balloting. Come on people of oh, say, Florida or Ohio, get with the program.
John writes:
It means that people are tired of this election cycle and more eager than ever to get it over with.
Sandra from Texas writes:
I voted early and came home and took a bath. Now, I can ignore all the b.s. from the McCain campaign, and go on about my business. Maybe everyone else feels about the same, they just want this over.
Steve from Illinois writes:
It means bye-bye to grumpy old white men being in charge.