FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
If the primaries are any indication - these midterm elections might set records when it comes to voter turnout.
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USA Today reports that the number of voters casting early ballots in the primaries this year was up 50 percent over the 2006 midterms. That's a huge increase. About six million people took part in early voting in the 13 states they reviewed.
This increase in early voting is a game-changer. It forces campaigns and interest groups to alter their tactics as they reach out to voters ahead of November's election.
Although the midterms are still more than three weeks away, early or absentee voting is already underway in 10 states. And, early voting will kick off in another 17 states plus the District of Columbia in the next two weeks.
Experts say, for campaigns an early vote for you is like money in the bank. But an early vote against you is a lost vote that no TV ads or speech can change.
Others point to a trend where early voters tend to hold back and file their ballot closer to election day. That's because they haven't made up their minds as quickly as they do about presidential candidates.
Midterms are notorious for lack of voter interest and low turnout, but if the electorate is really as angry as we keep hearing, things may be different this time.
If people want their voices heard when it comes to the state of our economy, the skyrocketing and unsustainable deficits, taxes, war, health care, etc... they better turn out on November 2.
Here’s my question to you: Why are so many more people voting in these midterm elections?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
David in Las Vegas writes:
Well, Jack, millions can vote any time of day since they don't have a job. Millions more have the time to vote since they don't have the money to shop, freeing up time. The rest are so disappointed and discouraged with Obama's first 18 months that we need to vent our rage in the voting booth. The worst part is the choice of candidates.
Paul in Austin, Texas writes:
Why? Because the movement of term limits is real. I do not really like the Tea Party movement. But one thing they have been able to do is to vote in blocks to get people out of office, when all they want is a job for 60 years at our expense.
Connie in Virginia writes:
Because they actually think their vote counts... Too bad they are limited to a two-party monoploy that undermines the will of the people when big donors take over the agenda of the party leadership!
Pat in Michigan writes:
We are fed up, Jack. We are going to see if the Republicans can deliver in two years and if they don't deliver then they are out on their collective rears too! Enough is enough.
Chester writes:
People thought "Hope and Change" meant innovation and improvement. If they were paying attention to Obama's writings and speeches, they would have realized that his vision of Hope and Change was sending us somewhere near mid-70s Soviet Union territory. They bought his miserable vision, and now they want their money back.
Joe in Florida writes:
Maybe because a change is needed, and they don't want to wait until 2012.
Ayo in Texas writes:
History has shown that voter turnout is highest when things are very bad. Maybe if politicians did any work while in office, we would all have a peaceful "stay home" midterms.