CNN's Erick Erickson Undermines Early Voting -- After Voting Early

Written by Solange Uwimana

Published

CNN contributor Erick Erickson criticized early voting, claiming that the practice could make Americans less likely to vote. But on October 18, Erickson boasted of voting early for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

On CNN's Erin Burnett OutFront, host Erin Burnett kicked off the discussion on early voting by saying we should get rid of it and suggested moving Election Day from a Tuesday to another day when Americans could all vote on one day.

Erickson replied by noting that Tuesday as Election Day dates back to the country's founding but added that as a former election lawyer, “I've always had a concern with when you make it too general and too broad and too vote-anytime-you-want, then suddenly it becomes less of a civic national commitment.”

Yet yesterday, Erickson exercised his civic duty by voting early for Romney:

His post included this shot of an early voting ballot from Bibb County, Georgia:

Bibb County allows early voting from October 15 to November 2.

As CNN reported recently, more Americans are choosing to vote early in this election year for convenience's sake, one of the reasons states have expanded it. In fact, as many as 40 percent of Americans are expected to vote earlier than November 6.

The article went on to report that voting early may increase voter participation:

In Multnomah County, Oregon, which begins voting on October 8, Eric Sample, spokesman for the county elections division, says that early voting and the state's 100% vote-by-mail has increased voter participation.

“It does increase voter participation, especially in special elections,” Sample said.

He noted the impact, for instance, on school district elections, which aren't as high profile as presidential contests.

In Colorado, which relies heavily on ballots mailed to people on an active voter roster, their system increases voting among people already on the list.

Conservative media figures have repeatedly attacked early voting, claiming it's a bad idea for people to cast ballots early. 

This post has been updated for accuracy.