Poll shows Obama beats McCain among early voters

美大选1200万人提前投票 民调显示奥巴马领先

　　U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is leading his Republican opponent John McCain by 53 percent to 34 percent among early voters, a new poll indicated Tuesday.

　　The poll was conducted by the Pew Research Center among some of the 12 million voters who have already cast ballots six days ahead of the presidential election day on Nov. 4.

　　At present, 34 U.S. states allow voters to cast a ballot before election day, either in person at the polling site or by mail.

　　The long October queues at polling places anticipate a tremendous surge in voter turnout over previous elections, and statistics from key states indicate an advantage for Obama.

　　Campaigns, voters and election workers have increasingly embraced early voting this year.

　　Research indicates early voters tend to be more partisan and firm in their choices than average. The campaigns of Obama and McCain have encouraged supporters to vote early.

　　In 2004, 22 percent of American voters cast their ballot before election day. That is expected to rise to as much as one third of all voters this year.

　　Michael McDonald, a politic expert at George Mason University, said the early voting advantage for the Democrats may narrow because the Republicans typically start their mobilization efforts closer to election day.

　　根据美国２８日公布的一份统计报告，虽然距离１１月４日总统选举日还有一周，但已有约１２００万名选民参加提前投票。

　　追踪调查提前投票状况的美国乔治·梅森大学政治学教授麦克唐纳说，估计已有１２６０万选民完成投票，其中大部分人支持民主党总统候选人奥巴马。

　　根据麦克唐纳统计，在两党角逐激烈的佛罗里达州，提前投票的选民中，有４５％是民主党人，而共和党人占４０％；在艾奥瓦州，４９％为民主党人，２８％为共和党人；而在路易斯安那州，提前投票的民主党人和共和党人所占比例分别为５８％和２９％。

　　但麦克唐纳也强调，这一数据为不完全统计结果，因为一些州并不要求选民说明他们所属的党派。

　　美国各州对于提前投票的规定各不相同，但总体来说，在允许提前投票的州，选民可以在选举日前亲自前往投票站投票，或者邮寄缺席选票。由于这种做法既便于选民自行掌握投票时间，也有助于缓解选举日的拥挤状况，因此受到选民和选举官员的欢迎。