EARLY VOTING OFTEN REDUCES OVERALL TURNOUT

University of Wisconsin - Although states are moving quickly to put in place election procedures that allow for early voting, allowing people to cast ballots ahead of Election Day often results in lower turnout, according to research from a team of University of Wisconsin-Madison political scientists.

However, in states such as Wisconsin, which also allow voters to register at the polls, the effect on turnout is more muted, the research showed.

Although about 30 percent of voters nationally cast ballots before election day in 2008, the buzz that builds around Election Day - the key to bringing less-dedicated voters to the polls - isn't as strong when voting activity is spread out over the last weeks of the campaign, the report from the UW-Madison shows.

"Early and absentee voting siphons activity away from Election Day itself that would have stimulated turnout," says the report .