Congress may seek early voting expansion

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- The heavy turnout in early voting for the U.S. presidential election is prompting Congress to consider expanding the practice nationwide, experts say.

With 24.4 million voters casting early ballots in 26 states where they are allowed proving its popularity, lawmakers will likely push for legislation to allow it in states that now require formal excuses to issue absentee ballots, CNN reported Monday.

"It is almost certain that after the election there will be legislation proposed in the next session of Congress that will mandate no-excuse absentee balloting nationwide," said Paul Gronke, director of the non-partisan Early Voting Institute.

More Democrats than Republicans have taken advantage of the early voting, records show. Of 7.5 million voters registered by party in nine reporting states, Democratic voters outnumbered GOP voters 57.3 percent to 42.7 percent, the broadcaster said.

"States that have early voting may be better able to handle large numbers of Election Day voters because so many voters in those states have already cast ballots," Michael McDonald of George Mason University told CNN. "And that may be what will prompt people to re-evaluate the idea of some federal legislation mandating it nationwide."