UPI Poll: Early voters divided

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Early voters mailing their ballots prefer U.S. President Obama while early in-person voters prefer Mitt Romney, a United Press International poll indicated.

Obama was favored over GOP rival Mitt Romney 54 percent to 43 percent among likely early voters who returned their ballots by mail, while Romney led 49 percent to 48 percent among likely early in-person voters, results of the UPI-CVoter poll released Wednesday indicated.

One in three likely voters, about 34 percent, said they would vote before the Nov. 6 election either in person or by mail, the opinion poll indicated. Of these, 20 percent said they would vote by mail and about 14 percent said they would vote at a polling station.

Survey participants were asked their preferred method of early voting and which candidate they would support if the election were conducted today.

Men who said they will mail their ballots back Obama by 53 percent to 45 percent, results indicated. Those who said they would vote early in person were evenly divided at 49 percent. Forty-eight percent of men who said they would vote on Election Day said they would vote for Romney while 46 said they will vote Obama.

Among women, the mailers tilted toward Obama 55 percent to 42 percent. Those voting in person said they would vote for Romney over Obama, 48 percent to 47 percent. Women who said they would cast ballots on Nov. 6 said they back Obama 49 percent to Romney's 44 percent

Obama leads among mail-in voters in the 18-34 and 35-54 age brackets. The walk-in 18-34 bloc also said it preferred Obama.

Likely voters in both groups who said they'll wait until Election Day were split at 47 percent.

Romney leads among 34-54 year olds who say they would vote early but in person, results said. Voters age 55 and older aligned with Romney whether voting early in person, by mail or on Nov. 6, results indicated.

Results are based on nationwide telephone interviews with 1,612 likely voters Sept. 16-29. The margin of error is 4.5 percentage points.