Got a polling question. Are early voters counted? We are seeing loads of polls,

[NRaleighLiberal]

But lots of people have already voted - do the polls reflect only those who have yet to vote?

That is an important consideration of course, esp. if Obama is getting heavy percentages of the early vote. Would mean that a continuing, stable lead in polls between now and the big day are actually even better news for the good guys!

[Allyoop]

1. Methods

I think it would depend on how the vote is cast. Here in Watauga County, NC, we use paper ballots that are fed into an ES&S machine that tallies the votes (and the voters) as they are cast. Then the record of early voting is tallied with the votes cast in the same way at the end of voting on Nov 4th. If paper mail-in votes are cast (I don't know if that's even possible here anymore) they are counted on the 4th. I don't know if a running tally of numbers of these that have been returned is publicized. Provisional ballots are reviewed and accepted or rejected after the 4th.

So yes, here in WC, we know how many people have voted at the early voting stations in this county.

[Higher Standard]

3. I think the OP was looking for something different

In the tracking polls, not specifically the early voter polls. I think the OP may have been wondering if the daily tracking polls include people who have early voted or exclude them. To which I haven't got the answer.

[kentuck]

2. Are early voters first-time voters?

Does anyone how many of these voters are voting for the first time? Or are they mostly loyal Democrats that vote in every election?

[murray hill farm]

4. Thanks for asking this important question.

One that does not get enough attention when polls are one of the tools used to make the race look closer than it is...and then provide the backdrop for stealing the election. Another question about the individual polls is, do they use only land phones for the polling...this would highly skew the polls if it is the case.