Almost 1 million votes already cast in 2014 midterms

This is certainly a topic which transcends election years and as more and more states embrace various methods, early voting is becoming all the rage these days. According to the Associated Press, nearly 1 million votes (904,000 to be exact) have already been cast in various 2014 midterm races around the country.

Report from CBSLocal:

Midterm elections are less than three weeks away, yet more than 904,000 Americans already have cast their ballots, with almost 60 percent of those early votes in Florida, according to data compiled by The Associated Press from election officials in 11 states.

Those numbers are climbing daily as more states begin their advance voting periods and more voters return mail-in ballots ahead of Nov. 4.

Early voting doesn’t predict electoral outcomes, but both major parties emphasized the opportunity in recentelections as they try to lock in core supporters. Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia allow some form of advance voting other than traditional absentee voting requiring an excuse. [Emphasis added]

Here’s my question: Is early voting good, bad, or indifferent? I tend to frown upon the concept because it feels to me like making a judgment before all the facts are in. Now maybe if you’re dead set on how you’re voting and nothing in the world is going to change it, then fine, early vote to your heart’s content.

Early voting seems to grow every year as states look for ways to cut costs by cutting election-related expenses. 2014 and 2016 are no different as the trend continues. By 2025, we’ll just be counting ballots on Election Day, the voting will have been done a month before.