UPDATE: Click here for the 2012 version of this post.

Note: Here is a more recent version of this diary.

Mr. desmoinesdem likes to vote on election day, but I usually vote several weeks before. That way I don’t have to worry if I’m sick, or my children are sick, on that Tuesday in November. Plus, if everyone in my family is well, voting early leaves my election day free for volunteering with the Iowa Democratic Party’s phone banks or canvassing teams.

Long lines aren’t typically a problem in my precinct, but early voting is also good for people who want to make sure they don’t have to wait long during the rush to vote before or after work on election day.

Voting early also enables the Obama campaign and Iowa Democratic Party to direct their GOTV efforts toward more unreliable voters than you. Once you have voted, you won’t receive any more phone calls reminding you to vote.

The Obama campaign in Iowa sent out this e-mail today, encouraging supporters to vote early:

Dear [desmoinesdem] —

Vote early for Barack Did you know you don’t have to wait until November 4th to vote for Barack?

Right now supporters like you are stepping up to show their support for Barack and Democrats up and down the ballot by voting early.

In Iowa, you can vote early by mail right now, or vote early in person starting on September 25th. It’s fast, easy, and it could make the difference in this election.

Make your voice heard right away. Download your ballot request now and vote early for Barack.

Voting early is a great way for you to help our campaign take one step closer to victory.

Across Iowa, supporters like you are working together to grow this Campaign for Change and spread Barack’s message. We know Iowan families can’t afford another four or eight years of Bush-McCain policies.

We only have seven weeks until November 4th, but starting September 25th, every day is Election Day in Iowa.

Why wait? Request your vote by mail ballot online, right now:

http://iowa.barackobama.com/IA…

We can’t do this without you.

Thanks,

Tripp

Tripp Wellde

Iowa Field Director

Campaign for Change

P.S. — The success of this movement for change depends on supporters like you contributing more than your votes. Take the Iowa Call Challenge, reach out to voters using our new Neighbor to Neighbor tool, and have an opportunity to meet Barack or Joe:

http://iowa.barackobama.com/n2n

Note: My understanding is that the early votes cast will be counted during the day on election day and will be the first returns released by the Secretary of State’s office after the polls close. So don’t worry about your vote not getting counted.

Speaking of early voting, I highly recommend this diary by OrangeClouds115 about an innovative GOTV project in Ohio:

Ohio has a “golden week” – Sept 30 to Oct 6 – in which you can REGISTER AND VOTE all in the same day. That means no 8 hour lines, no finding out you aren’t registered and being stuck, no phony provisional ballots, etc. This is our chance to really GOTV before the other side goes into full gear with their SOTV campaigns (suppress out the vote).

But… we need help. Whatever you can give…people, cars, money, all of the above. And if you can’t do any of those things, rec this diary and forward the message on. Details below.

If you have maxed out to Obama and are looking for ways to put more money to work electing him president, this might be the project for you. OrangeClouds115 notes:

My thought about donating is that I would rather give my money to this campaign instead of directly to Obama because I know it’s going EXACTLY where it is most needed and actually resulting concretely in votes and also because NOT ONE PENNY OF IT is going to DC insider consultants. It is all going to activists who are using it as wisely as possible, sleeping on couches, sharing rides, and working around the clock.

Who’s voting early, and who prefers the old ritual of voting on election day?