news-record.com

Election Day has become Election Season. It was a huge success in Guilford County and across North Carolina -- despite the delay in determining, officially, whether Barack Obama or John McCain would win the state's 15 electoral votes.

Tallying provisional ballots must be done with deliberation, especially when they might tilt an entire state to one presidential candidate or the other. The point is, every vote counts.

North Carolinians took their right to vote seriously in 2008. More participated in this election than ever before, and the large turnout was made possible by early voting. Beginning Oct. 16, voters had 17 days to cast ballots -- before Election Day itself. Fewer than half waited until Tuesday.

The rush to vote early produced longer lines than voters typically found if they waited until Tuesday. A helpful tool, sure to be used more often next time, was the county's online updates of how long people had to wait at early voting sites. Web-savvy voters could look for a lull, then hurry down for no-wait balloting.

Once election officials finish the canvassing and other necessary chores, they will begin evaluations. Early voting procedures are evolving, and improvements are possible.

One might be to operate more sites. Guilford County used 19 early voting locations, but all weren't always open at the same time. That confused some voters and made access more convenient to some residents than to others. More sites would require more staffing, costing more money, but the public clearly wants to maximize voting opportunities and should be willing to pay the additional expense.

While plenty of information about early voting was publicized, people might not have heard as much about absentee voting by mail. That option guarantees no lines. Voters can request absentee ballots by mail, fill them out at home and return them. They're due at 5 p.m. on the Monday before Election Day. No reason is required to cast an absentee ballot by mail. Voters just have to remember to sign the ballot and have two witnesses sign as well.

Guilford County received about 14,000 "approved" absentee ballots by mail, excluding those that were disqualified because they weren't signed or were otherwise flawed. Voters are notified when their ballots are not approved, giving them a chance to try again. This is a good alternative to voting in person, although, again, it requires additional election staff for processing the paper ballots.

Election officials, candidates and the media all are adjusting to new voting schedules. It's all about doing what's best for voters. They'll never settle for an Election Day again. They deserve a season.