国际英语新闻:Early voters turn out to vote in Chicago

CHICAGO, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- While most U.S. citizens will vote next Tuesday, some of the country's early voters are already out to cast their ballots. Ms. Megan Keskitaoo from Chicago turned out to vote on Saturday, saying "I hope our new president will be our old president."

Keskitaoo and her husband came to the management office of the Horner Park in Chicago Saturday morning, and joined a queue of some 30 people meandering upward to the second floor to cast their votes for the U.S. president.

Living only a block away from the early voting site, Keskitaoo and her husband hope Obama will win the election. "I don't think ( Mitt) Romney's policies will help our nation," she said, adding "I think (Barack) Obama has much better ideas."

The official voting day actually falls on November 6. But to address the need of those who may not be able to show up on the voting day, the city of Chicago opened early voting sites in 50 wards from September 29 to November 3.

"It's great they have early voting allowing people who have stuff they have to do on the election day to still have their voice heard," said Paooma Christy. Christy has come to the Bucktown-Wicker Park Library to cast her vote. Her choice is Obama.

"He (Obama) is being a little bit more honest than the other candidate, and I appreciate that," said the 23-year-old college graduate. Christy thinks that Obama has better plans for what needs to happen in this country. "I don't think Romney has a clue, personally," she said frankly.

Dan Schuessler, a 27-year-old on-line project manager, also turned up on Saturday. "I think he (Obama) is leading the country in a right direction right now. If he is elected, his policy, his stance, issues have been consistent."

Ninety-year-old Metoyer does not look like his age. At Bucktown- Wicker Park Library, he explained: "Just get it done early so I don't forget." Voting Obama, he said, "I think he has done a very good job, and he wants to continue what he started. If (people) give him another four years, he can complete what he said he would do."

The RealClearPolitics average of national polls has Obama up by less than 1 percentage point against his rival, Mitt Romney.