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PDFFrom USAToday:
President Obama racked up another vote Thursday — his own.
Setting what he hopes is an example for supporters nationwide, Obama became the first president in history to cast an early ballot, taking a side trip to Chicago while wrapping up a two-day national campaign swing designed in part to promote early voting.
“For all of you who have not yet early voted, I just want everybody to see what an incredibly efficient process this was thanks to the outstanding folks who are at this particular polling place,” Obama told reporters after casting his ballot at the Martin Luther King Community Center in South Chicago.
As he has throughout the country, Obama made a pitch for early voting in the states that allow it.
“It means you don’t have to figure out whether you need to take time off work, figure out how to pick up the kids and still cast a ballot,” Obama said. “If something happens on election day you will have already taken care of it. If it’s bad weather you won’t get wet. Or in Chicago, snowy. But this was really convenient.”
While we’re nearly certain that Obama backed himself for a second term, he did say: “I can’t tell you who I voted for. But I very much appreciate everybody here. It’s good to be home back in the neighborhood.”
And, yes, the president had to produce an ID before he could vote — his driver’s license. “Now ignore the fact that there’s no gray hair on that picture,” he told an elections official. He added: “I’m just glad I renewed my driver’s license.”
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