Modern early voting began in the West, which has a history of complicated ballots, Gronke said.

CNN: In voting, the early bird skips the line

Its problems inconsistent voting procedures, antiquated voting equipment, sloppy vote-counting could have happened in any state, argues Paul Gronke, an elections expert in Portland, Oregon.

ECONOMIST: Washington state politics

In 2004, 22% of Americans voted early and that rate rose to 34% in 2008, according to Paul Gronke, Professor of Political Science who founded and runs the Early Voting Information Center at Reed College in Oregon.

CNN: In voting, the early bird skips the line