So early voting is under way in Ohio...

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindeale r/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1222590821279 051.xml&coll=2

"Voter registration ends Oct. 6, but absentee balloting goes on every day through Nov. 3, the day before Election Day. More than voter convenience is at work here. The board hopes 300,000 people vote early. It would mean smaller lines at polling places on Nov. 4, less stress for poll workers, a leisurely way for voters to fill out what could be a three-page ballot, and a means for the board to tally votes faster."

I am a little surprised that they hope 300,000 people would vote early. Knowing that almost 6 million people voted in Ohio in 2004, this goal of 300,000 (or only 5%) strikes me as pretty low. Does anybody have ideas and thoughts, or stats about previous years? Does the 300,000 figure also seem not ambitious at all? Or am I just wrongly assuming that a lot more people would be glad to vote early and avoid the lines on election day?