Obama Becomes First US President to Vote Early in Election

WASHINGTON (RIA Novosti) --- US President Barack Obama cast his ballot two weeks before the formal Election Day, becoming the first president in US history to vote early in election.

Obama voted for himself in his hometown of Chicago on Thursday to encourage Americans to submit early ballots in the run-up to the November 6 election.

First Lady Michelle Obama voted even earlier, sending her absentee ballot by mail on October 15.

Early and absentee voting is a key part of Obama campaign's electoral strategy as it targets higher voter turnout by promoting “the ease, convenience, and importance of voting.”

A higher turnout will be especially important in eight "battleground states" where no single candidate or party has overwhelming support in securing that state's electoral votes.

Just a handful of extra votes at every polling station in these states could decide the outcome of the current tight US presidential run as Obama has only a slight lead over his Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

From a total of 538 electoral votes, at least 270 are needed to win the White House. The "battleground states" hold 95 so-called "tossup electoral votes.”