Montana is one of the near thirty states that allow a person to vote ahead of the election date with absentee voting and though it began for a select few, recent events show its a growing trend. Election day is a few months away, but that won't stop the campaign ads from coming early this year.

"Campaigns can no longer wait for 2 weeks before elections, to go door to door and mailing. Since maybe 30, 40, even 50% will already have cast their vote," says Duane Winslow with Yellowstone County Elections. That estimated 50% voted using an absentee ballot.

Ten years ago, there were only specific reasons that would allow someone to cast their ballot early. But Sunday in Montana, anyone can vote early, and it seems more and more are. "It really has exploded in the past ten years, we've gone from 4,000 absentee ballots in the nineties to recent election years with 30,000," says Winslow.

The state began the trend to make voting more accessible and increase turnout at the polls. Sunday the state has the third highest voter turnout in the nation, and the longest period of time to vote early. But some say earlier is not always better.

"One downside to early voting is that once you cast that vote, there's still two weeks or a month to go and what happens if something eventful happens with a campaign or a candidate during that period and you change your mind," says Political Analyst Craig Wilson. Political experts say it's also more likely someone will vote against an issue that they've never heard of. But at home ballots allow voters to research candidates and issues.

Campaigners are also taking advantage of the early voting trend. Signing up first time voters as absentee voters from the beginning, especially among young voters. "By getting that vote in early, it’s a real handy tool for the campaigns," says Winslow. Wilson says he expects a continued increase in absentee voting this year. Montana early voting begins October 6th.