Early voting in particular person for The 2024 US presidential election It begins Friday in Virginia, South Dakota and Minnesota, and election workplaces are beginning to ship out mail-in ballots. This marks the start of voting season, with simply over 45 days till Election Day on November 5, when American voters will select their subsequent president. Extra US states will comply with swimsuit with in-person early voting in mid-October.
There are 5 presidential candidates within the race for the White Home: Democrat Kamala Harris, Republican Donald Trumpimpartial candidate Cornel West and two third-party candidates, Jill Stein and Chase Oliver.
As voters head to the polls, Election officers throughout the nation are stepping up safety efforts. to guard polling stations and workers from threats. Because the 2020 election, election officers have confronted harassment and even demise threats, in line with the Related Press (AP) information company.
Just lately, in additional than 15 states, together with Virginia, Election officers have obtained suspicious packages forward of the election, and federal authorities are investigating its origin.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon burdened the significance of a clean election course of throughout a information convention. Minnesota is the house state of Kamala Harris’ operating mate, Governor Tim Walz.
“If I may wave a magic wand on this room proper now, I would need for 2 issues: Between now and Nov. 5, I need to see excessive turnout and low drama,” Steve Simon stated, as quoted by AP.
As early voting begins, former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s rhetoric has turn into extra combative. He not too long ago vowed to prosecute anybody who “cheats” within the election, echoing his false claims of widespread fraud in the course of the 2020 election.
Trump has beforehand tried to forged doubt on early voting by mail. However Trump and the Republican Nationwide Committee, which is now managed by Trump, are urging Republican voters to make the most of these strategies, mimicking long-standing Democratic methods, AP reported.
In Virginia, early voting has been a preferred choice, particularly in cities like Chesapeake. Early participation is predicted to scale back crowds on Election Day.
Fairfax County Elections Director Eric Spicer anticipates a excessive turnout this yr, noting that in 2020, a few third of native voters forged ballots in particular person on Election Day.
Minnehaha County in South Dakota, essentially the most populous county within the state, is anticipating an 80% general voter turnout.
Considerations about mail-in voting persist because the U.S. Postal Service continues to face operational challenges. Election officers throughout the nation have warned of potential mail delays that might disenfranchise voters.
Postmaster Basic Louis DeJoy assured officers that the Postal Service is ready and stated in a letter that he’ll work with state election workplaces to handle issues.
To keep away from mail-related points, Simon inspired voters to plan forward, particularly if they’re voting by mail. He suggested voters to request absentee ballots early and return them promptly, noting that in some states solely ballots obtained earlier than Election Day will probably be counted. “There’s a lot at stake for particular person voters,” Simon stated.
