3 months ago
15
In-person voting for the presidential election began on Friday, marking the start of a crucial six-week period leading up to Election Day.
Virginia
became the first state to kick off in-person voting on Friday, with early polling sites open until November 2.
At a polling site in Minneapolis, Jason Miller, a 37-year-old house painter, was first in line.
“Why not try to be first? That’s kind of fun,” he said, explaining that he voted “against crazy,” without revealing his choice for president.
This
early voting
period follows a politically turbulent summer. President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, and Vice President Kamala Harris stepped in as the Democratic nominee.
Meanwhile, Republican candidate Donald Trump survived two assassination attempts in a span of nine weeks.
Voters experienced long queues as they cast their ballots on national, state, and local levels.
In
Minnesota
and South Dakota, voters are only able to submit absentee ballots in person, as mail-in voting is not an option at this stage.
The political climate has led election officials nationwide to increase security to protect polling sites and workers, with federal authorities investigating suspicious packages sent to election offices in over 15 states, including Virginia.
Minnesota’s Secretary of State Steve Simon, who also leads the National Association of Secretaries of State, emphasised his hopes for a smooth voting process. “If I could wave a magic wand, I’d wish for high turnout and low drama,” Simon said during a press conference.
Some voters cited concerns about potential chaos on Election Day.
Chris Burda, a 74-year-old Minneapolis resident, voted early for Harris, praising her for defending democracy. She encouraged others to vote early to avoid possible disruptions at polling sites.
While Trump has historically criticised mail-in voting, this year he and the Republican National Committee have promoted early and mail-in voting as a way to secure GOP votes.
Eugene Otteson, a 71-year-old Vietnam War veteran, cast his ballot for Trump, stating, “I don’t like him, but he’s a businessman, and I like someone who can run a business.”
In contrast, Rocklyn Faher, a 70-year-old retired Navy aviation electrician from Norfolk, Virginia, voted for Harris.
He became emotional as he spoke about the stakes of this election, calling it “the most important election in the last 100 years,” and emphasising the need to protect the Constitution for his grandchildren’s future.
Meanwhile, in South Dakota, early voters turned out steadily, with local election officials noting a busier-than-usual first day. Voters in the state will also weigh in on contentious ballot initiatives, including abortion rights and marijuana legalisation.
Amid concerns about postal service delays, officials are urging voters to cast ballots early to ensure they are counted on time.
