Voting for US presidential race begins | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

The News Guy

2 months ago

MINNEAPOLIS — In-person voting for this year’s presidential election began Friday, a milestone that kicked off a six-week sprint to Election Day after a summer of political turmoil.

Voters lined up to cast their ballots in Minnesota, South Dakota and Virginia, the states with the first early in-person voting opportunities. About a dozen more states will follow by mid-October.

The beginning of in-person balloting follows a tumultuous summer in American politics that included President Joe Biden dropping out of the race and being replaced by Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, and an assassination attempt against Republican nominee Donald Trump followed by another apparent attempt on his life just nine weeks later.

Across the country, local election directors are beefing up their security to keep their workers and polling places safe while also ensuring that ballots and voting procedures won’t be tampered with. Officials and ordinary poll workers have been targets of harassment and even death threats since the 2020 presidential election.

Federal authorities are investigating the origin of suspicious packages that have been sent to or received by elections officials in more than 15 states in recent days, including Virginia.

“If I could wave a magic wand in this room right now, I would wish for two things: Between now and November 5th, I want to see high turnout and low drama,” Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said during a news conference Thursday that previewed his state’s efforts around the election season. Simon also serves as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State.

Some voters suggested that the potential for trouble or chaos on Election Day was one reason not to wait.

Chris Burda, 74, said she is encouraging others to get their ballots in early “to avoid potential disruption on Election Day or in-person voting by a certain party who seems to be interested in poll watching to the point of intimidation.” She cast her ballot for Harris at a Minneapolis voting center, saying the vice president was “standing up for democracy and the freedom to choose.”

As the start of early voting approached, Trump’s rhetoric turned more ominous with a pledge to prosecute anyone who “cheats” in the election in the same way he claimed they did in 2020.

Trump has previously sought to sow doubts about mail voting and encouraged voters to cast ballots in person on Election Day. But this year, Trump and the Republican National Committee, which he now controls, have begun to embrace early and mail voting as a way to lock in GOP votes before Election Day, just as Democrats have done for years.

Some voters might opt for early in-person balloting instead of using mail ballots to ensure their votes get counted, given the ongoing struggles of the U.S. Postal Service.

State and local election officials from across the country last week warned that problems with mail deliveries threaten to disenfranchise voters, and they told the head of the system that it hasn’t fixed persistent deficiencies despite their repeated attempts at outreach.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy responded Monday that the Postal Service will be ready.

Information for this article was contributed by Olivia Diaz, Jack Dura, Ben Finley, John Hanna, Michael Goldberg and Mark Vancleave of The Associated Press.

   A member of the staff walks out of the City of Minneapolis early voting center, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. In-person voting in the 2024 presidential contest begins Friday in three states, including Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz’s home state of Minnesota, with just over six weeks left before Election Day. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher)
     Minneapolis voter Jason Miller casts his ballot at the City of Minneapolis early voting center, Friday, September 20, 2024, in Minneapolis, Minn. Miller was the first resident in line to cast his vote. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher)
     Early voters get their ballots at the City of Minneapolis early voting center, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher)
     Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon speaks to the media about early voting at the Minnesota State Capitol, Thursday, September 19, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher)
     “I Voted Early” stickers sit in a bucket by the ballot box at the City of Minneapolis early voting center, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. In-person voting in the 2024 presidential contest begins Friday in three states, including Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz’s home state of Minnesota, with just over six weeks left before Election Day. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher)
     Instructions are posted on the wall inside the City of Minneapolis early voting center, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. In-person voting in the 2024 presidential contest begins Friday in three states, including Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz’s home state of Minnesota, with just over six weeks left before Election Day. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher)
     Minneapolis residents cast their votes at the City of Minneapolis early voting center, Friday, September 20, 2024, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher)
     A sign welcoming voters on the door of the City of Minneapolis early voting center, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. In-person voting in the 2024 presidential contest begins Friday in three states, including Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz’s home state of Minnesota, with just over six weeks left before Election Day. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher)(AP Photo/Adam Bettcher)
     Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon speaks to the media with some of his election staff about early voting at the Minnesota State Capitol, Thursday, September 19, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher)