In-person voting for the presidential election started on Friday, marking the beginning of an important six-week interval main as much as Election Day.
Virginia turned the primary state to kick off in-person voting on Friday, with early polling websites open till November 2.
At a polling web site in Minneapolis, Jason Miller, a 37-year-old home painter, was first in line.“Why not attempt to be first? That’s form of enjoyable,” he mentioned, explaining that he voted “towards loopy,” with out revealing his selection for president.
This early voting interval follows a politically turbulent summer time. President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, and Vice President Kamala Harris stepped in because the Democratic nominee.
In the meantime, Republican candidate Donald Trump survived two assassination makes an attempt in a span of 9 weeks.
Voters skilled lengthy queues as they solid their ballots on nationwide, state, and native ranges.
In Minnesota and South Dakota, voters are solely capable of submit absentee ballots in particular person, as mail-in voting isn’t an choice at this stage.
The political local weather has led election officers nationwide to extend safety to guard polling websites and employees, with federal authorities investigating suspicious packages despatched to election places of work in over 15 states, together with Virginia.
Minnesota’s Secretary of State Steve Simon, who additionally leads the Nationwide Affiliation of Secretaries of State, emphasised his hopes for a easy voting course of. “If I may wave a magic wand, I’d want for prime turnout and low drama,” Simon mentioned throughout a press convention.
Some voters cited considerations about potential chaos on Election Day.
Chris Burda, a 74-year-old Minneapolis resident, voted early for Harris, praising her for defending democracy. She inspired others to vote early to keep away from doable disruptions at polling websites.
Whereas Trump has traditionally criticised mail-in voting, this 12 months he and the Republican Nationwide Committee have promoted early and mail-in voting as a solution to safe GOP votes.
Eugene Otteson, a 71-year-old Vietnam Conflict veteran, solid his poll for Trump, stating, “I don’t like him, however he’s a businessman, and I like somebody who can run a enterprise.”
In distinction, Rocklyn Faher, a 70-year-old retired Navy aviation electrician from Norfolk, Virginia, voted for Harris.
He turned emotional as he spoke in regards to the stakes of this election, calling it “an important election within the final 100 years,” and emphasising the necessity to defend the Structure for his grandchildren’s future.
In the meantime, in South Dakota, early voters turned out steadily, with native election officers noting a busier-than-usual first day. Voters within the state can even weigh in on contentious poll initiatives, together with abortion rights and marijuana legalisation.
Amid considerations about postal service delays, officers are urging voters to solid ballots early to make sure they’re counted on time.
Virginia turned the primary state to kick off in-person voting on Friday, with early polling websites open till November 2.
At a polling web site in Minneapolis, Jason Miller, a 37-year-old home painter, was first in line.“Why not attempt to be first? That’s form of enjoyable,” he mentioned, explaining that he voted “towards loopy,” with out revealing his selection for president.
This early voting interval follows a politically turbulent summer time. President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, and Vice President Kamala Harris stepped in because the Democratic nominee.
In the meantime, Republican candidate Donald Trump survived two assassination makes an attempt in a span of 9 weeks.
Voters skilled lengthy queues as they solid their ballots on nationwide, state, and native ranges.
In Minnesota and South Dakota, voters are solely capable of submit absentee ballots in particular person, as mail-in voting isn’t an choice at this stage.
The political local weather has led election officers nationwide to extend safety to guard polling websites and employees, with federal authorities investigating suspicious packages despatched to election places of work in over 15 states, together with Virginia.
Minnesota’s Secretary of State Steve Simon, who additionally leads the Nationwide Affiliation of Secretaries of State, emphasised his hopes for a easy voting course of. “If I may wave a magic wand, I’d want for prime turnout and low drama,” Simon mentioned throughout a press convention.
Some voters cited considerations about potential chaos on Election Day.
Chris Burda, a 74-year-old Minneapolis resident, voted early for Harris, praising her for defending democracy. She inspired others to vote early to keep away from doable disruptions at polling websites.
Whereas Trump has traditionally criticised mail-in voting, this 12 months he and the Republican Nationwide Committee have promoted early and mail-in voting as a solution to safe GOP votes.
Eugene Otteson, a 71-year-old Vietnam Conflict veteran, solid his poll for Trump, stating, “I don’t like him, however he’s a businessman, and I like somebody who can run a enterprise.”
In distinction, Rocklyn Faher, a 70-year-old retired Navy aviation electrician from Norfolk, Virginia, voted for Harris.
He turned emotional as he spoke in regards to the stakes of this election, calling it “an important election within the final 100 years,” and emphasising the necessity to defend the Structure for his grandchildren’s future.
In the meantime, in South Dakota, early voters turned out steadily, with native election officers noting a busier-than-usual first day. Voters within the state can even weigh in on contentious poll initiatives, together with abortion rights and marijuana legalisation.
Amid considerations about postal service delays, officers are urging voters to solid ballots early to make sure they’re counted on time.
