Harris, Trump Locked in Tight Race as Early Voting Begins Across 10 States.
By Teddy Namayanja
It’s just weeks until Election Day, and the presidential race is heating up. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are making their final pitches to voters in battleground states. But before the big day, many Americans are already casting their ballots through early voting.
In Georgia, a record number of early votes were cast on Tuesday, with residents flocking to the polls in this critical battleground state. Early in-person voting is also set to begin in North Carolina on Thursday. In fact, early voting has already started in 10 states, including Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Rhode Island, Tennessee, North Carolina, Louisiana, Washington, Massachusetts, and Nevada.
So, what is early voting in US presidential elections? Essentially, it’s voting that takes place at designated early voting sites or through in-person absentee voting at local election offices. This allows people to cast their ballots before Election Day, which is November 5 this year.
Rights advocates say early voting is crucial in ensuring more people can participate in the democratic process, regardless of disabilities, time constraints, or other factors. And it’s not just about convenience – early voting also builds enthusiasm. For instance, when Taylor Swift announced her performance in Florida just before early voting begins; local Democrats quickly seized the moment.
In Massachusetts, In-person early voting starts on October 17 and runs through October 30. There are hundreds of voting locations across the state, with each city and town offering at least one site. Registered voters who haven’t returned a mail-in ballot can participate in early voting, and those who requested a mail-in ballot can drop it off in person or vote in person.
Early Voting Dates by State:
- Arizona: October 9 – November 1
- California: October 7 – November 5
- Florida: October 26 – November 2
- Georgia: October 15 – November 1
- Massachusetts: October 17 – October 30
- North Carolina: October 17 – November 2
- Texas: October 21 – November 1
Americans take to the ballots November 4, 2024, and historic voter participation is expected this year.
