Election Day 2024 arrived on Tuesday — with tens of millions of Americans already casting their ballots. These include records in Georgia, North Carolina and other states that could determine the winner.
Early turnout in Georgia, which has flip-flopped between Republican and Democratic candidates in previous presidential elections, was very strong. More than 4 million voters – A senior official in the Secretary of State’s office said the big day could look like a “ghost town” at the polls.
As of Monday, Associated Press tracking of advance voting showed almost all of the country 82 million votes have already been cast – Just over half of the total number of votes cast in the presidential election four years ago. This is driven in part by Republican voters, who have been Voting early is at a higher rate Compared to previous recent elections after a campaign by former President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee to counter Democrats’ long-standing advantage in early voting.
Despite long lines in some places and some obstacles common to all elections, early in-person and mail-in voting continued without any major problems.
This includes parts of western North Carolina that were hit by Hurricane Helen last month. State and local election officials benefit from this Changes Passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature, I pulled it hard To ensure residents can cast their ballots while dealing with power outages, water shortages and washed out roads.
By the time early voting ended in North Carolina on Saturday, More than 4.4 million voters — or roughly 57% of all registered voters in the state — cast ballots. Turnout in the 25 western counties affected by the hurricane, as of Monday, was stronger at 59% of registered voters, said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the state Board of Elections.
Brinson Bell described voters and election workers in the hurricane-hit counties as “an inspiration to all of us.”
Besides tornadoes in North Carolina and FloridaThe most disturbing disruptions of the election season so far were Arson attacks that damaged ballot papers In two boxes near the Oregon-Washington border. The authorities there are searching for the person responsible.
The absence of any major, widespread problems has not stopped Trump, the Republican nominee, or the Republican National Committee Now under his controlMany allegations of fraud or election interference during the early voting period are possible Introduction to challenges After election day.
He made a mistake in describing it The investigation is ongoing in Pennsylvania on nearly 2,500 potentially fraudulent voter registration applications, saying one county “was caught in possession of 2,600 fraudulent ballots and forms, all written by the same person.” Registration requests are being investigated; There is no indication that ballots are included.
In Georgia, Republicans sought to prevent voters from returning mail-in ballots to their local election offices before polls close on Election Day, which is allowed under state law. judge Their claim was rejected During the weekend.
Trump and Republicans also warned of the possibility of Democrats recruiting individuals Masses of non-citizens to vote, which is a claim they made Without evidence And this inconsistent with the data, Including Republican secretaries of state. Research has consistently shown that registering noncitizens to vote is rare. Any non-citizen who does the faces Possibility of felony charges and deportationa big inhibitor.
One case of noncitizens voting during early voting last month resulted in criminal charges in Michigan after a student from China Casting an early vote is illegal.
This is the first presidential election since then Trump lost to Joe Biden Four years ago I started various attempts to Circumventing the result And stay in power. This culminated in the violent attack on January 6, 2021 on the US Capitol to stop the certification of the results after Trump. He told his supporters “To fight like hell.”
So far, A Solid majority Of Republicans think Trump’s lie Even though Biden was not legitimately elected Reviews, Audits and He narrates On the battlefield, everyone confirmed Biden’s victory. Last month’s survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research Show Republican survival More skeptical Democrats say their votes will be counted accurately this year.
Seeking to rebuild voter confidence in a targeted system False allegations of widespread fraudSince 2020, Republican lawmakers in more than a dozen states have passed new voting restrictions. These rules include shortening the period for submitting or returning a mail-in ballot, reducing the availability of ballot drop boxes and adding ID requirements.
And on the final weekend before Election Day, Trump continued to do so They falsely claim that the elections were rigged Against him he said that the winner of the presidency should be Announced on election nightbefore all ballots are counted.
Vice President Kamala Harris urged voters not to fall into the trap Trump tactic To cast doubt on the elections. The Democratic candidate told his supporters At a weekend rally in Michigan The tactic was intended to suggest to people that “if they vote, their vote won’t matter.” Instead, she urged people who have already voted to encourage their friends to do the same.
Within four years of Election lie and Conspiracy theories related to votingconfront local election officials Harassment and even death threats. This was paid High turnover rate It led to tightening security measures at election offices and polling sites, which include Panic buttons and bulletproof glass.
Although there have been no significant reports of any malicious cyber activity impacting election offices, foreign actors have been active in using fake social media profiles and sites to stoke partisan criticism and misinformation. In recent weeks, US intelligence officials have done just that Attributed to Russia numerous Fake videos claiming election fraud In presidential swing states.
On the eve of Election Day, they issued a joint statement with federal law enforcement agencies warning that Russia in particular was Intensifying its influence operationsincluding in ways that could incite violence, and these efforts are likely to continue long after votes are cast.
Jane Easterly, the nation’s top election security official, urged Americans to rely on state and local election officials for information about the election.
“This is especially important because we are in an election cycle with an unprecedented amount of disinformation, including disinformation being aggressively promoted and amplified by our foreign adversaries on a greater scale than ever before,” she said. “We cannot allow our foreign adversaries to vote in our democracy.”
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