WASHINGTON — The arrival of Election Day 2024 has seen a massive wave of early voting, with millions of Americans already participating in the electoral process. Significant turnout has been noted particularly in states like Georgia and North Carolina, key battlegrounds that could ultimately determine the election results.
In Georgia, the early voting figures have exceeded 4 million, leading officials to suggest that the polls may appear nearly empty on the actual Election Day. The state has alternated between Democratic and Republican candidates in the last two presidential races, highlighting its importance. Data from national tracking indicates that over 82 million ballots had been cast early across the country, marking a turnout that exceeds half of the total votes from the previous presidential election four years ago. This surge can be attributed in part to increased participation from Republican voters, driven by efforts from former President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee to close the traditional gap in early voting.
Although there were some lines and minor issues typical of election days, the early voting process unfolded smoothly without major incidents. Local officials in North Carolina, particularly those in regions affected by Hurricane Helene, demonstrated remarkable resilience, implementing changes that allowed voters to overcome challenges like power outages and disrupted transportation to cast their votes. By the end of early voting in North Carolina, over 4.4 million residents, or nearly 57% of registered voters, had participated, with higher turnout noted in western counties hit by the hurricane. State election board leader Karen Brinson Bell praised the commitment of both voters and election workers in these areas as “an inspiration.”
In addition to the hurricane’s impact in regions like North Carolina and Florida, concerns about election integrity were raised due to arson attacks on drop boxes in Oregon. Authorities are investigating these incidents to hold the perpetrator accountable. Despite the lack of widespread issues, Trump and the RNC continue to allege fraud and interference aimed at undermining the early voting process. He has incorrectly characterized ongoing investigations in Pennsylvania regarding voter registration applications, portraying them as significant issues with ballots, although the focus remains solely on registration practices with no evidence of ballot misconduct.
Efforts in Georgia to further restrict the voting process, particularly concerning returning mail-in ballots, faced legal hurdles when their associated lawsuit was dismissed. Trump and other Republican leaders have also claimed that Democrats are enlisting noncitizens to vote, a narrative unsupported by evidence and contrary to data provided by Republican officials themselves. Instances of noncitizen voting are extremely rare and come with severe legal risks, including felony charges. One notable case led to felony charges in Michigan against a Chinese student who improperly voted.
This election marks the first since Biden’s win over Trump, a defeat Trump has continually contested through various unfounded claims. Many Republicans still believe the false narrative that Biden’s election was illegitimate despite extensive audits and reviews confirming the results. Recent polling revealed a significant skepticism among Republicans regarding the accuracy of ballot counting compared to their Democratic counterparts.
To counter the decline in public trust stemming from falsehoods surrounding electoral fraud, Republican lawmakers in numerous states have instituted stricter voting laws, impacting factors such as the voting timeframe and the number of drop boxes available. In his final campaign appearances, Trump reiterated claims of a rigged election and called for an election night announcement of the winner before all ballots were counted.
Vice President Kamala Harris countered these narratives, urging voters to remain engaged and to encourage others to participate rather than succumb to fear around the voting process. The political climate has turned hostile for local election officials, many of whom have faced threats and harassment, prompting enhanced security measures at polling places and election offices.
While there have been no reports of significant cyber threats to election operations, misinformation has been rampant, particularly from foreign entities attempting to sow discord through fake social media accounts and misleading information. U.S. intelligence has attributed a series of fraudulent videos related to voting to Russian influences, warning that such operations are likely to escalate even post-election.
Election Security Chief Jen Easterly advised citizens to turn to local officials for reliable information regarding the elections. She emphasized the necessity of standing against misinformation that poses a direct threat to the democratic process, remarking how unprecedented amounts of disinformation are being spread, particularly by foreign adversaries. “We cannot allow our foreign adversaries to have a vote in our democracy,” she asserted.
