First batch of general election ballots being mailed out as presidential election approaches

The process of sending out general election ballots for the presidential race has commenced in Alabama, with absentee voters receiving them as the Nov. 5 contest approaches. North Carolina’s absentee ballot distribution was delayed due to a lawsuit by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who withdrew from the presidential race and endorsed Donald Trump. The quickly approaching Election Day is evident after the party conventions over the summer and the first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump.

Sharon Long, the deputy clerk in the Jefferson County circuit clerk’s office, mentioned that they have received more than 2,000 applications for absentee ballots and are expecting heavy interest. In Alabama, absentee ballots are the main alternative to voting in person, with common conditions for eligibility being illness, travel, incarceration, or work shifts that overlap with polling hours. In-person voting for the fall election is set to begin next week in a few states.

As the election approaches, there is a sense of readiness among election officials, such as Justin Roebuck, the clerk in Ottawa County, Michigan. Although election offices have been preparing for this moment, there is some uncertainty surrounding the start of voting due to President Trump’s repeated claims of potential cheating to prevent his victory and the resulting skepticism among some Republicans about the voting process.

Alabama is enacting new restrictions on who can assist a voter in applying for an absentee ballot as the state proceeds with absentee balloting. These restrictions are part of a trend in several Republican-led states to impose limits on voter assistance. While Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen sees these laws as protecting voters, opponents argue that they criminalize ordinary voter engagement.

This article includes contributions from Associated Press writer Christina A. Cassidy in Detroit.