Polling Stations Open Across Eastern And Central US As Voters Head To The Ballots In Historic Election

Highlights

   •  Voting has begun across key battleground states, with record early turnout and intense focus on the race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
   •  Early voting has already shattered records, setting the stage for a high-stakes presidential election.

Polling stations across the eastern and central United States opened on Tuesday morning as millions of Americans cast their ballots to choose the next president. Early voting, already breaking records in crucial battleground states, sets the stage for a fiercely contested election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

Record-Breaking Early Voting and Key Swing States

Election Day voting kicked off in ten states, including critical swing states like Arizona and Wisconsin. Other states participating in the initial wave of voting include Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Arkansas, South Dakota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Texas. With early voting already exceeding 82 million ballots—far surpassing the turnout of 2020—voters are poised to shape the race with an unprecedented pace of participation.

Georgia and North Carolina Lead Early Turnout

Georgia, a key battleground state, has seen over 4 million people vote early, with some predicting that Election Day voting could feel lighter due to the overwhelming early turnout. North Carolina also reported impressive early voting numbers, with 4.4 million ballots cast, representing 57% of the state's registered voters. Election officials in these areas have praised the resilience of local communities, especially in hurricane-impacted counties, where turnout was even higher.

The Importance of Trust in the Electoral Process

This election is the first since the January 6 Capitol riot, an event that followed Donald Trump's unsubstantiated claims about the 2020 election being “stolen.” Despite numerous audits and legal challenges, skepticism about the legitimacy of the voting process persists among many of Trump’s supporters. A recent survey revealed that many Republicans remain doubtful about the integrity of the election system, while Democrats have expressed more confidence. Both political leaders and election officials have urged voters to trust the process and participate in the election despite these concerns.

A Historic Election

As the first woman and first Indian-American to run for president, Kamala Harris’s bid is being closely watched. She continues to rally voters, particularly in swing states like Michigan, emphasizing that Trump's efforts to undermine faith in the election system should not deter Americans from voting.

With early voting already breaking records and both candidates energized, this year’s presidential race promises to be one of the most closely watched and contentious in recent history.