Early voting is becoming an increasingly popular option for Americans, with more than 100 million voters casting their ballots before election day in the 2020 election. States like Minnesota, South Dakota, and Virginia have already started offering advanced in-person voting options this year, while others have opened up their mail-in voting processes.
Advocates argue that early voting helps make elections more inclusive by allowing people to vote regardless of disabilities, time constraints, work, or travel. It also helps build enthusiasm, as seen when singer Taylor Swift announced a concert in Florida just before early voting begins, which local Democrats quickly seized upon.
However, early voting has been the target of false fraud claims, particularly surrounding mail-in voting. Democrats historically cast more mail-in votes, while Republicans are more likely to vote on election day. This has led to the phenomenon of a “blue shift” or “red mirage”, where early results may show one candidate leading but shift as mail-in votes are counted.
Former President Donald Trump falsely claimed the mail-in voting system was rife with fraud in the 2020 election. Many state legislatures have since enacted new restrictions on early voting, including higher scrutiny for mail-in ballots. Despite this, the Republican Party has embraced early voting this year as Trump runs against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Early voting remains a crucial aspect of US elections, allowing more people to participate in the democratic process. As states continue to shape the logistics of their voting processes, it is essential to ensure that all eligible voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots in a fair and secure manner.
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