First states: US presidential election has begun

Early in-person voting began on Friday in the states of South Dakota, Virginia and Minnesota, the home state of Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, Kamala Harris' running mate. With a few exceptions such as Alabama and New Hampshire, almost all states will allow early in-person voting and also mail-in voting in the coming weeks.

The possibility of “early voting” has increased significantly compared to previous elections. 97 percent of voters can now vote early, according to the think tank Center for Election Innovation and Research. In the 2020 election, this was possible for almost 70 percent, and in 2016 for around 40 percent. The CoV pandemic may also have contributed to the increase. Some states had relaxed their rules for early voting to avoid long queues at polling stations.

The figures from the last two presidential elections in 2016 and 2020 show a steady increase in early voting – in person and by mail – in the USA. In 2016, the average was 37 percent, four years later this figure rose to 63 percent, according to the Center for Election Innovation and Research. About 100 million Americans cast their early votes four years ago.

Confusion of different rules

As with mail-in voting, early voting rules vary from state to state, and sometimes even from county to county. Some states require a legitimate reason to apply for a mail-in ballot, while others have strict identification requirements.

The hodgepodge of rules confuses citizens and media even in the USA. For example, several media recently reported that early voting would be possible in two counties in the state of Pennsylvania as early as September 16. In fact, however, applications for postal voting have only begun to be processed from that day.

The closer the election gets, the louder Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's warnings about electoral fraud are becoming: “If I win, the people who cheated will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” Long prison sentences are also not out of the question. He keeps repeating the false claim that he was deprived of his second term in office in 2020 due to electoral fraud. His accusations are based primarily on postal voting. He also repeatedly criticized the “early voting” system as unreliable.

Republicans see opportunity in early voting

Preparations for measures to ensure an election without manipulation of the ballot papers and the electoral process are therefore in full swing. So far, early voting has benefited Democrats in particular. But Republicans now also see an opportunity to use “early” and mail-in voting to secure votes for Republican candidate Trump before election day.

Accordingly, some of Trump's statements on the possibility of early voting are contradictory. At one point he calls for voting by mail, then he sees a risk of fraud in it, as recently happened in Pennsylvania.

Concern about logistical difficulties

Away from the political debate, logistics are also coming to the fore. Election officials fear problems with the delivery of mail-in ballots. They recently accused the postal service of failing to correct deficiencies, even though the company was made aware of them. Over the past two years, for example, many states received postmarked ballots well outside the specified deadline of three to five business days.

The post office emphasizes that the goal is “timely and secure delivery of election mail.” Currently, mail is delivered on average in 2.7 days. However, it is recommended that completed ballots be mailed at least one week before the respective deadline in the state.

Georgia decides on hand count

Meanwhile, the election commission in the state of Georgia decided, with a narrow majority of pro-Republican votes, that the election results there must also be counted by hand. This regulation ensures the “safe, transparent and accurate counting of ballots,” according to the document adopted on Friday. Critics of the text fear that this procedure could cause confusion and delay the announcement of the results.

The resolution stipulates that the votes in the presidential election must be counted by hand in addition to the machine process. Three members of the election commission in the “swing state” of Georgia voted in favor, two against.

Trump narrowly lost the 2020 election in Georgia to current US President Joe Biden. He was the first Republican to suffer an electoral defeat in the state since 1992. Trump claimed that the election results were falsified without providing any evidence. He was impeached for attempting to overturn his defeat.