In-person voting for the US presidential election began on Friday, marking the start of a six-week run to Election Day amid a backdrop of political turmoil.
Early voters lined up in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Virginia, the first states to open early voting, with about a dozen more states set to follow by mid-October.
At a Minneapolis polling center, Jason Miller was first in line, voting against what he described as “crazy,” though he declined to specify his presidential choice. This early voting phase follows a summer of major political developments, including President Joe Biden stepping down from the race, Vice President Kamala Harris taking his place as the Democratic nominee, and two assassination attempts on Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Local election officials nationwide are enhancing security measures to protect polling stations and election workers. Federal authorities are also investigating suspicious packages sent to election officials in over 15 states.
