In the middle of the ravaging health crisis facing the world, the USA presidential election is currently underway. In the past, elections have been bedeviled with stories of foreign interferences as well as peddling of untrue information.
Another challenge that has rocked this year’s election is the crisis at the United States Postal Service. There has been outrage over the cuts in spending of the USPS, a move that many see as an avenue to disenfranchise a lot of Americans from voting.
Though, this move has been suspended, as explained by the Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to the lawmakers early this year.
And of course, Covid-19 is still out there; this means early voters would have to be fully ready to adhere to the guidelines if willing to vote in person. Some states have also made provisions for ballots to be mailed to registered voters.
As reported, there are also about 35 states that are willing to allow voters mail in their absentee ballots. It is assumed that when people vote early, especially via mail, it gives ample time for the ballot to be delivered and counted on time as well.
Ever since some states started early voting, there has been an unprecedented increase in the number of votes already cast. As at Saturday last week, it was reported that over 26 million people had voted, according to the U.S. Elections Project, a turnout-tracking database run by University of Florida political scientist Michael McDonald. This is actually six times the number of votes cast in 2016 by the same point.
Interestingly, more women and Black Americans are coming out to vote this year, as reported by TargetSmart analysis. This is probably not unconnected to the recent happenings that have led to struggles such as #BlackLivesMatter, following the killing of George Flyod in Minnesota in the hands of the police. There are also reports that registered Democrats have voted more than the registered Republicans.
While it is still too early to conclude whether the election would favor Trump or Biden, voters, especially Black Americans, can maximize the early voting system to ensure that they have a say in who gets elected. Leaders that are passionate about Black lives are to be elected. The future must be safeguarded now and it starts with early voting.
Go cast your votes now!
