Election Day is in full swing across the U.S., with high voter turnout reported in critical battleground states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Georgia. Despite threats linked to Russian sources aimed at disrupting the voting process, voters continue to flock to the polls. According to the FBI, these threats—originating from Russian email domains—are not credible, and voting has proceeded largely without incident.
Both presidential campaigns have heavily emphasized turnout today. Vice President Kamala Harris took part in last-minute calls at a phone bank in Washington, D.C., encouraging voters to make their voices heard. Former President Donald Trump similarly urged his supporters in a telerally to cast their ballots, emphasizing the importance of turnout.
Key Updates from Battleground States:
- Michigan: Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson reports record-breaking turnout, with 3.3 million early votes already cast. The state could match or surpass the 2020 record of 5.5 million total voters.
- Georgia: Over 700,000 people had voted by Tuesday afternoon, with numbers on track to exceed 2020’s turnout of 4 million. However, non-credible bomb threats briefly disrupted polling sites in Atlanta’s Gwinnett, Clayton, and Fulton counties.
- Arizona: Apache County faced issues with voting machines, causing long wait times and a shortage of provisional ballots. Navajo Nation officials have expressed frustration, calling it the worst Election Day voting experience they’ve encountered.
- Pennsylvania: Gov. Josh Shapiro estimates that counting the votes this year won’t take as long as it did in 2020, thanks to efficient early processing of mail-in ballots. Lancaster County officials, for example, have already scanned over 50% of the county’s mail-in ballots, with full results expected by midnight.
Despite challenges, voting has been smooth for most Americans. In Pennsylvania, for instance, some voters reported quick and easy voting experiences, with polling locations operating efficiently.
With polls set to close soon, all eyes are on the turnout numbers, and both campaigns are watching closely as results begin to come in.
