US presidential elections: Why Americans are voting in record numbers before November 3

NEW DELHI: Over 94 million Americans have already voted in the 2020 presidential election, shattering all

early voting

records of the past. In fact, the number of early or mail-in ballots in the current election is already twice as that of 2016 elections.


The high number of early voters, nearly 70% of the total turnout in 2016, reflects intense interest in the contest between Republican candidate President Donald Trump and his Democratic opponent Joe Biden.

Concerns about exposure to Covid-19 at busy Election Day voting places have also pushed up the numbers of people voting by mail or at early in-person polling sites.



With a day of early voting still left, the figure may well surpass the 100-million mark. That number would be equal to three quarters of all ballots counted in the previous presidential election.

How does early voting work?
All US states allow some form of early voting, be it by casting votes in person at polling places, voting by mail, or both.

However, each state has its own rules and timelines on when this occurs. Some started in September. Some don’t start until mid-October, or even closer to Election Day on November 3.

A voter inserts her absentee ballot into a drop box in Troy, Michigan. (AP Photo)
For instance, a state like Michigan doesn't require an excuse for absentee voting. Voting here began as early as September 24.

Here's a comprehensive guide to early voting

Absentee votes and mail-in votes are basically the same thing. Both refer to the practice of filling out ballots that are sent to voters through the mail and returned either that way or at drop boxes or other designated places.

Here's an example of an advance mail-in ballot in Kansas (AP Photo)

But just as there are 50 different timelines for early voting, there are 50 different ones for how the votes are counted.

Some states allow the “processing” of mail-in ballots to begin as many as three weeks before Election Day. Some only allow it to begin on Election Day itself, which can lead to a chaotic and lengthy count.

Voters in many states, except a few like Alabama, can also cast their votes in person at any polling place in their counties ahead of Election Day.

Millions of voters across the country lined up early to cast their ballots in person well ahead of November 3. (AFP Photo)