Voting period marked by massive early turnout ends with few problems, generally smooth Election Day

Election Day in the US proceeded with minimal problems across the country, despite prior worries about potential interference and disruptions.

Millions of Americans had already voted early, with over 82 million ballots cast before Tuesday. This high turnout contributed to a generally smooth Election Day, according to Cait Conley, a senior advisor at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. "The problems that cropped up were largely expected routine and planned-for events," Conley said. She added that the agency was not tracking any significant national incidents affecting election security.

Some common voting issues did arise. These included a missing key in Arizona, an absent election judge in Pennsylvania, and problems with voter check-in systems and electronic poll books in some locations. Additionally, ballot printing errors in certain areas led to delays as officials reprinted ballots and extended voting hours.

Despite these challenges, voters across the US remained enthusiastic, with many considering this election highly significant.

One notable issue involved tabulator machines used to count paper ballots in some Pennsylvania counties. This led to a judge ordering extended polling hours in Cambria County.

Georgia also experienced delays, with a small number of precincts remaining open late due to equipment problems and alleged bomb threats, which authorities later deemed non-credible. The FBI reported similar non-credible threats targeting polling places in multiple states, suggesting many originated from Russian email addresses.

While the election largely went smoothly, concerns about potential challenges persist, particularly from former President Donald Trump. However, when asked about contesting the results, Trump said, "If it's a fair election, I'd be the first one to acknowledge" the results.

This election marked the first since Trump's loss in 2020 and his subsequent attempts to overturn the results. His baseless claims of election fraud, despite numerous audits and recounts confirming Biden's victory, continue to fuel distrust in the electoral process among his supporters.

Adding to the tension, local election officials have faced increased harassment and threats, leading to security measures being heightened at polling places.

Despite these concerns, US officials have encouraged citizens to trust information from state and local election officials, emphasizing the importance of relying on credible sources amidst the spread of disinformation.

Also See:

US Election Results 2024 | US Senate Elections 2024 | Indian Americans US Election 2024