As the clock ticks down to the November 5th presidential election, the nation is witnessing an unprecedented surge in early voting. In a stunning display of civic engagement, nearly 25 million Americans have already cast their ballots, shattering records in multiple battleground states. The fervor is being driven, at least in part, by Republicans embracing early voting at the urging of former President Donald Trump.
Battleground States See Record-Breaking Turnout
In Georgia, a state that Trump lost by a mere 11,779 votes in 2020, more than 1.9 million voters have already cast their ballots through in-person early voting or mail-in ballots. North Carolina has also set a new record, with over 1.7 million early votes, despite the chaos caused by Hurricane Helene last month.
Trump Celebrates Early Voting Surge
At an event in Georgia, Trump celebrated the state’s record-breaking vote levels, declaring:
The people of Georgia are showing up in massive numbers to support our movement. They know that we’re fighting for their values, their families, and their future. It’s a beautiful thing to see.
– Donald Trump
At a separate rally, Trump urged his supporters to “just vote – whichever way you want to do it,” underscoring his newfound embrace of early voting.
Harris Doubles Down on Fascist Claim
Meanwhile, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris has ramped up her attacks on Trump, doubling down on her claim that he is a “fascist” who wants “unchecked power” and a military personally loyal to him. In a surprise speech from her Washington DC residence, Harris jumped on comments made by Trump’s former chief of staff, retired Marine General John Kelly, who said he believed Trump met the definition of a fascist.
When you have a former top military official, someone who worked closely with Donald Trump, saying that he is a fascist, that should set off alarm bells for every American.
– Kamala Harris
Harris repeated the fascist claim during a televised town hall with undecided voters in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. When asked directly by CNN moderator Anderson Cooper if she thought Trump was a fascist, Harris answered unequivocally: “Yes, I do.”
Allegations and Denials
The heated rhetoric between the campaigns extends beyond the fascism debate. A former model who says she met Trump through the late sexual abuser Jeffrey Epstein has accused the former president of groping and sexually touching her in Trump Tower in 1993. The Trump campaign vehemently denied the allegations, calling them “unequivocally false” and a “fake story contrived by the Harris campaign.”
As the candidates trade barbs on the campaign trail, their surrogates are fanning out across the country to rally supporters. Trump appeared in Zebulon, Georgia, with lieutenant governor and 2020 election denier Burt Jones, at a faith-focused event his campaign dubbed a “Believers and Ballots town hall.” There, he praised tech mogul Elon Musk for providing hurricane relief where he claimed the federal government did not.
High Stakes and Rising Tensions
With the election just days away, tensions are running high on both sides. Trump stayed in Georgia for a rally in Duluth, where he was joined by controversial figures including Tucker Carlson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. He escalated his personal insults against Harris, calling her “crazy” and mocking her public speaking abilities.
For her part, Harris announced she will deliver a major “closing argument” address next week in the same location that Trump rallied January 6 rioters before they stormed the US Capitol in 2021. It’s a symbolic choice that underscores the high stakes of this election and the deep divisions that continue to roil the nation.
Voters Speak with their Ballots
As the candidates make their final pitches, voters are already speaking with their ballots. The unprecedented early voting numbers suggest that Americans are deeply engaged and motivated to make their voices heard. Whether they’re casting votes for Trump, Harris, or down-ballot candidates, they’re participating in the democratic process at a critical moment for the country.
In the end, it will be the voters who decide the outcome of this consequential election. With early voting underway and election day fast approaching, the nation watches and waits to see who will emerge victorious in the battle for the White House.
