Ground report: Inside US polling booth as around 30 million cast early votes

With just days remaining before the United States presidential election, where Republican Donald Trump faces his Democratic rival Kamala Harris, nearly 30 million people have already cast their votes through early voting. The majority of the polling stations across the state are witnessing a steady flow of voters in what many believe to be a closely contested race.
Early voting allows citizens to vote before Election Day, either in person or by mail, aiming to provide greater convenience and reduce long lines on November 5.
India Today visited early voting station in Virginia’s Fairfax County, which witnessed a good voter turnout, as both Republicans and Democrats remain hopeful for a favourable outcome.
“Most people say this is an important election and they are definitely going to vote, with a few even saying you’d be crazy not to vote in this election,” said a volunteer outside the polling booth.

Supporters of both Trump and Harris have set up booths outside polling stations, offering last-minute canvassing and guidance for voters. Here, voters receive a sample ballot and an overview of the voting process before they enter the booth.
In Fairfax County, a traditionally Democratic area, many residents remarked that this election feels particularly close.
One Republican supporter, who voted for Donald Trump, shared that she believes he has the strength required to be commander-in-chief. “Kamala Harris isn’t suited for this role; Trump is the one,” she stated. She acknowledged the race is tight but claimed, “Overall, things are improving” for the Republican side.

According to her, the biggest issues in this election are inflation and immigration. “The cost of everything has gone up. Car insurance saw a 700 percent hike, and the prices of food, gasoline–everything has increased. Another issue is immigration; people are scared. It feels like an invasion, with thousands of people entering without checks. It’s frightening people,” said the Republican supporter.

Lee Jordy, who voted for Harris, also commented on the election, saying, “It’s going to be a tight fight. I am really worried about the state of our union and want to preserve our democracy. I think Kamala Harris is compassionate and cares for every American, while Trump is focused on big business”.
Johny Xavier, another voter, also finds Kamala Harris a suitable candidate because “she has done a great job”.
However, another voter expressed a different opinion, saying people may prefer the Republican candidates as they “know that when the government governs the least, the economy functions better, and there will be less government intrusion into their lives”.

Once early voting opens in a state, voters can go to their respective polling stations to cast their votes. They need to verify their identification, based on state-specific requirements.
At the polling station, the voter checks in with election officials and receives a ballot. They can then proceed to designated areas to mark their choices.
In the US, paper ballots are typically used for voting. In most cases, voters mark the ballots by hand, while in some cases, they use a ballot-marking device, which produces a paper printout for submission.
After marking the ballot, the voter submits it according to the instructions provided by the polling station staff. For absentee ballots, voters can either drop them in a designated box or mail them. These votes are securely stored until they are counted on Election Day.
Each state has specific rules and timelines for early voting.