On Tuesday, tens of millions of American voters exercised their democratic right to choose the country's next leaders in the 2024 election. Despite minor hitches such as delays and bad weather, the election process was reported to be proceeding smoothly by officials.
As of mid-morning, there were reports of extreme weather and temporary infrastructure disruptions in parts of the US. However, there were no significant incidents impacting the security of the election infrastructure at a national level.
Issues related to voter eligibility, logistical problems, ballot functionality, and vote-counting were closely monitored, especially in light of former President Donald Trump's false claims of mass election fraud.
Non-credible threats to polling locations in Georgia and Michigan were among the significant issues reported. In Union City, Georgia, bomb threats originating from Russia caused the temporary closure of two polling locations. Michigan also received threats initially deemed serious but later found to be not credible after investigation.
Challenges were also posed by bad weather in the Central US, with flood watches in effect in Missouri, Arkansas, and Illinois, and severe weather threats in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Wisconsin. Additionally, California faced dangerous fire weather conditions due to dry air and gusty winds.
Some minor issues, such as voting delays due to software malfunctions in Pennsylvania, were reported. However, for the majority of voters, the voting process was described as quick and easy.
A Pew Research Center survey revealed that 94% of voters found it easy to vote in the 2020 election, with only 6% facing difficulties, mainly related to logistical issues.
Election officials emphasized the integrity of the vote and urged voters not to be misled by conspiracy theories. They assured the public of secure systems and readiness to ensure a transparent and secure election process.
Despite allegations of election rigging and misinformation, the majority of voters expressed confidence in the election process. Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris were notably more confident than Trump supporters about the smooth conduct and outcome of the election.
