US Presidential Election: Alabama Leads the Way in Absentee Voting

Alabama state officials prepare absentee ballots for the November ⁢U.S. presidential election in Birmingham, ⁤Alabama ⁤(AP/Kyodo News)

As the US presidential⁣ election approaches, the southern state of Alabama has taken the lead in absentee voting, sending out ballots, including postal ⁢ballots, on September 11th. This move comes ahead of the rest of the nation, ⁣with ‍over 40% of voters having used postal voting in the 2020 presidential election.

According⁣ to CNN, the Democratic Party actively encouraged postal voting in the 2020 presidential ⁤election, which contributed to President Biden’s victory. However, former President Donald Trump, who lost to Biden in the 2020 presidential election, had⁢ criticized the election, claiming “there was a ⁣lot of fraud” without providing evidence. This time, Trump has shifted‌ his strategy, ⁣focusing on attracting early voters.

Other states are also ‍starting to send out ⁣ballots. US ⁤media⁤ reports that ​Kentucky and Pennsylvania will begin the process of ‍mail-in ballots⁣ on September 16th, while five states, ‍including Minnesota and New York, will start the process on September 20th. Early voting at polling stations is also expected to ⁢begin in Pennsylvania on September ⁤16th, ⁤ahead of the rest of the US.

Alabama‍ has strict absentee voting ‌requirements, limiting them to voters who⁤ plan to work or travel⁢ on Election Day or those who are ill. Despite these restrictions, the state’s move to send out absentee ballots early is ⁤seen as a significant step in‍ the lead-up to ​the⁤ presidential election.