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.