US midterm election day sees record early voting and ballot-counting issues
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Early voting has blown past 2022 levels as local officials in New York work through ballot-processing problems, even as candidates and election officials say the count is secure and left-wing activists rush to amplify unproven allegations.
More than 58.5 million early ballots have been cast across 47 states and the District of Columbia, exceeding the total turnout for the 2022 midterms, according to CNN. Voting is not compulsory in the United States, but Americans are showing up in huge numbers.
In Westchester County, New York, vote-counting machines were unable to process paper ballots, forcing the ballots to be stored in monitored sacks pending counting. County executive Ken Jenkins said the issue affects about 250,000 voters but assured that all votes will be counted. Officials say the system will be finished properly, despite the inevitable chatter from critics.
Republican Representative Mike Lawler, who is seeking re-election, and his Democratic opponent Cait Conley both expressed confidence in the electoral process. Lawler said, >Every ballot will be counted, and everybody should be assured that their vote will count.<
Former White House official Katie Miller posted on social media that the situation was an example of election theft, while other commentators criticized the claims without providing evidence. The online reaction again showed how quickly reckless accusations spread in a polarized media environment.
Former Trump administration official Omarosa Manigault Newman told a news program that voters were motivated by cost-of-living concerns and perceived corruption, and she predicted that the Republican Party could lose control of both chambers of Congress. Her remarks highlighted the real pressure voters are feeling from inflation and distrust in the political class.
In a separate development, Israeli security chief Gadi Eisenkot warned that a change in U.S. aid policy could affect Israel’s national security, referencing President Donald Trump's recent statement that the United States would cut $4 billion in aid to Israel.
Trump later responded to media coverage of his remarks about the Reflecting Pool, describing criticism as “fake news” and defending his comments as jokes. The president pushed back hard against the media spin, saying the uproar was overblown.
Key Senate races include the contest in Texas, where Democrat James Talarico seeks to become the first Democrat to win the seat in a generation, and races in Maine, Michigan, and Kansas that could influence control of the Senate.
Federal authorities have charged an Oklahoma man with sending letters containing non-hazardous white powder to public officials ahead of the 2024 and 2026 elections. The individual, Robin Martin, faces a hoax-communication charge and is scheduled for a court appearance.
Polling places across the United States will close at different times, and results are expected to be reported throughout the day. Analysts note that the order in which ballots are counted can create the appearance of early leads for either party, but the final outcome will be determined once all votes are tallied.