Many have been anticipating this election year, and people are making their political views more upfront as election day gets closer making voter animosity high, says the New York Times.
This year by October 7 five million people have already voted either with a mail in ballot or early in person. Democrats are more likely to vote early, Republicans preferring to vote on election day, according to CBS News.
There has already been 82% more voting right lawsuits filed this year, 155 in the last six months compared to the 47 total lawsuits filed in 2018, according to Courthouse News.
“Voting lawsuits have largely been spurred by this years covid outbreak,” says Eliza Sweren Becker, counsel of NYU Law’s Brennan Center for Justice Democracy Program, said in an interview with Courthouse News,“These lawsuits are intended to create the impression there is something wrong with mail voting and that’s flatly not the case.”
Politicians and other influential figures are encouraging people of age to vote, and encouraging them to put their rights into practice by voting.
“Voting Rights are essential to who we are as Americans, to the cause of equality, and to the strength of our Democracy.” House speaker Nancy Pelosi states on her website, “We must secure the most basic privilege of American citizenship:the right to vote.”
Even brands like American Eagle, Banana Republic, Birkenstock, and Crocs are encouraging people to vote with their merch that says things like “Vote” and “I voted”, according to USA Today.
Many voters don’t trust the election process, and 47% lack faith that all votes were being accounted for, as they said in a NPR/Marist University Poll, shortly after the midterm in 2018. In the same poll, two in five American voters said they do not believe elections are fair.
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“I have always felt confident that my vote counted, whether or not my side won,” said Dana Westmark, a 57-year-old real estate agent in Sarasota, Florida in the Flatland Kansas City, “I am concerned now, reading the daily news stories about interference, how we might be sidelined by forces beyond our control.”
People are very clearly rooting for the side they support, and being very vocal about, but are afraid of the election outcome, according to the InvestorPlace.
“You all know in your gut, not because I’m running, that this is maybe the most important election, no matter how young or old you are, you’ve ever voted in.” Joe Biden said in a Cape Cod Fundraiser during 2019.
Article by Ryleigh Waters of Watkins Mill High School
Photo by May Pham of Walter Johnson High School