Voters in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, made history early Tuesday, November 5, by casting the first ballots for the 2024 U.S. presidential election at midnight, marking the official start of Election Day. Six registered voters took part, upholding a decades-old tradition.
This election takes place amid increased security concerns over potential violence and chaos. Most polling stations across the country opened on Tuesday morning and will remain open until evening.
Leading up to Election Day, more than 82 million voters had already participated through early voting and mail-in ballots, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab.
The 2024 presidential race, featuring Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, is viewed as one of the most divisive in American history. Both candidates have issued strong warnings about the potential repercussions of the other’s victory, as voters grapple with differing views and opinions on crucial issues such as the economy, immigration, and abortion rights.
A survey by the American Psychological Association shows that 77% of U.S. adults consider the future of the nation a significant source of stress, and 74% worry that the election results may lead to violence. In light of the campaign’s volatility, security measures for Election Day have been heightened to address fears of civil unrest, election fraud, and threats against election workers.
In response to these concerns, states such as Oregon, Washington, and Nevada have mobilized their National Guards. The Pentagon has placed 600 National Guard troops on standby in 17 states. Additionally, the FBI has set up a national election command post in Washington to monitor threats 24/7 during election week, and security has been bolstered at nearly 100,000 polling stations.
As the 2024 race between Trump and Kamala reaches a critical juncture, authorities are working to reassure anxious Americans about the security of their votes while enhancing physical safety measures for election operations nationwide.
Runbeck Election Services, which supplies security technology for polling operations, announced on Monday that it has ordered 1,000 panic buttons for election facilities and workers. These compact devices can be worn as a lanyard or kept in a pocket, connecting to a user’s cell phone to alert law enforcement or other authorities in case of emergency.