'Engaged as soon as possible': Early voting starts in several US states

Arlington (United States) (AFP) - With more than a month to go before the November 5 presidential election, some Americans are already lining up to cast their ballots in this tightly contested race.

Early in-person voting kicked off Friday in the US states of Virginia, South Dakota and Minnesota as voters pick between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump.

"You just feel that we're part of the process," said 56-year-old Tom Kilkenny, who came to a polling station in Arlington, Virginia, where people were lining up before it even opened early in the morning.

His wife Michelle, 55, said she was happy to set a good example for her friends and neighbors by voting early.

"When you... speak with them, I can myself say 'I voted already' and then start spreading the word," said Michelle Kilkenny, whose blue T-shirt was covered in Democratic Party pins.

Each of the country's 50 states has its own voting procedures: early voting by mail or in person, election day voting or a combination of the three.

For some Americans casting their ballot as soon as it becomes possible is a family tradition.

Nick Vucic and his wife Becca brought their three daughters to the polling station in Arlington.

"We want them to be engaged as soon as possible," said Vucic, 38.

\- Clashing worldviews -

In Arlington, just across the Potomac River from the US capital, the city center was dotted with Harris and Trump signs and posters. Activists set up information booths, while voters, mostly Democrats, chatted with one another.

Besides electing their next president, voters are also casting ballots in local and state-wide elections.

Following a rollercoaster election campaign -- which saw President Joe Biden drop out of the race to pass the torch to Harris, two apparent attempts on Trump's life, and explosive televised debates -- the stakes could not be higher.

"I can't believe we can pick Donald Trump, when I think about it, I become very worried," said Ann Spiker, 71. "That's why we're out and doing what we can."

But an hour west of Washington in the Virginia city of Fairfax, some voters have a different worldview.

Arthur Stewart, a 58-year-old heating and air conditioning technician, said he cast his ballot to return Trump to the White House.

"He already has a record with the economy when he was here before, and I believe he's going to continue that," said Stewart, who has a shaved head and a soft smile. "One of the other issues is the border, security of the border. He was very good on that."

Stewart also echoed Trump's unfounded claims that the 2020 election was stolen from the Republican billionaire.

"I just wanted to make sure that I voted early, in case there was some issue with fraud this time," he said.

But one thing does seem to unite Americans on both sides of the political divide. Whether they support Harris or Trump, once they've cast their ballots, they are given an "I voted" sticker that they proudly wear on their chests.

© Agence France-Presse