What is early voting in US elections? What to know in 500 words

Advocates say early voting makes elections more inclusive, but the practice has been the target of false fraud claims.

Election day in the United States may still be several weeks away, but Americans in several parts of the country are getting a chance to cast their ballots already.

In-person, advanced voting became possible in the US states of Minnesota, South Dakota and Virginia this week while several other states opened up their mail-in voting processes earlier this month.

Both are forms of “early voting”, a mainstay of US elections that in recent years has become a target of false voter fraud accusations.

Rights advocates say robust early voting opportunities help ensure more people can cast a ballot regardless of disability, time constraints, work, travel or other factors that could hamper them on election day, which this year is on November 5.

Early voting also offers an opportunity to build enthusiasm: When Taylor Swift, who recently endorsed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, announced she would perform in Florida just before early voting begins there in October, local Democrats quickly seized on the moment.