VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Onondaga County Residents Cast Votes Early
Joshua Gingrich: Austin Thomas typically votes on Election Day. However, he voted early in 2020 because of the pandemic. This year, he chose to vote early again.
Austin Thomas: I just want to make my voice be heard. Happily voted right down my ticket, and I feel good about making my voice be heard. It’s our constitutional right, and I’m just exercising my constitutional rights.
Gingrich: Early voting has taken off in the 21st century. The University of Florida reports that over 60 million votes have already been cast this year. Syracuse University professor Joel Kaplan is a veteran political reporter. He says that early voting is beneficial on Election Day.
Joel Kaplan: It probably has a positive effect because, instead of having all the votes coming in that day, you have them coming in over a period of time. So, I think you’re better equipped to count the votes.
Gingrich: Kaplan said that while the early voting system is good, it has some flaws because some voters might change their minds as Election Day approaches.
Kaplan: Maybe that person who voted for Trump would say ‘Oh my God, I didn’t know he thought Hitler did good things. I never would’ve voted for him.’ So that could be a problem, right?
Gingrich: Thomas said he goes back-and-forth on whether he thinks early voting is important. A father of two young girls, he said it’s much better for his time management.
Thomas: Some people are like ‘You know, I’d rather just get it done early, and not have to wait in a line.’ Some people do it because of time constraints.
Gingrich: Early voting ends Sunday, Nov. 3. For NCC News, I’m Joshua Gingrich
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) — Election Day might still be a few days away, but people are already getting their votes in.
One such person is Austin Thomas, who decided to vote early again, because he wanted to get it over with and felt it was his duty to vote.
“I just want to make my voice be heard,” Thomas said. “Happily voted right down my ticket, and I feel good about making my voice be heard. It’s our constitutional right, and I’m just exercising my constitutional rights.”
In part because of the COVID-19 pandemic, early voting has become increasingly popular in the last few election cycles. Syracuse University professor Joel Kaplan, a veteran political reporter, said that early voting is beneficial on Election Day.
“It probably has a positive effect, because instead of having all the votes coming in that day, you have them coming in over a period of time,” Kaplan said. “So, I think you’re better equipped to count the votes.”
Early voting in Onondaga County ends Sunday.