US Election Day Unfolds Smoothly, So Far Defying Fears of Disruption

Americans by the millions cast ballots on Tuesday at libraries, schools and arenas amid a deadly pandemic, in an orderly show of civic duty that belied deep tensions shaping one of the most polarizing presidential campaigns in U.S. history.

The face masks worn by many voters and the sight of boarded-up stores in some city centers were reminders of two big issues defining the 2020 election, with COVID-19 still ravaging parts of the country after a summer of sometimes violence-marred protests against police brutality and racism.

A few worrisome developments stood out during a day that was otherwise largely uneventful.

The FBI and the New York attorney general’s office opened investigations into torrents of anonymous robocalls urging people in several states to stay home.

And a federal judge ordered the U.S. Postal Service to conduct a sweep of some facilities across the country for undelivered mail-in ballots and to ship them immediately to election offices to be counted.

But few if any major disruptions were reported at polling sites through day as civil liberties groups and law enforcement were on high alert for any interference with voters.

In one troubling incident, a man legally carrying an unconcealed firearm was arrested and charged with trespassing at a polling site in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In Miami County, Ohio, a woman rammed her car accidentally into a polling site as she was on her way to vote, damaging a wall, but no one was injured. Authorities said she managed to cast her vote, and the location remained open.

In New York City, some voting lines snaked around blocks, but in many places, from Los Angeles to Detroit and Atlanta, lines were short or non-existent. Poll workers surmised this was due to an unprecedented wave of early voting. More than 100 million ballots were cast before Election Day, a new record.

“I lost my absentee ballot, and I’m not going to miss this vote,” said Ginnie House, 22, an actor and creative writing student who flew back to Atlanta from New York just for the election.