Early voting surges ahead of 2020 US Presidential election

The number of Americans who voted early reached 30.2 million on Monday, according to the University of Florida’s United States Elections Project. That number represents more than one-fifth of all the votes cast in the 2016 election. In pic: Voters enter to cast their ballots on Monday at the Franklin County Board of Elections Early Voting Center in Columbus, Ohio. Despite steady rain all morning, voters waited for up to 45 minutes to cast their ballot. (AP)

Early voting is likely to ramp up this week as more states open up voting centers for those who want to avoid possible coronavirus exposure at crowded Election Day polling sites. In pic: Voters stand in line at the Pulaski County Regional Building in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas, as they wait to vote on the first day of early voting. (AP)

The final debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden will feature a mute button to allow each candidate to speak uninterrupted, organizers said on Monday, looking to avoid the disruptions that marred the first matchup. In pic: Active voter check-in clerk Doreen Manzi, right, assists voters during early in-person voting at multiple precinct polling stations in the basement of Saint Anthony of Padua Church, in Revere, Mass. (AP)

Voters Janee, left and James Mitchell sit in chairs as they wait their turn to cast early ballots at the Charles B. Odom Sr. Service Center in Marrero, La., Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. The couple took their place in line just before the doors opened at 8 am and were at this spot near the door at 10:04 am. (AP)

To keep people healthy and safe amid the coronavirus pandemic, all ballots are paper this year to avoid having to sanitize tablets, and the tables and voting booths are being sanitized between each voter. (AP)

The "I Voted. #BoltsVote" sticker on the shirt of Bill Michul, 73, after he dropped off his mail in ballot for early voting at Amalie Arena, Monday, Oct. 19, 2020 in Tampa. (AP)

A voter drops their ballot off during early voting in Athens, Ga. With record turnout expected for this year’s presidential election and fears about exposure to the coronavirus, election officials and advocacy groups have been encouraging people to vote early, either in person or by absentee ballot. (AP)