Across the country, local election directors are beefing up their security to keep their workers and polling places safe while also ensuring that ballots and voting procedures won’t be tampered with.

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Early voting starts Friday in Minnesota—the beginning of a 46-day period where voters can cast absentee ballots in-person or by mail. In terms of statistics, election officials deem 2020′s general election a unique year; because of the pandemic, significantly more Americans turned to absentee voting.

Virginia becomes the first state to allow in-person early voting in the 2024 election cycle, learn if your home state has absentee ballots available and if there are restrictions.

Virginia voters can begin casting ballots in the presidential race and local elections. While the general election is on Nov. 5, early in-person voting begins Friday at all general registrar’s offices and will continue until Nov.

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said his office is well prepared to handle early voting as the 2024 presidential election nears. Early voting for the 2024 presidential election in the state begins at 8 a.