Kamala Harris insists voting for herself is a ‘top priority’
Kamala Harris has not yet voted for herself for president, but said it is a priority for her in the coming days.
The presidential election is 11 days away and the election is underway, but the Democratic presidential candidate has been too busy campaigning to vote for himself.
“It’s on my priority list for the next few days,” she told reporters in Texas.
Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff are eligible to vote in Los Angeles, where they have a home.
The couple usually votes via absentee ballot. It is unclear how they will vote this year. Harris did not indicate when she would vote or whether it would happen in person. A photo opportunity is a traditional part of the candidate casting his vote.
Early voting has begun in California and 11% of votes have been cast there so far.
Kamala Harris said she had not yet voted
Early voting is a major Democratic talking point this election cycle. With polls showing the race between Harris and Donald Trump virtually tied, each candidate needs every vote he can get.
A CNN poll released Friday showed the two presidential candidates tied, receiving 47 percent of likely voter support.
It was CNN’s last poll before the Nov. 5 election. And it’s the second poll released Friday showing the two tied.
Trump and Harris each received 48 percent of the vote in the latest New York Times and Siena College poll, released Friday.
It is unclear whether Trump voted. He and his wife Melania are registered to vote in Palm Beach, Florida.
Many Democrats post about early voting.
Barack and Michelle Obama voted early by mail. Each of them posted a video on their social media accounts to remind voters to cast their votes.
The White House has not said how or when President Joe Biden will vote.
And early voting can still turn into a photo op.
When Tim Walz cast his ballot Wednesday and got an edge in the election thanks to early voting in Minnesota, he brought cameras and a TV crew.
He also brought along his 18-year-old son Gus, who was voting for the first time, and his wife Gwen.
“It’s Gus’ first time, he’s pretty excited about it,” Walz told the poll watchers.
Gus, dressed in Minnesota fall attire: a Bemidji State hoodie, sweatpants, and Birkenstock sandals with socks; told his parents he didn’t need help voting.
It is unclear whether Donald Trump has already cast his vote
A ballot box in San Francisco
The trio voted in individual voting booths and then Tim stood next to Gus as they fed their ballots into the machine.
An election worker shouted “first voter” and the room cheered. Tim and Gus gave a high five.
Walz told reporters he was voting for Harris. He did not name himself as her running mate.
More than 30 million early votes have been cast in the general election so far, according to the University of Florida Election Lab.
About 17 million votes were cast by mail, while 15 million voted in person.
So far, 64 million ballots have been requested from across the country.
First-time voters Tim Walz and his son Gus cast their ballots on Wednesday
Battleground states have seen some of the heaviest voting.
Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia and Arizona have some of the highest rates of early voting, which makes sense given the resources both presidential campaigns are flowing into those areas.
More Democrats voted early than Republicans: 41% versus 36%. And more women than men, 54% to 44%.