EARLY VOTING is now underway in some states
(Shutterstock).

It may seem like the 2024 presidential campaign has gone on forever, continuing without end, but the last innings are here.

In-person voting started Friday in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Virginia. According to the Associated Press, a dozen more states will join the parade to the polling places in mid-October.

The election is Nov. 5. By Monday, county election officials will mail ballots to each active registered voter in California and they can fill out their ballots immediately and mail them back in. 

The last day to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 21. But from Tuesday, Oct. 22 to Nov. 5, eligible California residents can sign up for same-day voter registration.

Early voting sites will open in California on Monday, Oct. 7. Ballot drop-off locations will be open no later than Tuesday, Oct. 8. Vote by mail ballots that are mailed must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by – in our case – the Orange County Registrar of Voters.

On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

GOP woes in North Carolina

MARK ROBINSON, lieutenant governor of North Carolina.

North Carolina – typically a red state – is considered a swing state in this presidential election, with candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in a virtual dead heat in the polls.

But the Republican candidate for governor could tip the election away from the ruling party, according to The New York Times. Mark Robinson, the state’s Black lieutenant governor, has roiled the campaign for his controversial statements and web posts.

Published reports say he has described himself as a “black Nazi,” praised slavery in an adult online forum and discussed his tastes in pornography. He denies those accusations but Republican leaders, seeing Robinson badly trailing his Democratic rival, worry he will depress his party’s vote and perhaps allow Harris to get a narrow win which would be crucial to the overall election,

Wall Street closes on record high

NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE 

Still reacting to Wednesday’s half-point interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve, the Dow Jones Industrial average Friday closed at a record-high 42,963.36, up 38 points overall and 1.62 percent rise.

The Fed’s action was the first rate cut since 2020, according to United Press International.

The S&P 500 was up 1.36 percent for the week to 5,702,44, while the Nasdaq rose by 1.49 percent, finishing at 17,948.32.

“Investors viewed the aggressive rate cut as positive catalyst,” Nationwide chief of investment research Mark Hackett told CNBC, according to UPI.

Weather: A warm-ish weekend

In our West Orange County cities fall-ish days will turn to a summer feeling as we move into the weekend. Saturday is expected to be cloudy in the morning and sunny in the afternoon with a daytime high of 75 and an overnight low of 62. Sunday will warm to 81 (61) under partly cloudy skies. Monday is expected to go to 83 (62) and Tuesday to 82 (62), both under partly cloudy skies.