Kellyanne Conway, a former senior adviser to President Trump and current Fox News contributor, appeared on “Real Time with Bill Maher” on Friday, sharing her thoughts on early voting and its impact on the political landscape.
While Conway expressed her reservations about early voting, she emphasized the importance of adapting to the changing political landscape, stating, “If this is the new normal, you adapt or you die politically.”
Conway’s comments came in response to Trump’s recent shift in rhetoric regarding early voting. After years of claiming that mail-in voting was corrupt, Trump recently encouraged his supporters to take advantage of early voting systems, calling them “all good options” for the upcoming election.
Kellyanne Conway on early voting (Credits: The Hill)
Conway hopes that Trump will set an example by voting early in Florida, encouraging his supporters to follow suit. She believes that if Trump leads by example, his voters will be more likely to vote early, stating, “When the lion roars, the others will follow.”
Despite her misgivings about early voting, Conway recognizes its importance in reaching certain demographics, particularly the elderly. She noted that some voters may be unable to leave their homes or even their bathrooms and rely on mail-in systems to cast their ballots.
In such cases, Conway is willing to accept early voting as a necessary compromise, stating, “If that sucker’s vote is what I need in October, I want it.”
However, Conway also expressed concerns about the counting process for early voting ballots. She suggested that states that conduct early voting should begin counting ballots before election night and then add the results to the votes cast on election day to get the final results that night. She believes this would help streamline the process and provide more accurate results.
Kellyanne Conway (Credits: Newsweek)
Conway’s comments reflect a broader shift in the Republican Party’s approach to early voting. Recently elected Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley has emphasized the need for the party to communicate and plan with the more than 50 percent of Americans who will cast their ballots before election day.
This new messaging campaign encourages Republican voters to take advantage of early voting options, recognizing that it is an increasingly important part of the electoral process.
Conway’s remarks highlight the evolving nature of political strategy in changing voter habits and demographics. While she may not personally support early voting, she recognizes its importance in reaching certain voters and is willing to adapt her approach to stay politically relevant.
