Advance voting begins in some states this week, which means election season is fully underway. And yes, “election season” is a term we’re recommending you use between now and election week.
The reason? The expansion of both mail-in and in-person advance voting has changed norms around elections. And when things change, journalists often need to find new terms that accurately capture the situation. Word choice improves understanding and shifts people’s expectations, and in this case, it can help ward off misinformation since the election process itself has become politicized. Journalists play a critical role in getting people accurate, actionable information about voting — and what comes after they cast their ballots.
