Voting season has officially kicked off as Virginia, South Dakota and Minnesota have opened up their early voting options to the public.

Starting Friday, voters across Virginia can begin casting their ballots in this year’s critical elections for the White House, a U.S. Senate seat, and the state’s 11 congressional districts that will not only impact the future of the commonwealth but also help shape next year’s gubernatorial race.

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.