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Last Updated: October 31, 2024, 8:19 AM EDT

Six days until Election Day, much of the political debate is about "garbage."

First, the backlash over a comedian's racist comments about Puerto Rico that former President Donald Trump has not apologized for -- and now President Joe Biden appearing to call Trump's supporters "garbage" and stepping on Vice President Kamala Harris' message of unity aimed at attracting disaffected Republicans.

Oct 31, 6:09 am

More than 59 million Americans have voted early

As of 5:45 a.m. on Thursday, more than 59 million Americans have voted early, according to the Election Lab at the University of Florida.

Of the total number of early votes, 31,018,125 were cast in person and 27,952,363 were returned by mail.

Voters make selections at their voting booths inside an early voting site on Oct. 17, 2024 in Hendersonville, N.C.
Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images

Oct 30, 2024, 4:59 PM EDT

Michigan authorities charge 'non-US citizen' with illegal voting

Authorities in Michigan charged an unidentified non-U.S. citizen with allegedly illegally registering to vote and casting a ballot.

More specific details about the case, which took place in Ann Arbor on Sunday, were not immediately available.

The case was referred to law enforcement by a clerk, according to Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit.

"We are grateful for the swift action of the clerk in this case, who took the appropriate steps and referred the case to law enforcement. We are also grateful to law enforcement for swiftly and thoroughly investigating this case," they said in a joint statement.

"Noncitizen voting is an extremely isolated and rare event. Investigations in multiple states and nationwide have found no evidence of large numbers of noncitizens registering to vote. Even less common is a noncitizen actually casting a ballot," they added.

-ABC News' Mike Levine

Oct 30, 2024, 4:50 PM EDT

'It's invaded our home,' PA nuns swept up in misinformation campaign

A nun in Pennsylvania who was swept up in a misinformation campaign boosted by a Republican activist said she's praying to be left alone.

Cliff Maloney, who runs a door-knocking organization, claimed in an X post one of his staffers visited an address in Erie, Pennsylvania, last week and was told none of the 53 registered voters who used that address actually lived there.

Sister Stephanie Schmidt of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pa., talks with Jay O'Brien of ABC News, Oct. 30, 2024.
ABC News

However, the address is home to 55 resident nuns of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie. All but two of the nuns are registered to vote.

“It's invaded our home, if you want to describe it that way,” Sister Stephanie Schmidt, the prioress, told ABC News.

Maloney also posted the names and political affiliations of each nun on his X account, something Schmidt said made her empathize with countless other Americans caught up in misinformation on social media.

“It was very concerning, because this was a blatant lie, putting out to the public information that was just wrong,” she said.

“This campaign is filled with so much deceit, so much misinformation, and we have to wake people up, which is another reason why we're going public with this, to alert people to not believe everything you read,” Schmidt added.

Maloney has not responded to repeated requests to answer questions from ABC News.

He later posted an update claiming his team was "analyzing" the new information about the nuns’ residence and said, "Once we have proof, we will be content."

Schmidt says one of the things she’s praying for most is for this misinformation to leave them alone.

-ABC News' Jay O'Brien

Oct 30, 2024, 4:15 PM EDT

Trump slams Biden over 'garbage' comments, calls opponents 'lowlifes'

Trump again responded to President Joe Biden's Tuesday comments in which he appeared to refer to Trump supporters as "garbage."

During his rally in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, on Wednesday, the former president claimed, "Joe Biden finally said what he and Kamala really think of our supporters. He called them 'garbage.' And they mean it."

"Frankly, they've treated you like garbage," Trump added.

Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event, Oct. 30, 2024, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Although Biden later clarified his comments, in which he was responding to the derogatory comments about Puerto Rico made during Trump's New York rally on Sunday, Trump labeled his opponents as "lowlifes" and claimed the current administration has "virtually destroyed" America.

"Kamala Harris, a low-IQ individual, is running a campaign of hate, anger and retribution. See, I'm very nice to them. They're not nice," he said.

Trump responded to a supporter who shouted, "She's an idiot!" referring to Harris, sarcastically saying, “I didn't say it. I didn't say it. In fact, I'd like to admonish you, sir. You should not say that, please.”

Although Trump disavowed the supporter, his body language told a different story as he stood on stage laughing.

-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh, Lalee Ibssa and Soorin Kim

Oct 30, 2024, 3:21 PM EDT

Nicky Jam walks back Trump endorsement following MSG rally

Last month, Reggaeton music artist Nicky Jam, who is half Puerto Rican, stood on stage with a MAGA hat and endorsed Trump in Las Vegas.

On Wednesday, he announced he was rescinding that endorsement, citing the offensive comments about Puerto Rico made at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally.

In an Instagram video to his 43 million fans, Nicky Jam told his fans in Spanish he couldn't overlook the inflammatory language in recent days.

Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump appears on stage with recording artist Nicky Jam during a campaign rally, Sept. 13, 2024, in Las Vegas.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

"The reason why I supported Donald Trump was because I thought it was the best thing for the economy in the United States, where many Latinos live ... I thought it was the best move. Never in my life did I think that a month later a comedian was going to come to criticize my country and talk bad about my country and therefore, I renounce any support to Donald Trump and I throw my sides to any political situation," he said.

During the Vegas rally, Trump thought Nicky Jam was a woman and said, "She's hot," before bringing him on stage.

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa, Soo Rin Kim and Kelsey Walsh

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