Early Voting Surpasses 43 Million as Midterm Turnout Accelerates

With less than a week before the U.S. midterm elections, which will determine congressional control for the next two years, over 43 million Americans have already cast ballots ahead of Election Day.

University of Florida Election Lab data reveals early voting is occurring at a rate of 4-5 million votes daily—a pace far exceeding historical norms for midterm elections.

Texas leads in early turnout rates, with Hispanic communities demonstrating notably higher participation, according to Professor Mike McDonald, who oversees the database.

Projected turnout is poised to eclipse both the 2020 presidential election and the 2018 midterms, which previously set a 114-year turnout record for such elections.

<

Texas has exceeded its 2022 early voting total by 1.75 million voters, with 5.8 million ballots already cast in the state—a critical battleground that could influence Senate control during Donald Trump’s presidency.

States requiring voter registration with political party affiliation show increased Democratic early voting, while Republican participation remains consistent with 2022 levels. Independent voters are also voting at higher rates, though their candidate preferences remain unrecorded in the data.

Thursday’s figures indicate 44% of early votes came from Democrats, 31.2% from Republicans, and 24.7% from unaffiliated voters—though this breakdown applies only to about half of all states.

In North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida—three states requiring racial registration data—voting surges among Hispanic and Black communities contrast with steady white voter participation compared to 2022. “This aligns with demographic patterns: communities of color typically support Democrats, while white voters often lean Republican,” McDonald explained.

Source link