Early voting for the November 5th election is in full swing across the nation, with a surge in both in-person and mail-in ballots indicating high voter enthusiasm. The race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is neck and neck, with results hinging on their performance in seven key swing states: Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, and North Carolina.
Traditionally, certain groups like the military and individuals with illnesses have been allowed to vote early. However, many states expanded early voting eligibility in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of now, over 25 million ballots have been cast nationwide.
In the battleground states, early ballots have been pouring in either by mail or in person. Here is a breakdown of early ballot numbers in the seven key states:
– Arizona: 916,685
– Georgia: 1,935,863
– Michigan: 1,309,097
– Nevada: 333,246
– North Carolina: 1,706,099
– Pennsylvania: 1,123,509
– Wisconsin: 475,460
The trend of early voting has been on the rise over the past two decades, indicating strong voter engagement. However, early ballots alone may not be a reliable indicator of which candidate is leading, as fewer voters are expected to cast early votes compared to the previous presidential election.
In the 2020 election, the Fox News Voter Analysis revealed that 71% of voters cast their ballots before Election Day, with a significant portion voting early by mail. This time around, approximately 40% of voters are expected to vote before November 5, according to Gallup polling.
Unlike in the previous election, both Democrats and Republicans are anticipated to be more aligned in their approach to early voting. With the COVID-19 pandemic less of a concern, more voters are likely to turn out on Election Day. Additionally, there is no longer a push from Trump and the GOP to deter early voting among their supporters, potentially narrowing the partisan gap in early voting numbers.
While some states provide breakdowns of early ballots by party affiliation, race, or age, this data does not reveal how individuals actually voted. Actual vote counts are only released on election night. Therefore, early vote data showing party registration of voters does not necessarily reflect their final vote choices.
As the election day draws near, the early voting numbers provide a glimpse into the level of voter engagement and enthusiasm, setting the stage for a closely contested election on November 5th.