Early voting for the 2024 election is breaking records across the U.S., with over 28 million ballots already cast. As Election Day approaches on November 5, Americans are taking advantage of early voting in battleground states and across the country. Most voters are choosing to vote by mail, highlighting a major trend in this election cycle.
Strong Voter Turnout in Battleground States
The latest data from the University of Florida’s Election Lab shows an overwhelming turnout in key battleground states. North Carolina and Georgia have already set records, with more than 2 million votes cast in each state. In Georgia, more than 25% of active voters have already submitted their ballots, a remarkable figure for early voting. North Carolina also saw a significant turnout, with over 353,000 votes on the first day of early voting, surpassing previous records.
Meanwhile, Nevada is seeing high participation, with over 397,000 ballots cast. This early voter engagement is proving essential as Americans prepare for one of the most crucial elections in recent years.
Democrats Lead in Mail-In Ballots, Republicans in Person
So far, early voting has revealed key trends in voter behavior. Democrats are leading in mail-in ballots, outpacing Republicans by 1.3 million votes across 25 states that report party registration. On the other hand, Republicans are ahead in in-person early voting, with roughly 327,000 more ballots cast than their Democratic counterparts.
Although these figures offer insight into voter activity, election experts caution against drawing conclusions about the final outcome. David Becker, a CBS News election law contributor, explains that while early voting data offers important trends, the actual results remain unknown until all ballots are counted.
Election Administration Benefits from Early Voting
Early voting isn’t just about convenience for voters—it also helps election officials manage logistics and security. The more voters who cast their ballots early, the fewer people will face long lines or other issues on Election Day. Additionally, early voting can protect voters from last-minute disinformation campaigns designed to impact their choices at the polls.
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Comparing to Previous Elections
Early voting in 2024 mirrors trends seen in the 2020 election, where nearly 60 million people voted by October 25. In that election, Democrats returned twice as many mail-in ballots as Republicans. However, 2020 was unique due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased mail-in voting significantly.
In contrast, the 2024 election is seeing a return to more typical early voting patterns, but with even more states offering early voting options. In 2000, only 24 states allowed early voting, a number that has since grown to 47 states for the current election.
Trump’s Evolving Stance on Early Voting
Former President Donald Trump’s views on early voting have shifted over time. While he has often criticized early and mail-in voting, claiming they invite fraud, he has recently urged his supporters to take advantage of early voting methods. During a Pennsylvania rally, Trump referred to early voting as “stupid” but later encouraged his base to vote early during a Fox News interview.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has also ramped up efforts to promote early voting. They are urging supporters to bank their votes by voting as early as possible, through absentee ballots, in-person voting, or ballot harvesting where allowed.
As the 2024 election nears, early voting has already made a significant impact, with millions of Americans casting their ballots ahead of November 5. Whether voting by mail or in person, the high turnout highlights the importance of early voting in shaping the outcome of this pivotal election.
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