Early voting in the midterm elections scheduled for Tuesday is occurring at record levels across numerous states, according to election data. In North Carolina, residents established a new record for early ballots cast in a midterm election, with Democrats showing particularly strong participation, having cast more than 1 million votes compared with 679,000 Republican votes. Texas recorded 7.6 million early votes, while South Carolina and Georgia also set new records for midterm early voting, with Georgia’s turnout up 13% compared with the previous midterm cycle.
Across the country, the early voting picture shows an asymmetrical pattern between the parties. Democrats accounted for 43% of early votes nationally, while Republicans represented 31%, with unaffiliated voters making up 25%, according to data from the University of Florida’s election lab. Multiple states including Maine, Kansas, and Michigan reported early voter turnout increases exceeding 30% relative to the previous midterm cycle.
Analysts have offered interpretations of the turnout disparity. Michael McDonald, a political scientist at the University of Florida, suggested to Axios that the Democratic advantage in early voting could reflect a “referendum on Trump.” Bernard Fraga, a political science professor at Emory University, told Time that while some Republican voters have expressed reservations based on economic conditions, Democrats demonstrate notably higher enthusiasm and mobilization levels.
Polling data released by PBS News/NPR/Marist indicated 52% of voters expressed support for the Democratic congressional candidate in their district, compared with 44% supporting the Republican candidate. These figures emerged as the electorate prepared to vote in the midterm elections scheduled for the following day.
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