As the U.S. presidential election approaches on November 5, early voting has reached significant levels, with over 75 million ballots cast, accounting for more than 48% of the total votes in the 2020 election.
In-person early voting has already surpassed the total for the 2020 election, indicating a shift in voting behavior among Americans. This trend, which gained traction during the pandemic, shows that many voters prefer to vote early rather than wait until Election Day.
In Georgia, a critical state for the election, more than 4 million individuals have voted, representing nearly 80% of the total participation in 2020. Other battleground states like Arizona and North Carolina are also seeing substantial early voter turnout.
While the preferences of early voters remain unclear, demographic shifts are noted. An analysis indicates a rise in newly registered women Democrats in Pennsylvania and increased participation among registered Republican men in Arizona.
Former President Donald Trump has encouraged early voting this year, contrasting his previous stance against mail-in voting. He emphasized the importance of voter turnout at a rally in Pennsylvania, where he claimed the fate of the nation lies in the hands of the voters.
Recent polling shows a tight race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, with a recent NBC News survey indicating that they are nearly tied among registered voters nationwide. The latest ABC News/Ipsos poll gives Harris a slight edge at 49% to Trump's 46%.
In key swing states, the New York Times/Siena poll suggests Harris is leading in five out of seven, although margins remain close, indicating a highly competitive election ahead.