- States with competitive Senate elections, including Georgia and Michigan, are already seeing significant early voting activity.
- Democrats are hoping to capitalize on discontent with President Trump and the economy, while Republicans are working to mobilize their base.
In figures: Georgia and Virginia lead reporting states in early turnout in terms of share of all ballots cast in the 2022 midterms.
- Georgia: More than 1 million ballots were cast, equivalent to 25.9% of the state’s total 2022 turnout.
- Virginia: 770,916 ballots were cast, or 25.5% of the 2022 turnout.
- Lowest among reporting states: Oregon (0.6%), Kentucky (1.4%) and Connecticut (1.5%).
Yes, but: States set their own early voting and reporting schedules, and low percentages do not necessarily mean delayed participation.
There is also signs of strong early turnout in other states.
- Texas: Dallas County reported a record 76,079 in-person votes on Monday, the first day of early voting, surpassing its previous record set in 2020.
- North Carolina: As of Oct. 18, early voting was 37% ahead of the same point in the 2022 midterm elections, with registered Democrats voting more than twice as many as Republicans.
Reality check: Although early turnout can provide clues about enthusiasm, those who vote before Election Day tend to be more politically engaged than the average American, making this data an unreliable indicator of final results.
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