Early Voting Surges Across Several States

Early voting was running ahead of the 2022 midterm pace in several states and localities, though totals covered different dates and voting methods ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Louisiana recorded 520,942 early votes by Oct. 27, up about 38% from 2022, while Arkansas reported 362,293 early ballots, about 65,000 more than at the same point in 2022; Louisiana’s Black early-voting total rose 83%, and Democrats cast nearly 16,000 more early ballots than Republicans, though party affiliation does not indicate candidate choice. Michigan reported about 1.4 million early votes, mostly by mail, and Iowa had received 338,882 of 380,567 absentee ballots issued. Suburban Cook County’s early-voting total was up 30.4% from the comparable point in 2022, Illinois’ statewide tracker counted nearly 966,000 early and mail ballots, and Webb County, Texas, recorded 36,573 ballots in the first 10 days of early voting amid closely watched congressional and Laredo mayoral contests. Florida had nearly 2.8 million voters by Oct. 26, with Republicans leading in-person early voting and Democrats leading mail voting; Georgia surpassed 2 million in-person voters, Virginia exceeded its full 2022 early-vote count, and Harris County, Texas, and Nevada recorded nearly 782,000 and just under half a million votes, respectively. Officials cited competitive races and heightened enthusiasm but cautioned that early-voting increases do not guarantee higher overall turnout, and urged voters to check mail ballots and complete any required signature cures.