Early voting jumps across Senate battlegrounds as millions more Americans vote ahead of Election Day

Early voting is surging across Senate battlegrounds as millions of Americans cast ballots ahead of Election Day, according to an Associated Press analysis of voting data. The surge is particularly significant in states hosting competitive Senate races, such as Texas, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, Kansas, and South Carolina. As of Wednesday, more than 6.3 million Texans had voted early, a 50% increase compared to four years ago.

Similarly, early voting has risen by over 30% in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, and Kansas. South Carolina, where a successor to the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham is being chosen, has seen an 83% increase in early voting. Nationwide, more than 43 million Americans have voted early, ten million more than in 2022. The data reveals a notable trend, with 6.8 million Democrats and 5.2 million Republicans having cast early ballots in states where party affiliation is known.

This trend reflects the anticipation of a pivotal election, with Republicans currently holding control of both houses of Congress.