Story perspectives

Maryland early voting tops 77,423 first day

By Drooid · Oct 24, 2026, 2:17 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Early Voting Surges

Early voting in the United States has recorded over 11 million ballots before the 2026 midterms.
Maryland began early voting on Oct. 22, drawing 77,423 voters the first day.
Maryland Supreme Court allowed Question 3 on redistricting after a rewrite, though a UMBC poll shows most voters oppose it.
Gov. Wes Moore seeks reelection against Rep. Dan Cox (R), with Andy Ellis (G) and Cathy White (W) also running.

Summary

Pataskala Charter Vote

Pataskala and Granville will vote on charter amendments banning large data centers.
Licking County voters will select a successor to Commissioner Rick Black.
A property-tax renewal for Licking Park District and a school-tax increase appear on the ballot.
Early in-person voting ends 5 p.m. Nov. 1.
Absentee ballots are due 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3.

History

Historical Context

Early-voting expansion in Texas echoes a long reform trajectory that began with women gaining primary ballots in 1918 and the Voting Rights Act’s protections in 1965. The 1992 presidential contest, in which George H. W. Bush earned 2,496,071 votes, cemented the state’s shift toward Republican dominance. By 2020, scholars rated Texas the nation’s hardest state to vote, pressuring other states such as Ohio to balance accessibility with cost.

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Early Voting Surges

Early voting in the United States has recorded over 11 million ballots before the 2026 midterms.
Maryland began early voting on Oct. 22, drawing 77,423 voters the first day.
Maryland Supreme Court allowed Question 3 on redistricting after a rewrite, though a UMBC poll shows most voters oppose it.
Gov. Wes Moore seeks reelection against Rep. Dan Cox (R), with Andy Ellis (G) and Cathy White (W) also running.

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