Full Breakdown
Early Voting Surges Ahead of 2026 Midterm Election
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Core Event
Five days before Election Day, the Associated Press analysis shows that early voting is far outpacing the same point in the 2022 midterms. Across 47 states and Washington, D.C., more than 43 million Americans have cast an in-person or mail ballot early, roughly 10 million more than in 2022. The increase is most pronounced in states with competitive Senate contests.
02
State Highlights
- Texas: Early-vote participation has risen to over 6.3 million, a 50 percent jump from the comparable 2022 figure of 4.2 million.
- Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, Kansas: Each of these states, all holding contested Senate races, reports a rise of more than 30 percent compared with four years ago.
- South Carolina: Early voting is up 83 percent as voters select a successor to the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.
03
Data & Statistics
- Total early voters: > 43 million (AP analysis).
- Party affiliation (where reported): about 6.8 million Democrats and 5.2 million Republicans have voted early.
- Overall increase: roughly 10 million more early voters nationwide than in the 2022 midterms.
04
Impact
The surge reflects heightened voter engagement as the electorate prepares to decide control of Congress two years into President Donald Trump’s second term, with Republicans currently holding both chambers. Early-voting growth in battleground states could shape campaign strategies, prompting both parties to allocate resources toward mobilizing supporters before Election Day. The expanded early-vote totals also suggest that logistical capacities—such as mail-in ballot processing and polling-site staffing—will be under greater pressure, potentially influencing the speed of result tabulation once polls close.
05
Official Context
The AP data, compiled from state-reported voting figures, provides a snapshot of early participation trends but does not indicate which candidates will benefit from the early ballots. As the election approaches, parties and election officials are likely to monitor these numbers closely to gauge voter enthusiasm and adjust outreach efforts accordingly.