Early voting statistics in the US in 2026 show a midterm record: more than 51.3 million ballots were cast before Election Day as of midday Saturday, October 31, 2026, beating the 45.9 million early ballots counted in all of 2022. Among states that report party registration, Democrats account for 43.2% of early ballots, Republicans 31.7% and unaffiliated voters 25.1%, but registration is not vote choice and counts change daily until Election Day on November 3.
Early Voting in US 2026 – Introduction
Early voting set a midterm record in 2026 before a single Election Day vote was cast. More than 51.3 million Americans had returned ballots by mail or voted in person by October 31, which is already 11.8% above the entire early vote in 2022. In-person early voting is the main driver. Texas and North Carolina have posted double-digit gains over the same point in the last midterm.
Early ballots tell part of the story. They show who has voted, where, and by what method, but they do not show who won. Parties and election officials also differ in how they track the data, and several states report no party registration at all. This report lays out the early voting statistics that are available, what each number measures, and which comparisons hold up.
Interesting Facts about Early Voting in US 2026
US EARLY VOTES CAST BEFORE ELECTION DAY (millions)
2022 midterm total | ███████████████████████████████████████ 45.9
2026, midday Oct 31 | █████████████████████████████████████████████ 51.3
2026 in-person only | ██████████████████████████ 28.0+
2022 in-person only | ███████████████████ 20.5
| Fact | 2026 Data |
|---|---|
| Early ballots cast, midday October 31 | 51.3 million |
| 2022 midterm early vote total | 45.9 million |
| In-person early votes, 2026 | More than 28 million |
| In-person early votes, 2022 | About 20.5 million |
| Democratic share of early ballots | 43.2% |
| Republican share of early ballots | 31.7% |
| Texas early ballots, October 30 | 6.9 million |
| States without early voting | 3 |
Source: University of Florida Election Lab, October 31, 2026, as reported by Scripps News; Newsweek, October 30, 2026. Party shares cover states that report party registration. Counts are rolling and will rise before Election Day.
The national count passed the full 2022 early vote on October 30 and kept rising. By midday October 31 it stood at 51.3 million, against 45.9 million in 2022. In-person early voting rose from about 20.5 million to more than 28 million. Texas alone had cast 6.9 million ballots by October 30. Early ballots are now a larger share of the total vote, with about half of 2022 midterm ballots cast before Election Day.
Party numbers need care. Democrats made up 43.2% of early ballots in states that report party registration, Republicans 31.7% and unaffiliated voters 25.1%. Those shares describe registration, not vote choice, and they leave out states that do not register by party. The University of Florida’s Michael McDonald says Republicans typically make up some ground on Election Day. Three states, Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire, offer no universal early voting.
National Early Vote Count Timeline in US 2026
NATIONAL EARLY BALLOTS CAST, OCTOBER 2026 (millions; each █ = 1 million)
Oct 20, afternoon | █████████████ 12.6
Oct 23 | █████████████████████ about 21
Oct 30, early | ██████████████████████████████████████████████ 46+
Oct 30, midday | ████████████████████████████████████████████████ 47.9
Oct 30, evening | ██████████████████████████████████████████████████ 49.6
Oct 31, midday | ███████████████████████████████████████████████████ 51.3
| Date and Time (2026) | Total Early Ballots | Share of 2022 Early Total (45.9M) |
|---|---|---|
| October 20, afternoon | 12.6 million | 27.5% |
| October 23 | About 21 million | 45.8% |
| October 30, early | More than 46 million | 100.2% |
| October 30, midday | 47.9 million | 104.4% |
| October 30, evening | 49.6 million | 108.1% |
| October 31, midday | 51.3 million | 111.8% |
Source: University of Florida Election Lab tracker, as reported by Axios, NPR, States Newsroom, Newsweek and Scripps News. Shares of the 2022 total are our calculation. Snapshot times differ by outlet.
The count more than quadrupled in eleven days. The tracker showed 12.6 million ballots on October 20 and about 21 million by October 23. It crossed the 45.9 million mark from 2022 on October 30, when the total passed 46 million. By that evening it was 49.6 million, and by midday October 31 it was 51.3 million, or 111.8% of the 2022 early total.
The pace was uneven because states report on different schedules. Some, such as Texas and Georgia, update daily, and others lag by days. The Election Lab’s own tracker warns that its “last update” for each state is the date the state last reported, so national totals can jump when a large state posts new data. Early voting ended in about 20 states on October 31, while others, including parts of Florida, ran through November 1. Counts will change through Election Day and for days afterward as states finish processing.
Early Voting 2026 vs 2022 Midterm Comparison
EARLY VOTES BY METHOD, 2022 VS 2026 (millions; each █ = 1 million)
2022 in-person | █████████████████████ 20.5
2026 in-person | ████████████████████████████ 28.0+
2022 mail (calc.) | █████████████████████████ 25.4
2026 mail (calc.) | ███████████████████████ 23.3
| Measure | 2022 Midterm | 2026, October 31 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total early ballots | 45.9 million | 51.3 million | +11.8% |
| In-person early votes | 20.5 million | More than 28 million | +36.6% or more |
| Mail ballots returned | About 25.4 million | About 23.3 million | -8.3% so far |
| Early share of all ballots | About half | Not yet known | Not applicable |
Source: University of Florida Election Lab, via Scripps News and States Newsroom. Mail figures are our calculation (total minus in-person) and exclude ballots still in the mail. Percent changes are our calculation.
The total is up 11.8% from 45.9 million to 51.3 million. In-person early voting accounts for the whole gain and more. It rose from about 20.5 million to more than 28 million, a rise of at least 36.6%. About half of all 2022 midterm ballots were cast before Election Day, so the early share may be higher in 2026.
Mail ballots look lower, but that comparison is premature. The mail figure for 2026 is about 23.3 million, derived by subtracting in-person votes from the total, against about 25.4 million in 2022. By our calculation the 2026 mail count is 8.3% lower so far. Mail ballots arrive up to and after Election Day in several states, and they are still being received and processed, so the 2022 comparison covers a complete period while 2026 does not.
Mail vs In-Person Early Voting Split in US 2026
SHARE OF EARLY BALLOTS BY METHOD, OCTOBER 30 EVENING (each █ = 2%)
In-person | ███████████████████████████ 53.9%
Mail | ███████████████████████ 46.1%
| Method | Ballots, October 30 Evening | Share of Early Ballots |
|---|---|---|
| In-person early votes | 26.8 million | 53.9% |
| Mail ballots returned | 22.9 million | 46.1% |
| Total | 49.7 million | 100.0% |
| In-person, October 31 midday | More than 28 million | About 54.6% of 51.3 million |
Source: University of Florida Election Lab, via Newsweek, October 30, 2026, and Scripps News, October 31, 2026. Shares are our calculation. The two components sum to 0.1 million above the reported 49.6 million total because of rounding.
In-person early votes outnumber mail ballots, 26.8 million to 22.9 million on the evening of October 30. That is 53.9% in person and 46.1% by mail. By midday October 31, in-person voting passed 28 million, about 54.6% of the 51.3 million total. The Election Lab says the wider shift to voting before Election Day accelerated during the pandemic, and in-person voting is strongest in states with long early windows.
The method split varies sharply by state. Georgia and North Carolina are overwhelmingly in-person, while Pennsylvania’s early vote is mostly mail. States with all-mail systems, such as Oregon, report very low early shares until ballots arrive. That is why the national share of mail ballots is falling in 2026 and why state numbers should not be compared without noting how each state votes. The count also excludes ballots still on the way.
Early Voting by Party Registration in US 2026
SHARE OF EARLY BALLOTS BY PARTY REGISTRATION, OCTOBER 31 (each █ = 1%)
Democratic registered | ███████████████████████████████████████████ 43.2%
Republican registered | ████████████████████████████████ 31.7%
Unaffiliated or other | █████████████████████████ 25.1%
| Measure | Democratic | Republican | Unaffiliated or Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share, October 31 midday | 43.2% | 31.7% | 25.1% |
| Share, October 30 early | 43.9% | 31.3% | 24.8% |
| Ballots, October 30 evening | 10.3 million | 7.5 million | 5.9 million |
| North Carolina, October 26 | 41.0% | 24.2% | 34.5% |
| Florida, late October | 38.6% | 40.4% | 21.1% |
Source: University of Florida Election Lab, via Scripps News and Newsweek; North Carolina State Board of Elections, October 26, 2026; Fox 13 Tampa. Shares cover states that report party registration and are not vote choice.
Among states that report party registration, Democrats lead early ballots by about 11.5 points, 43.2% to 31.7%, our calculation. On the evening of October 30 that meant 10.3 million Democratic ballots, 7.5 million Republican and 5.9 million from unaffiliated or minor-party voters. Democrats improved their early voting turnout from 2022 in 16 of 25 states reporting party data, according to the lab. The gap shifts as states report, so earlier readings showed 45% Democratic and 31% Republican from 27 states.
The state rows show why national shares mislead. North Carolina’s early voters were 41.0% Democratic, 24.2% Republican and 34.5% unaffiliated, because many North Carolinians register without a party. Florida’s early vote is 40.4% Republican and 38.6% Democratic. McDonald says Democrats are building an early lead while Republicans will make up some ground on Election Day, and that no one can tell how large that late vote will be.
Early Voting Totals in Largest States 2026
EARLY BALLOTS CAST, LARGEST STATES, OCTOBER 30 (millions; each █ = 0.25)
Texas | ███████████████████████████▌ 6.9
California | ████████████████████ 5.1
Florida | ██████████████████▌ 4.7
| State | Early Ballots, October 30 | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 6.9 million | About 5.1 million in all of 2022 |
| California | 5.1 million | Largely mail ballots |
| Florida | 4.7 million | More than 5 million in all of 2022 |
| Texas change vs 2022 total | +35.3% | Our calculation |
| Texas change at same point, earlier in the cycle | +74% | Associated Press analysis |
Source: University of Florida Election Lab, via Newsweek, October 30, 2026; Associated Press analysis, October 2026; Archyde reporting for Florida 2022 total. The Texas percentage change is our calculation.
Texas leads the country with 6.9 million early ballots, followed by California at 5.1 million and Florida at 4.7 million. Texas has already passed its 2022 early total of about 5.1 million by 35.3%, by our calculation. Earlier in the cycle, an Associated Press analysis put Texas 74% above the same point in 2022. The gap narrowed as 2022 voters caught up.
Florida has not yet matched its 2022 early total, which topped 5 million, but its voting window ran through October 31 and parts of the state ran through November 1. California’s total is largely mail ballots, which arrive over several days. State size drives the totals, so the share of 2022 turnout is a better yardstick than raw counts, and Axios found Georgia and Virginia led on that measure in mid-October.
Early Voting in Battleground States in US 2026
EARLY BALLOTS CAST IN SELECT STATES, LATE OCTOBER (each █ = 100,000)
Georgia, Oct 27 | █████████████████████ 2,097,834
North Carolina, Oct 26 | ██████████████████ 1,773,889
Michigan, Oct 27 | █████████████ 1.3 million+
Ohio, Oct 27 | ████████████ nearly 1.2 million
Pennsylvania mail, Oct 27| ████████ 833,960
| State | Early Ballots | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 2,097,834 | 2,000,452 in person, 97,382 absentee |
| North Carolina | 1,773,889 | 1,298,679 at the same point in 2022 |
| Michigan | More than 1.3 million | As of October 27 |
| Ohio | Nearly 1.2 million | As of October 27 |
| Pennsylvania mail ballots | 833,960 returned | 1,278,611 sent, 65.2% returned |
Source: Georgia Secretary of State and North Carolina State Board of Elections, October 26 and 27, 2026; Pennsylvania Department of State; University of Florida Election Lab, via States Newsroom. Dates differ by state.
Georgia recorded 2,097,834 early votes by October 27, of which 2,000,452, or 95.4%, were cast in person. North Carolina had 1,773,889 accepted ballots by October 26, up 36.6% from 1,298,679 at the same point in 2022, by our calculation. Michigan passed 1.3 million and Ohio reached nearly 1.2 million by October 27, according to the University of Florida tracker.
Pennsylvania reports mail ballots separately. Voters requested 1,344,621 and the state sent 1,278,611, of which 833,960 had come back, a return rate of 65.2%. Of those returned ballots, 66.3% came from registered Democrats, as of the state’s October 27 data. Pennsylvania’s early picture is incomplete because mail ballots are still arriving. The same caution applies to every state, as early totals reflect who has voted, not who has won.
Early Votes as a Share of 2022 Ballots by State in US 2026
2026 EARLY VOTES AS A SHARE OF ALL 2022 BALLOTS, OCTOBER 20 (each █ = 1%)
Georgia | ██████████████████████████ 25.9%
Virginia | █████████████████████████ 25.5%
Vermont | ████████████████████████ 24.3%
Connecticut | ██ 1.5%
Kentucky | █ 1.4%
Oregon | █ 0.6%
| State | Early Votes as Share of All 2022 Ballots | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 25.9% | Highest reported |
| Virginia | 25.5% | Second highest |
| Vermont | 24.3% | Third highest |
| Connecticut | 1.5% | Among the lowest |
| Kentucky | 1.4% | Among the lowest |
| Oregon | 0.6% | Lowest reported |
Source: University of Florida Election Lab snapshot of October 20, 2026, 3:27 p.m. Eastern, as reported by Axios. Shares reflect states’ reporting schedules and voting systems.
Axios mapped each state’s early vote on October 20 against its total 2022 turnout. Georgia led at 25.9%, followed by Virginia at 25.5% and Vermont at 24.3%. At the other end, Connecticut stood at 1.5%, Kentucky at 1.4% and Oregon at 0.6%. The spread between Georgia and Oregon is 25.3 percentage points, by our calculation.
The gap reflects calendars and systems, not enthusiasm. Georgia and Virginia opened early voting well before Kentucky, where it began the week of October 26. Oregon mails every voter a ballot, so most returns arrive close to Election Day. Competitive Senate states such as Georgia and Michigan also drew heavy early activity, according to the same report. Later snapshots show Kansas above 245,000 early votes, and an Associated Press analysis found it had more than doubled its 2022 total at the same point.
Early Voter Demographics in US 2026
SELECTED EARLY VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS, 2026 (each █ = 2%)
Georgia: women, share of ballots | ████████████████████████████ 56%
Georgia: men, share of ballots | ██████████████████████ 44%
Ages 18 to 25, share nationally | ██ 4.5%
| Demographic Measure | Figure | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Women, share of Georgia early ballots | 56% | Through October 29 |
| Men, share of Georgia early ballots | 44% | Through October 29 |
| Ages 18 to 25, share of early voters | 4.5% | States reporting age |
| Early voting rate change among young and minority voters | Higher than prior cycles | McDonald’s reading |
Source: University of Florida Election Lab, via Newsweek; wire reporting on Georgia early voting, October 29, 2026. Demographic data are only available from states that publish them.
Demographic data come from a limited set of states. In Georgia, where early in-person voting set a state midterm record, women made up 56% of ballots and men 44% through October 29. Nationally, only 4.5% of early voters were aged 18 to 25, according to Election Lab data reported by Newsweek. Young voters are a small share of early ballots even as their early voting rate has risen.
McDonald said the early voting rate has increased this cycle for young voters and minority voters, though he cautioned that patterns are uneven. Those figures describe who has voted, not how they voted. They also come from states that publish demographic detail, so they cannot be projected onto the whole country.
Midterm Turnout Benchmarks and Early Voting Access 2026
EARLY VOTES AS A SHARE OF ALL BALLOTS (each █ = 2%)
2016 general election | ████████████████████ about 40%
2022 midterm | █████████████████████████ about 50%
| Benchmark | Figure | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 midterm turnout | Highest midterm rate since 1914 | Reported as 53% |
| 2022 early vote total | 45.9 million | Previous midterm record |
| Early share of ballots, 2016 | About 40% | Before Election Day |
| Early share of ballots, 2022 | About half | Midterm |
| States with universal early voting | 47 plus Washington, DC | Alabama, Mississippi, New Hampshire excluded |
| McDonald’s reading of 2026 turnout | At least even with 2018 | A forecast, not a result |
Source: University of Florida Election Lab and States Newsroom, October 2026; Newsweek, October 30, 2026. Turnout rates vary by measure. McDonald’s comment is an expectation, not a confirmed outcome.
The key benchmark is 2018, when midterm turnout hit its highest rate since 1914. McDonald said that based on early data, 2026 is “running at least even” with 2018, and that overall turnout could match it. That is a forecast, and it depends on Election Day, which the early count cannot predict. Turnout figures vary by method, with a 53% rate cited for 2018 and lower rates under other measures.
Access explains part of the trend. Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia offer universal early voting, with Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire as exceptions. About 40% of ballots were cast before Election Day in 2016, and about half in the 2022 midterm. The 2026 early total already tops 45.9 million, yet it is unclear how many of those voters would have voted on Election Day anyway. A rise in early voting is not by itself a rise in turnout.
Frequently Asked Questions About Early Voting in US 2026
How many people have voted early in the 2026 midterms?
More than 51.3 million ballots had been cast by midday October 31, 2026, according to the University of Florida Election Lab. The total keeps rising until Election Day.
Is 2026 early voting a record for a midterm?
Yes. The total passed the 45.9 million early ballots counted in the whole 2022 midterm on October 30 and reached 51.3 million a day later.
How many early votes were in person in 2026?
More than 28 million by October 31, compared with about 20.5 million in 2022, a rise of at least 36.6%.
How many mail ballots have been returned in 2026?
The tracker showed 22.9 million mail ballots returned on the evening of October 30. Mail ballots continue to arrive, so the total is incomplete.
Which party leads early voting in 2026?
Among states reporting party registration, Democrats account for 43.2% of ballots, Republicans 31.7% and unaffiliated voters 25.1%. Registration does not equal vote choice.
Which states have the most early votes in 2026?
Texas leads with 6.9 million, followed by California at 5.1 million and Florida at 4.7 million, as of October 30.
How much has Texas early voting grown since 2022?
Texas had cast 6.9 million early ballots by October 30, about 35.3% above its 2022 early total of roughly 5.1 million.
How many early votes has Georgia recorded in 2026?
Georgia recorded 2,097,834 early votes by October 27, including 2,000,452 in person and 97,382 absentee ballots.
Do early votes show who will win in 2026?
No. Early counts show who has voted and by what method. McDonald says Republicans typically make up ground on Election Day, and nobody can tell how large that vote will be.
Which states do not offer early voting in 2026?
Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire do not offer universal early voting. Forty-seven states and Washington, DC do.
Will 2026 midterm turnout beat 2018?
McDonald says turnout is running at least even with 2018, the highest midterm rate since 1914. That is an expectation, and final turnout will not be known until after Election Day.
When does early voting end in 2026?
Dates vary. Early voting ended in about 20 states on October 31, and some local areas run through November 1. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
How does 2026 early voting compare with 2022 in North Carolina?
North Carolina had 1,773,889 accepted ballots by October 26, up 36.6% from 1,298,679 at the same point in 2022, by our calculation.
How many Pennsylvania mail ballots have been returned in 2026?
Pennsylvania had received 833,960 of 1,278,611 mail ballots sent by October 27, a return rate of 65.2%.
What share of early voters are young in 2026?
Only 4.5% were aged 18 to 25 in states that report age, though McDonald says young voters’ early voting rate has risen this cycle.
Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.