Nov 3, 2024 - Politics & Policy

Nearly half of 2020's electorate have already cast ballots in 2024

Avery Lotz

Residents of Chicago wait in line to cast their ballots by a sign that reads "Early Voting." — Residents of Chicago wait in line to cast their ballots at the Loop Supersite on Nov. 2 ahead of the November 5th general election. Photo: Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images

More than 75 million Americans have already cast their ballots as of the Sunday before Election Day.

Why it matters: That's over 48% of the total number who voted in 2020 (154.6 million), indicating that early and mail-in voting has become increasingly popular methods to vote and become a new normal in American politics.

In the 2022 midterms, nearly half of voters chose to do so early, far surpassing pre-pandemic numbers.

By the numbers: In Georgia, more than 4 million have already voted — marking nearly 80% of the state's total 2020 turnout, according to the University of Florida Election Lab's early vote tracker.

North Carolina's early voting turnout reflects a similar margin — more than 4.4 million have cast their ballots, accounting for 80% of the 2020 count in the battleground state.

Flashback: Around 100 million people voted early, either in person or via mail, in 2020.

Between the lines: While former President Trump railed against mail-in voting for years, he and the GOP have since encouraged their supporters to vote early (while still challenging certain mail-in voting provisions in courtrooms across the country).

Of those who have cast their vote so far in states that report party registration data, Democrats hold a slight lead — 37.9% to 36.2% — per UF's count.

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Nearly half of 2020's electorate have already cast ballots in 2024

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