Record spending on political ads this year is translating into a windfall for local TV stations, Axios Media Trends author Sara Fischer reports.

• Despite an influx of new ways to reach voters online, local broadcast is still the top place campaigns spend their ad dollars.

By the numbers: This year, around $11.7 billion in political ad dollars are expected to be spent locally, according to BIA Advisory Services.

• Local broadcast stations are expected to bring in a record $2.2 billion in "TV digital" political advertising this year — advertising sold by local broadcast stations on digital properties, like websites and streaming apps.

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More than 50 million Americans have already voted (either in person or by mail) a week ahead of Election Day, according to the University of Florida's early-vote tracker.

• Roughly 39% of those voters are registered Democrats. About 36% are registered Republicans.
• A plurality — 41% — are older than 65.

🗳️ Context: 100 million people voted early in 2020, either in person or by mail.

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