Record early voting ahead of US midterms: over 43 million ballots already cast

In brief

• More than 43 million Americans have already voted ahead of the 2026 midterms, with four to five million early ballots cast each day.
• Texas leads the increase: the University of Florida Election Lab counts over 5.8 million ballots there, about 1.75 million more than at the same point in 2022.
• A separate AP count puts Texas at more than 6.3 million early votes by Wednesday, against 4.2 million four years earlier, a rise of about 50 percent.
• Early voting is up more than 30 percent in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina and Kansas, and 83 percent in South Carolina.

Early voting breaks records

Fewer than seven days remain before the midterms, and more than 43 million people have already voted, based on figures gathered by the University of Florida Election Lab (Промежуточные выборы в США: досрочное голосование с высокой явкой, электорат демократов мобилизуется – Zerkalo) (More than 43 million ballots cast so far in midterms early voting surge – BBC News). Daily early ballots are running at four to five million, a pace clearly above most earlier elections. An Associated Press review reported by Fortune puts the national total close to 10 million above the same stage in 2022 (More than 43 million Americans have already voted in the midterms — nearly 10 million more than in 2022 – Fortune).

Texas leads the rise

Texas shows the steepest climb. By late October more than 5.8 million ballots had been cast there, roughly 1.75 million more than at the same point before the 2022 vote, according to figures from the University of Florida Election Lab. A separate count by the Associated Press gives over 6.3 million Texans voting early by Wednesday, against 4.2 million four years earlier, an increase of about 50 percent. The state's races for Senate, House and governor are drawing attention, and the Senate outcome there could determine which party holds the chamber for the rest of Donald Trump's term.

Turnout in competitive states

Early voting in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina and Kansas has risen more than 30 percent from 2022, the AP data shows. South Carolina, which is choosing a successor to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, recorded an 83 percent increase.

Party breakdown

Democratic early turnout has grown, while Republican numbers look broadly similar to 2022. Voters not registered with a party are also casting early ballots in larger numbers, though the data does not reveal their choices.

What comes next

Overall turnout is on course to pass 2020 and could exceed 2018, which had already surpassed the 1914 record for a midterm.