Millions more Americans vote ahead of Election Day as early voting jumps across Senate battlegrounds

Early voting lets eligible voters cast ballots before Election Day. It can happen in person or through a mail ballot returned in advance. Election Day voting happens on the official date set for the election. The article tracks both forms of advance participation.

The AP counted more than 43 million people who had voted early in person or returned mail ballots. That total covers 47 states and Washington, D.C. Early voting can spread participation across several days instead of concentrating voters, ballot questions, and election workers into one day.

The article shows why the distinction matters this year. Nearly 10 million more people had voted early than at the same point in the 2022 midterm election. States with competitive Senate contests saw particularly strong increases. The early totals offer a picture of participation, but they do not reveal every voter's candidate choice or predict the final result.

More than 43 million Americans had voted early in person or returned mail ballots five days before Election Day. The AP analysis covered 47 states and Washington, D.C. This figure measures ballots already cast, not the number of people expected to vote by the election's end.

The total was nearly 10 million higher than at the same point in the 2022 midterm election. That comparison shows a substantial increase in advance participation. It does not mean 10 million additional voters will necessarily participate overall, because some people who vote early might otherwise have voted on Election Day.

The increase was visible across several battlegrounds. Texas had more than 6.3 million early voters, compared with 4.2 million four years earlier. Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, and Kansas each recorded increases of more than 30 percent from the same point four years ago. These figures signal intense early participation before final results are known.

Texas recorded one of the biggest increases. More than 6.3 million Texans had voted early, compared with 4.2 million at the same point four years earlier. That was a 50% increase. South Carolina also stood out, with early voting up 83 percent as voters selected a successor to the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Advance voting rose more than 30 percent in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, and Kansas. These states host competitive Senate races. The article also highlights Texas, where Senate, House, and governor's races were closely watched. Sharp changes in these places therefore received special attention in the AP analysis.

Competitive Senate states matter because their contests can affect which party controls the Senate. Early-voting totals show where participation is especially strong, but they do not identify the winners. They also do not show how all early voters voted. Final control of Congress depends on results across the relevant races, not simply on advance-ballot volume.

In states that provide party-affiliation information, about 6.8 million Democrats and 5.2 million Republicans had cast ballots early. These figures can show how many early voters are associated with each party in the reporting states. They may help campaigns and analysts understand participation patterns before Election Day.

The totals do not cover every early voter nationwide. They also identify party affiliation, not the candidate selected. A Democrat could vote for a Republican candidate, an independent candidate, or leave a contest blank. The same applies to a Republican voter. Party registration and candidate support are different measures.

The article therefore treats the figures as incomplete indicators rather than results. They cannot establish who is winning a race or which party will control Congress. More than 43 million Americans had voted early nationwide, while the party totals came only from states that provide affiliation data. Final ballots and official counts remain necessary.

A large increase in early voting changes the timing and workload of election administration. Officials may need to process more in-person ballots and mail ballots before results can be reported. Processing commonly includes checking voter records, verifying mail-ballot requirements, and preparing ballots for counting. Exact procedures differ by state.

For example, Texas had more than 6.3 million early voters, compared with 4.2 million at the same point four years earlier. That larger volume can require more staff, equipment, storage, and quality checks. Mail ballots may take longer because officials must verify envelopes or signatures before counting, depending on state rules.

The article does not state that delays occurred or describe each state's processing laws. In general, larger early-vote totals can mean more results are available before Election Day, but they can also leave more ballots still being processed after polls close. Reporting times may therefore differ across states, and early totals still cannot determine winners.

The Senate is one of the two chambers that make up Congress. Winning enough Senate races can give a party control of that chamber. Control matters because the Senate is part of the congressional majority that shapes which legislation advances and how the chamber conducts its work. The article focuses on Senate contests as part of the broader fight over Congress.

The stakes are especially high in close races. Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, and Kansas all had competitive Senate races and early voting increases above 30 percent. Texas also had a closely watched Senate contest, alongside House and governor's races. South Carolina voters were choosing a successor to the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.

The article states that Republicans held both the House and Senate before this election. It does not list the number of competitive seats or predict winners. The eventual Senate results, combined with House results, will determine whether congressional control stays with Republicans or changes hands.

Midterm elections are nationwide elections held halfway through a president's four-year term. Voters choose members of the House and, in the scheduled contests, members of the Senate. They may also vote in state or local races. The article describes this election as a decision about control of Congress and other key contests.

Voters determine congressional control by electing candidates in individual House and Senate races. The party that wins enough seats in a chamber controls that chamber. The article highlights competitive Senate contests in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, Kansas, Texas, and South Carolina. Those races could influence the Senate's party balance.

The article says Republicans held both the House and Senate as voters prepared to vote, two years into President Donald Trump's second term. Early participation was running ahead of 2022, with more than 43 million ballots already cast. The final congressional results will show whether Republicans retain both chambers or whether control changes.