Early Voting Surges Past 43 Million in U.S. Midterms, with Texas and Hispanic Communities Leading

With less than a week to go in the 2024 U.S. midterm elections, more than 43 million ballots have already been cast, according to data from the University of Florida Election Lab. Early voting is at an unprecedented pace, with 4–5 million ballots being submitted each day—higher than in most previous midterms. Texas alone has exceeded its 2022 turnout by about 1.75 million voters, with over 5.8 million ballots cast, making it a pivotal battleground for Senate control. Hispanic and Black voters are turning out at record rates, while white turnout remains roughly flat compared to 2022. Party‑affiliation data shows Democrats receiving 44 % of early votes, Republicans 31.2 %, and 24.7 % from unaffiliated voters in states that record affiliation. Early voting has accelerated in recent years, driven by expanded in‑person and mail options introduced during the COVID‑19 pandemic, and voters now tend to submit ballots earlier than in past elections.