TOPEKA (AP) —Early voting is continuing to significantly outpace the last midterm election, with millions more Americans casting ballots in advance and particularly sharp increases in states hosting competitive Senate races.
An Associated Press analysis of voting data five days before Election Day shows the surge is especially pronounced in Texas, where voters are deciding closely watched Senate, House and governor’s races. More than 6.3 million Texans had voted early as of Wednesday, compared with 4.2 million at the same point four years ago, a 50% increase.
Advance voting has also increased over 30% from the same point four years ago in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina and Kansas, all states with competitive Senate races. In South Carolina, where voters are choosing a successor to the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, early voting is up 83%.
More details on the huge turnout surge
The surge is especially pronounced in Texas, where voters are deciding closely watched Senate, House and governor’s races. More than 6.3 million Texans voted early as of Wednesday, compared with 4.2 million at the same point four years ago, a 50% increase, according to the AP analysis.
In Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston, 862,700 people had voted, compared with 564,500 at the same point in 2022.
Texans are choosing between Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico for the U.S. Senate. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is seeking reelection against Democrat Gina Hinojosa.
Advance voting has increased more than 30% in Kansas, Maine, Michigan and North Carolina, states with competitive Senate races. In South Carolina, where voters are choosing a successor to the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, early voting is up 83%.