Early voting in the presidential election has already started in some states, with the crucial battleground states of Georgia and North Carolina breaking records.
The numbers from early voting suggest that Americans are energized about the 2024 race.
Supporters of early voting say that it increases voter turnout among certain groups and also accommodates more voters. Others, however, argue that it can lead to “ill-informed voting” and could potentially increase the risk of ballot mishandling, among other issues, according to Ballotpedia.
North Carolina
North Carolina set a turnout record on the first day of early voting, according to the state’s Board of Elections.
More than 353,000 ballots were cast in the Tar Heel State on Thursday, according to preliminary data, surpassing the previous record set in 2020 by 1.3 percent.
Officials celebrated the numbers, which were particularly notable because the state is still recovering from Hurricane Helene.
“Yesterday’s turnout is a clear sign that voters are energized about this election, that they trust the elections process, and that a hurricane will not stop North Carolinians from exercising their right to vote,” Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections, wrote in a statement. “Let’s keep it rolling, North Carolina.”
North Carolina is one of seven critical battleground states that can determine the 2024 election. It carries 15 electoral votes.
In 2020, former President Donald Trump won North Carolina over President Joe Biden by 70,000 votes.
The FiveThirtyEight polling average puts Trump ahead by a narrow 0.7 percentage points.
In-person early voting in North Carolina continues through Saturday, Nov. 2.
Georgia
Registered voters in the Peach State have been turning out in record numbers since early voting began Tuesday.
More than a million votes have been cast in the key swing state since the early voting period opened up on Tuesday.
The Georgia Secretary of State’s office announced on X that a million votes were cast by noon on Friday.
“Amazing turnout!” Gabriel Sterling, chief operating officer for Georgia Secretary of State’s office, wrote in a post on X. “So happy for the counties and the voters! Let’s keep it going.”
This comes after the state shattered a record with more than 300,000 cast on the first day.
President Joe Biden won Georgia by a thin margin, less than 12,700 votes, over former President Donald Trump in 2020.
According to a new Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday, Trump holds a 7-point lead over Vice President Kamala Harris, 52–45 percent.
Georgia has 16 electoral votes.
Nevada
The early voting period for the crucial swing state of Nevada opens up on Saturday.
In 2020, Biden won the Silver State over Trump, with 50.06 percent to the latter’s 47.67 percent. Nevada has voted for Democratic presidential candidates in every election since 2008.
Harris has a narrow 0.6-point edge over her Republican rival in Nevada, according to Five Thirty Eight’s polling average.
An Emerson poll released last week found Harris leading by 1 point, 48 to 47 percent.
Nevada is the smallest swing state, with only six electoral votes.
Early voting in the state runs through Nov. 1.