US ELECTIONS 2020

Early voting records smashed amid enthusiasm wave

Huge numbers of voters are voting ahead of election day on November 3.

In Summary

• Nearly 20 million Americans had voted early by Friday, either in person or by mail, according to the US Election Project.

• Reports indicate that many of the early voters are Democrats - disproportionally women and black Americans.

Voters in Atlanta queue to vote in an NBA arena
Voters in Atlanta queue to vote in an NBA arena
Image: GETTY IMAGES

State election officials across the US are reporting record numbers of voters casting their ballots ahead of election day on 3 November.

Nearly 20 million Americans had voted early by Friday, either in person or by mail, according to the US Election Project.

At the same point in the 2016 race, about 6m votes had been cast.

 

Experts say the surge in early voting correlates to the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused many people to seek alternatives to election day voting.

On Tuesday, Texas, a state that only allows postal voting if medically excused, set a record for most ballots cast on the first day of early voting.

On Monday, the Columbus Day federal holiday, officials in Georgia reported126,876 votes cast - also a state record.

In Ohio, a crucial swing state, more than 2.4m postal ballots have been requested, double the figure in 2016.

Reports indicate that many of the early voters are Democrats - disproportionally women and black Americans - who are motivated by distaste for Donald Trump. Some have been energised by social justice protests throughout the summer following the police killing of unarmed black man George Floyd.

Republicans, who claim postal voting is vulnerable to fraud, say Democrats may win the early vote, but that Republicans will show up in large numbers on election day.

The enormous numbers of voters have led to long lines, with some people waiting for up to 11 hours for an opportunity to vote.

 

Younger people, who historically have been difficult to get to the polls, appear to be turning out in larger numbers this year. The youth vote may be the highest its been since 2008 for the election of Barack Obama - the country's first black president.

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