More than 57.5 million Americans cast ballots before polls opened on Tuesday for the United States midterm elections, breaking previous records as voters weighed congressional control, the economy, and foreign policy.
More than 57.5 million early ballots were logged by Monday evening through the University of Florida Election Lab tracker: a total that sits roughly 11.5 million above the final early vote count from the 2002 midterm cycle. Across 47 states and Washington, D.C., voters utilized mail-in ballots and expanded early in-person voting options. All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are contested, determining whether Republicans hold or Democrats capture Congress.
The Blacker the precinct in Virginia, the higher the turnout compared to 2025. By next week, we are looking at the highest share of the Black vote in a Virginia election in modern history. pic.twitter.com/lhF0s9gIUi
Democratic Voters Drive Early in-Person Turnout Surge
Democratic voters altered traditional voting habits by turning out heavily for in-person early voting while mail-in voting numbers decreased. Early voting data compiled by political scientist Michael McDonald indicated that roughly 43 percent of early ballots came from registered Democrats, compared to 32 percent from Republicans and 25 percent from unaffiliated or third-party voters.
In Texas, early voting surpassed 7.7 million ballots, outstripping the state’s prior high-water mark of 40 percent turnout set in 2018. An ABC News analysis of Texas early voting showed 51 percent of ballots coming from voters modeled as likely to vote for Democrats, marking a 14 percentage point swing from 2022 (ABC News).
LOUISIANA EARLY VOTING 7th (last) day numbers, compared against recent "midterm-ish" elections: '22 Sen:363,009, 71-26 white/black and 43-42 R/D '23 Gov:344,878, 71-26 white/black and 45-40 R/D '26 Sen:520,942, 61-34 white/black and 42-39 D/R (1/)
Early voting totals reached 29 million in-person votes and 23 million mail-in ballots, surpassing the 46 million early votes recorded during the 2022 midterm elections. University of Florida data showed that registered Democratic early voters surpassed 11 million, compared to approximately 8 million registered Republicans. In states including Kansas, Georgia, and Florida, the Republican share of the electorate declined relative to previous cycles, while competitive Senate contests in states such as Ohio, Maine, and Michigan experienced heavy surges in early participation. North Carolina recorded increased Democratic turnout as voters shifted to early in-person options despite efforts to make mail-in voting harder, while South Carolina saw early voting surge 83 percent compared to the same point in 2022. Nationwide turnout saw more than 54 million Americans cast ballots ahead of Election Day.
Federal Agencies and Courts Handle Pre-Election Legal Battles
The Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security deployed federal personnel to monitor polling sites. The Supreme Court rejected an administration bid requiring strict mail-in voting restrictions after lower courts dismissed requests under the Purcell principle barring last-minute election rule changes. A federal judge also dismissed a Republican attempt to delay certification of potential election results in Alaska.
I can confidently say that the 2026 election will be the most diverse midterm electorate in U. S. history. I provide here evidence in voter registration and early voting data https://t.co/ye1MpSVSHr
Administration actions included a Department of Homeland Security directive ordering the United States Postal Service to formulate rules for mail ballots and tasking agencies with compiling confirmed adult citizen lists in each state. Executive branch efforts also involved a federal judge in Boston permanently barring most of an administration executive order on June 24, 2026. Legal battles extended to Alaska, where the Department of Justice lodged an appeal after a federal judge dismissed a Republican attempt to delay certification if incumbent Republican Dan S. Sullivan lost. Meanwhile, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People challenged the deployment of federal law enforcement agents as election monitors, though the Department of Justice confirmed that Federal Bureau of Prisons, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives employees would be stationed at voting locations while FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel would not serve as monitors.
President Donald Trump made his closing appeal on Monday afternoon at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington.
This is the last day before the midterm elections, the most important midterm, I believe in our lifetime.
Democrats Express Optimism as Polling Locations Prepare to Open
Democratic figures expressed cautious optimism as polls prepared to open. Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock spoke to CNN regarding the upper chamber races.
As turnout in Texas nears 3 million votes, Hispanic turnout is now exceeding presidential levels. More Hispanics have voted than did at this point in the 2024 presidential election. What's driving this huge increase? Young voters. pic.twitter.com/GPVDz0IPWZ
Additional reactions included Texas state Senator Jose Menendez noting that citizens attempted early voting to bypass day-of complications, while North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton emphasized party encouragement toward early in-person voting.
Polling locations open at 6 a.m. in initial voting jurisdictions, including Connecticut, Indiana, and Kentucky. The first polling stations close at 6 p.m. ET in parts of Indiana and Kentucky, with subsequent waves closing across the country through the evening, and final results in Alaska concluding near 1 a.m. ET.
Millions of people have already voted in this election. Check to see if you have the option in your state, and make a plan to vote. https://t.co/tphzxKWbhd pic.twitter.com/g414W9hmgJ
More on Election Day
All across the country, I’ve heard from folks who are sick and tired of what they’re seeing from politicians right now. This Election Day, we have the power to vote for the candidates who will bring about the change we need.
General Election Early Voting Complete! Manhattan: 188,434 Bronx: 67,630 Brooklyn: 219,536 Queens: 162,914 Staten Island: 52,012 Total # Early Voting Check-Ins: 690,526* *Unofficial & cumulative as of close of polls
2026 General Election- Day 8 Complete! Manhattan: 160,045 Bronx: 57,167 Brooklyn: 177,271 Queens: 135,095 Staten Island: 43,208 Total # Early Voting Check-Ins: 572,786* *Unofficial & cumulative as close of polls
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