WASHINGTON: Over 62 million Americans have already voted in the 2024 election, setting new records in some states and fueling optimism for both Democrats and Republicans, though experts caution that early data is complex to interpret.
Polls show Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump locked in a tight race, particularly in the seven battleground states that are likely to decide the election outcome.
Harris’s campaign has strongly promoted early voting, with her running mate Tim Walz, outgoing President Joe Biden, and former President Barack Obama all casting their ballots early. While Trump previously voiced unsubstantiated concerns about early voting fairness, he has recently encouraged his supporters to vote at their convenience.
As of Thursday, at least 62.7 million votes had already been cast, representing nearly 40% of the 2020 total turnout. In Georgia, over 3.5 million people, or 45% of registered voters, have voted early—a record turnout according to Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who anticipates up to 70% early voting in the state.
This high turnout trend is reflected in other swing states as well. In Wisconsin, 73-year-old police officer Brad Hines lined up on the first day of early voting to cast his ballot, emphasizing the election’s significance for democracy. “I wanted to get my vote in early and encourage others to do the same,” he said.
