Over 41 million voters in the United States have already cast their ballots ahead of the presidential election scheduled for November 5.
Gatekeepers News reports that these early votes can be submitted either in person or by mail.
While early voting does not always accurately predict the eventual outcome, it plays a vital role in shaping the campaigns of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Traditionally, Democrats tend to utilize mail-in voting more than Republicans, who often prefer to vote on election day.
The counting of votes can vary by jurisdiction, with many areas counting in-person votes before processing mail-in ballots. This sequencing can lead to phenomena known as a “blue shift” or “red mirage.” During such scenarios, initial results in key swing states may show Republican candidates in the lead, only for the dynamics to change as mail-in votes are eventually counted.
In the 2020 election, Georgia, a pivotal state, saw more than 2.7 million early votes cast, contributing to its eventual Democratic victory and helping President Joe Biden secure the presidency against Trump.
Trump has frequently criticized the mail-in voting system, alleging it to be fraudulent, and continues to claim that his mandate was stolen. Conversely, Harris’ campaign is actively encouraging Democratic supporters to take advantage of early voting options available in their states.
While Trump maintains his critical stance, the Republican Party has adopted a different approach, urging supporters to participate in early voting, which has resulted in a higher proportion of early Republican voters compared to the 2020 election.
According to the University of Florida’s election lab early voter tracker, Democrats have accounted for 39.9 percent of the early votes, while Republicans have made up 36.3 percent.
