Texas Early Voting Tops 6.3 Million as Senate States Surge

More than 43 million Americans had already voted early in person or returned mail ballots as of Wednesday, nearly 10 million more than at the same point in 2022, according to an Associated Press analysis of voting data collected five days before Election Day. The count covers 47 states and Washington, D.C., compared with 48 states and the capital four years ago.

Texas posted the largest increase. More than 6.3 million Texans had cast ballots early through Wednesday, against 4.2 million at the same point four years ago, a rise of 50%. In-person early voting in the state runs through Friday. Harris County, which includes Houston, recorded 862,700 early voters by Wednesday, up from 564,500 in 2022.

Early turnout is up more than 30% from the same point in 2022 in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina and Kansas, states with contested Senate races. Maine is at 44%. Michigan has added roughly 409,000 early votes, a 32% increase. Kansas is up 34%, with about 83,000 more ballots than four years ago. South Carolina, holding an open governor's race and an open U.S. Senate seat, is up 83%.

In states that report voter party affiliation, about 6.8 million Democrats and 5.2 million Republicans had voted early. Those totals do not cover every early voter nationally and do not show which candidates received the votes.

The voting is taking place as Republicans defend a 53-47 Senate majority, with control of the House and Senate at stake. Republicans hold both chambers.

Kansas has Republican Sen. Roger Marshall facing Democrat Adam Hamilton, a Methodist pastor of a megachurch. Maine has Republican Sen. Susan Collins against Democrat Troy Jackson, a former president of the state Senate. South Carolina voters are choosing a successor to the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. Trump carried South Carolina by nearly 18 points in 2024.

In Texas, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton faces Democrat James Talarico for Senate, while Republican Gov. Greg Abbott seeks reelection against Democrat Gina Hinojosa. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on the Senate race. Trump visited Texas this week, his third trip to the state in a month.

Michigan voters approved in-person early voting in November 2022, making this the first midterm election where it is available statewide. In Maine, early voting is up 44% from the same point four years ago.

The Texas early voting period ends Friday. Election Day is Tuesday.