Early voting is surging, with more than 39 million Americans already casting their ballot for the general 2026 midterm election. In key battleground states, Democrats are aiming to regain control of both the House and the Senate in order to pass crucial legislation.
With less than a week until November 3rd, Several states are reporting higher early voting numbers than at the same point in the 2022 midterm elections. According to the University of Florida Election Lab, the number of ballots already cast puts 2026 on pace to surpass the early voting total from the previous midterm elections.
In Texas, early voting is up 74% compared with 2022. In Kansas, early voting has more than doubled. Other states like Ohio, Maine, and North Carolina have also seen increases of more than 30% in early in-person and mail voting compared with the same point in 2022.
These high early voting turnout rates have also been seen in marginalized voters, whose communities have historically been disenfranchised throughout election processes.
As of October 27th, 3.8 million Hispanic and Latino voters nationwide had cast a ballot, a 1.45 million increase from the Latino voter who had cast a ballot by this point in 2022. According to the Louisiana Illuminator, Black voters in Louisiana made up a larger share of early voting participants on the first day of early voting than in nearly every other election over the past 18 years.
These turnouts are a clear reflection of an upset American public: dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump’s tariffs, the persistently high cost of living, high gas prices caused by the Iran War and so forth. For the past couple of years, Americans have increasingly felt frustrated at their parties’ broken promises. Despite bipartisan frustration across the aisle, people are still choosing to show up and vote—even early at that.
Early voting offers many voters the convenience and flexibility that match the demands of modern life, and allows for greater election security— something that was threatened during the Trump administration.
As Election Day inches closer, encourage your friends and family to practice their constitutional right to uphold democracy. Check your state’s rules and deadlines before making a plan. For voter registration information, election dates and voting resources, visit vote411.org/feminist. Election Day is the last day to vote, but it is not the only day to vote.