Nearly 15 million ballots have been thrown into the electoral fray this year, sending a clear signal that Americans are engaged, whether they’re looking for that last-minute reason to vote for Kamala Harris or Donald Trump. Sure, candidates are racing around trying to court the undecided voters, but the real drama is unfolding in the voting booths and mailboxes across the nation. With nearly 57 million ballots requested by mail, it seems there’s a healthy mix of old-fashioned polling place line-sitters and new-age ballot requesters who probably think “in-person” is just so last century.
The neck-and-neck matchup between Vice President Harris and former President Trump is generating a lot of enthusiasm—or perhaps it’s just the overwhelming desire to avoid seeing the other win. Alongside this nail-biter for the Oval Office, control of Congress is at stake, turning the midterms into a gripping game of political survival. One can only imagine how House Republicans and Senate Democrats are preparing for this do-or-die moment, perhaps attending strategy meetings in dark rooms lit by the flicker of their own ambitions.
Turnout tracker: Where ballots have been cast early in the 2024 elections https://t.co/cq4DH4WN6G
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) October 22, 2024
In terms of early voting, the stats tell a story that might just ruffle a few feathers. While only about half the states have reported party registration for early voters, a look at the data reveals that Democrats have cast 46.3% of early ballots while Republicans lag behind at 32.5%. The remaining ballots are likely from minor parties and those saying, “I just showed up for the free coffee.” Not much of a surprise there, of course—after all, who doesn’t love a good caffeine boost while making some life-altering political decisions?
Breaking down the voting demographics reveals more interesting trends. It’s clear that the sun has set on the idea of youth being the voting powerhouse, with only 5.2% of ballots cast by those aged 18-25. This group, once heralded as politically active, seems to be taking a break, perhaps busy perfecting their TikTok dances rather than their voting strategies. Meanwhile, seniors—those wise enough to have seen it all before—are the crowd favorites, making up nearly half of the ballots cast. They must be pulling out all the stops as they stroll past the millennial votes charging by.
In battleground states, the situation looks even spicier. Georgia has shot past 1.4 million early votes with a load of white voters taking the lead. Pennsylvania’s Democrats boast a whopping 63% early voting tally against Republicans lagging at 27.6%. And in typically tight North Carolina, it’s neck and neck with Democrats and Republicans almost tying. As this election continues to unfold, voters across the states remain on the edge of their seats, reminiscent of a drama series finale—with a lot more at stake than just a couple hours of entertainment.