Nearly 80 million Americans voted early in the 2024 presidential election. A total of 47 of the 50 states allow for early voting, with only Mississippi, Alabama, and New Hampshire barring the practice.
The early vote totals for this year’s election cycle are down significantly from the pandemic conditions of 2020, hitting only about 70 percent of the 110 Americans who voted in the prior presidential contest. While Democrats far outpaced Republicans during the 2020 early vote, that has not been the case in 2024.
As of Election Day, November 5, Democrats hold 41 percent of the early vote, with Republicans trailing by just two points at 39 percent. Meanwhile, independent voters comprise the remaining 20 percent of the early vote. As expected, the 2024 early vote skews heavily towards senior citizens, with 39 percent of early voters over 65. Those between 50 and 64 years of age made up the next largest contingent at 27 percent. Americans between 40 and 49 only accounted for 13 percent of the early vote. Millennials between the ages of 30 and 39 made up 11 percent, while those under 30 only made up 10 percent.
The early vote was skewed toward women voters—who made up 53 percent of the electorate before election day. Men comprised just 44 percent.
Republicans made a concerted effort to push their voters to cast ballots early in the 2024 election—hoping to build up sizable leads in several key swing states. The strategy appears to have worked, with healthy leads being held in Arizona and Nevada. Additionally, the Democratic advantage in Pennsylvania appears to be significantly lower than it was in 2020 or 2016.
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