Voter turnout for upcoming midterms appears on pace to smash previous records
The upcoming midterm elections appear to be some of the most closely watched in history, with interest sparking in a non-presidential ticket like never before. This appears evident from the current pace of voter turnout, which appears primed to shatter previous records, Axios reported Saturday.
November's election is already on pace with the 2018 midterms, which had a similar level of interest. CNN says more than 5.8 million ballots have already been cast in early voting across 39 states. By this date in 2018, just over 5 million people had voted early, suggesting there will likely be a continued record pace when it comes to early voting this year.
The upcoming elections may also set a new record for the total number of votes cast in a midterm year. Over 122 million people voted in the 2018 midterm elections, according to the Pew Research Center, the highest turnout in a midterm since 1978. If the current pace of early voting continues, the 2022 midterms appear likely to pass that figure.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Axios noted that a number of states are already seeing record-breaking early voting, particularly in two key battleground states, Georgia and Ohio.
According to WAGA-TV in Atlanta, the state of Georgia has already seen first-day early voting numbers that were twice as high as in 2018. In Ohio, meanwhile, the Columbus Dispatch reported nearly 945,000 people had already voted early or requested a mail-in ballot in the first week, a 2.7 percent increase from 2018.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
Taiwan eyes Iron Dome-like defence against ChinaUnder the Radar President announces historic increase in defence spending as Chinese aggression towards autonomous island escalates
-
Political cartoons for November 30Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include the Saudi-China relationship, MAGA spelled wrong, and more
-
Rothermere’s Telegraph takeover: ‘a right-leaning media powerhouse’Talking Point Deal gives Daily Mail and General Trust more than 50% of circulation in the UK newspaper market
-
The US-Saudi relationship: too big to fail?Talking Point With the Saudis investing $1 trillion into the US, and Trump granting them ‘major non-Nato ally’ status, for now the two countries need each other
-
‘Latinos bring a wealth of knowledge and cultural connection to the ocean’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
US, Kyiv report progress on shifting Ukraine peace planSpeed Read The deal ‘must fully uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty,’ the countries said
-
US government shutdown: why the Democrats ‘caved’In the Spotlight The recent stalemate in Congress could soon be ‘overshadowed by more enduring public perceptions’
-
Judge halts Trump’s DC Guard deploymentSpeed Read The Trump administration has ‘infringed upon the District’s right to govern itself,’ the judge ruled
-
Trump accuses Democrats of sedition meriting ‘death’Speed Read The president called for Democratic lawmakers to be arrested for urging the military to refuse illegal orders
-
‘It’s ironic in so many ways’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Court strikes down Texas GOP gerrymanderSpeed Read The Texas congressional map ordered by Trump is likely an illegal racial gerrymander, the court ruled
