The 2024 presidential election is in full swing, with early in-person and mail-in ballots flooding in, indicating a surge in voter excitement nationwide. Polls show a tight race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, with crucial battleground states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan playing key roles in determining the outcome.
While early voting has become increasingly popular over the past two decades, its significance in predicting election results remains uncertain. In 2020, Democrats dominated mail-in ballots, but Republican turnout is expected to increase this year. More than 25 million ballots have already been cast, with states like Arizona and Georgia seeing high early voting numbers.
A man walks out of the Board of Elections Loop Super Site after casting his ballot in the 2024 presidential election on the second day of early voting in Chicago on Oct. 4, 2024. (KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Early voting data provides valuable insights into voter behavior, but actual results remain unknown until election night. Party affiliations of early voters do not necessarily indicate final outcomes, as voters may change their preferences. As the election unfolds, the nation awaits the final verdict.