Published October 28, 2026. Figures are from local reports at the dates noted and will change.
With Election Day on November 3, early voting turnout is running ahead of the 2022 midterms in several states, according to local and state reports. Here is a snapshot of what has been reported, and why early numbers should be read with caution.
Georgia: more than 1 million votes
Georgia passed 1 million votes cast one week after early in-person voting opened on October 13, Atlanta News First reported. As of 5:50 p.m. on Monday, October 19, the total was 1,005,130, including 960,707 in-person early votes. The first day alone drew more than 190,000 in-person voters, 53,000 more than the first day in 2022. Early voting in Georgia runs through October 30.
Colorado: half a million ballots returned
As of late October 19, 509,364 Coloradans had returned ballots, about 12.6% of active voters, according to Colorado Newsline. Democrats accounted for 33.4% of ballots returned, Republicans 24.2%, and unaffiliated voters 41.3%. Voters 55 and older cast about 68.5% of the ballots. Turnout is outpacing 2022, and unaffiliated and Democratic turnout also exceeds the same point in 2024.
Texas: strong, but below 2024
Early voting began in Texas on October 19. Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, and Collin counties all reported more first-day voters than in 2022, but fewer than on the first day of the 2024 presidential election, NBC DFW reported. In Brazos County, about 13.6% of registered voters had voted through the fourth day, more than 60% above 2022 but roughly 14% behind 2024, according to KBTX.
What early turnout can and cannot tell us
- It does not predict winners. Party registration is not the same as vote choice, and unaffiliated voters can lean either way.
- Timing shifts. More voting early can mean fewer voters on Election Day rather than higher total turnout.
- States differ. Rules for mail voting, early voting dates, and reporting vary, so state-to-state comparisons are imprecise.
What to do
If you have not voted, check your state’s early voting dates and polling places. Our voter checklist covers registration, ID rules, and mail ballots, and our guide to the 2026 midterms explains what is at stake.
