The number of early voters in the U.S. has surpassed 51 million, higher than the early turnout before the 2022 midterm elections, while several national polls show the Democratic Party leading the Republican Party in popularity.
On 2 Nov 2026 GMT+7, Americans nationwide continued casting early votes ahead of the midterm elections on 3 Nov. Data from the University of Florida's Election Lab indicated that by the end of October, over 51 million people had voted early, exceeding the early voter count before the 2022 midterms.
Reports stated that on Saturday, the last day for in-person early voting in Virginia, in the southern U.S., long lines of voters waited to cast their ballots, with some dressed in Halloween costumes.
A woman around 50 said she wants to see politicians who listen to ordinary citizens and are not dominated by big corporations. Meanwhile, a man around 40 expressed that the nationwide election might be close and hopes the winners will hold moderate political views and truly represent the majority of citizens who usually stay silent.
Meanwhile, recent national polls show the Democratic Party still leading the Republican Party. The RealClearPolling average stands at 51.5% to 43.1%. A THP/MM poll conducted on 28–29 October found Democrats ahead 54% to 41%, and an Emerson College poll from 24–26 October showed the Democrats leading by 10 points.
Political analyst and pollster Natalie Jackson told Al Jazeera that the polls reflect public dissatisfaction with U.S. President Donald Trump and the economic situation. She said the current political climate favors the Democrats because the president's approval rating is low, people face high living costs partly due to tariffs and the war in Iran, and some view the Republicans as having failed to fulfill promises made in the past two years.
In the Kansas Senate race, a Washington Post-Schar School poll released on Friday showed Democrat Adam Hamilton leading Republican Senator Roger Marshall 52% to 43%.
Source: CNN