Early Voting Trends Vary Across U.S. for 2024

Early voting for the upcoming election shows a general decline in turnout compared to 2020 across various states, with specific concerns about Black voter participation affecting key battleground states like North Carolina and Louisiana. Baxter County, Arkansas, reported a decrease of over 900 ballots compared to the same period in 2020, partly due to fewer polling locations. In North Carolina, Black voter turnout is down 10.5%, posing a potential risk to Democratic candidates in presidential races. Meanwhile, in states like California and New York, early voting is gaining momentum with substantial numbers casting their ballots, showing varied enthusiasm across regions. California opened numerous vote centers to facilitate the process, while New York reported over 250,000 early voters over the weekend, breaking previous records. Nationwide, over 40 million people have voted early, with Republicans showing stronger in-person early voting participation compared to Democrats, who lead in mail-in ballot returns.