A new survey indicates that most voters in the U.S. are opting to cast their votes prior to Election Day, despite the ongoing debate over the partisan nature of early voting.
According to a poll by NBC News, 52% of voters are choosing to vote early this year, while another 44% aim to vote in person on the day of the election.
The survey, carried out between Oct. 4-8, reveals that 5% of voters have already made their choice — 3% via mail and 2% through in-person voting. Additionally, 47% intend to vote in advance, with 20% planning to do so by mail and 27% in person.
Results released on Tuesday highlight that Vice President Kamala Harris leads by 17 points (57% to 40%) among those who have voted or intend to vote before Election Day. She has “a massive lead” among those voting by mail and a slight advantage among early in-person voters.
On the other hand, former President Donald Trump is ahead among those who plan to vote in person on Nov. 5, with a 21-point difference (58% to 37%).
The NBC News poll also discovered that 3% are undecided about their voting method, and another 1% have decided not to vote.
This poll’s findings are consistent with a survey from the 2022 midterm elections, where 49% of voters planned to vote early, and 47% on Election Day itself.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in early October 2020, 59% intended to vote early, and 37% chose to wait until Election Day. By late October, the percentage of early voters had increased to 68%.
The latest findings from the NBC News poll show a significant rise from the 41% who planned to vote early in early November 2016, a time when fewer states offered early voting options.
Alabama kicked off this year’s voting when it dispatched absentee ballots to eligible voters on Sept. 11, as reported by USA Today. The state doesn’t provide an in-person early voting option.
North Carolina was anticipated to be the first state to start the voting process. However, the removal of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name from the ballot, following his withdrawal from the race, led to a delay due to legal proceedings.
