Early voting is surging across the country. It’s unclear who benefits

Los Angeles Times ^ | Oct. 25, 2024 3 AM PT | Seema Mehta

[E. Pluribus Unum]

• Nearly 30 million Americans have voted, more than a week ahead of election day.
• Experts caution that early voting numbers do not allow them to predict who will win.

HENDERSON, Nev. — After Katie Kern and her father, Robert Kern, cast their ballots for former President Trump in this suburb of Las Vegas, they said they wanted to make sure their vote was counted in the critical battleground state of Nevada so that the Republican would retake the White House.

“I’m probably more of a last-minute voter, but I wanted to vote earlier this year to make sure that it had time to get in the system, rather than the last-minute thing that seems to be an issue,” said Katie, a 40-year-old voice teacher, after voting at a Boys & Girls Club.

Robert, 66, who works in real estate, added that he planned to shuttle family members to early voting locations because of how tight the presidential contest is between Trump and his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, and how Nevada could tilt the outcome.

“Their votes matter,” he said. “Every single vote matters here in this state.”

The Kerns are among the nearly 30 million Americans who have already cast ballots in the Nov. 5 election as of Thursday morning, according to a University of Florida tracker of early voting. Of the voters who have returned mail ballots or voted in person, Democrats are outpacing Republicans, with 41.9% of ballots cast by registered Democrats in states that require voters select a party preference, compared with 35.3% by Republicans and 22.8% by people who support minor parties or do not have a party preference.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

We voted on Tuesday, the first day of early voting in our county.

[ClearCase_guy]

I have a generalized fear that all forms of early voting only allow the bad guys an opportunity to know how many ballots they need to print at 3 AM on the first Wednesday in November.

[Red Badger]

If the LA Times says it’s ‘unclear’, the my Magic 8-Ball says it’s TRUMP..........

[CatOwner]

Early and mail-in voting benefited the DEMs hugely in 2020 in preparation for the steal. If all that is happening is the Republicans voters are doing early voting instead of on Election Day, I’m not sure this changes much from 2020.

[Steely Tom]

If the LA Times says it’s ‘unclear’, the my Magic 8-Ball says it’s TRUMP..........

I couldn't have said it better.

[vespa300]

Yeah, as if the LA Times would ever admit anything might favor Trump. Get outta here......

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I have a generalized fear that all forms of early voting only allow the bad guys an opportunity to know how many ballots they need to print at 3 AM on the first Wednesday in November.

On the other hand if you wait until election day you might find out that you already voted two weeks ago.

Or your ballot did, anyway.

[Skwor]

It has been analyzed Republican, early voters are low frequency voters. This is all a good thing

[FlingWingFlyer]

My wife and I are proud Americans who consider it an honor to go to the polls with other Americans and vote on election day. We just voted early three days ago for the same reasons Katie and Robert did in the article. Lots of elderly people there. I can’t believe how close they allow vote for me signs to the door where went in. Almost all of them were Republican signs. I saw one tiny Harris sign mixed in with all the Republican signs. That really surprised me.

[Red Badger]

[Mr Rogers]

Most states now require all ballots in by Election Day. 7pm in Arizona. And both parties have people watching - by law. Plus a live video feed. No one is going to produce votes in the night.

According to NBC, so far in Arizona:

33% of ballot requests are Democrat.
36% are Republican.
31% Independent.

Of ballots turned in so far:

35% are Democrat.
43% are Republican.
22% Independent.

Looks to me like Republicans are more enthusiastic than Dems. If Independents are waiting to vote, then the current trend toward Trump should help.

[Obadiah]

It’s unclear who benefits...

Who is far and away more motivated to vote? There's your answer.

[Common Sense 101]

Early voting is surging across the country. It’s unclear who benefits to the Lost Angeles Times [Fixed it.]

[cuban leaf]

I saw the headline and then saw this line: It’s unclear who benefits

And before even looking, I said to myself, “must be a liberal rag.”

Yup. Anyone arguing that this race is close is, well, either ignorant or lying. And the former is not the excuse MSM sources have the luxury of using.

[cuban leaf]

If the LA Times says it’s ‘unclear’, the my Magic 8-Ball says it’s TRUMP...

---

Exactly!

[Wilderness Conservative]

I’m inclined to agree with you which is why I don’t understand why DT and DTJr are telling us to early vote

[italianquaker]

Of course the next 2 lies are all the early voting gop is a good sign forHarris(crossovers)
Trump will win the pop vote but lose the ev

[Tommy Revolts]

Although I'm voting election day, I like seeing the early vote. Better than playing catch-up. It could also take the wind out of their sails.

[Red Badger]

[Steely Tom]

If that happens, Kamala will vanish from the public eye.
She'll to some place lower than Dukakis.