Over 13 million Americans have voted early—only 36% are Republicans

As early voting progresses, with voters able to cast their ballots either in person or by mail prior to Election Day, new data has emerged providing insight into the demographic makeup of those who have already participated. According to NBC News, citing data from TargetSmart, over 13 million mail-in and early in-person votes have been cast nationwide at the time of this report.

Breaking down the numbers, 36 percent of early voters are registered Republicans, while 47 percent are registered Democrats, and 17 percent are not affiliated with either major party. These early figures come as over 41 million Americans have requested mail-in and early in-person ballots, with only 29 percent of overall voters being Republican.

While the current numbers show a much larger percentage of early voters being Democrats, the party breakdown shifts in key battleground states. In Arizona, for instance, 44 percent of early voters are registered Republicans compared to 35 percent registered Democrats. Similarly, in Nevada, Republicans lead Democrats 47 percent to 27 percent among early voters. 

By contrast, Rust Belt swing states like Michigan and Pennsylvania see a larger share of registered Democrats. In Michigan, 54 percent of early voters are Democrats, while Pennsylvania reports a significant 64 percent Democratic turnout among early voters.

In terms of demographics among nationwide early voters, 57 percent of those voting early are aged 65 or older, with women making up 53 percent of the early voting population. Among early voters, 67 percent are casting their ballots by mail, while 33 percent are doing so in person.

The Republican Party has worked to increase support for mail-in voting among its base following the 2020 election, when there was a stark divide among mail-in voters with the overwhelming majority of them being Democrats. Despite this shift, mail-in voting remains particularly popular in swing states, where final results may be delayed due to restrictions on when mail-in ballots can be counted. 

States like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin do not allow early ballots to be processed before Election Day, likely causing delays in determining the winner. Election officials in both states have publicly stated that full results will not be available on election night.