Early Voting Surges Past 43 Million as Los Angeles County Enters the Final Weekend Before Election Day
An Associated Press analysis found more than 43 million Americans had voted early five days before Election Day, nearly 10 million more than in 2022, while Los Angeles County's 646 vote centers stay open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through November 2.
Early voting is significantly outpacing the last midterm election, according to an Associated Press analysis of voting data five days before Election Day. Across the country, more than 43 million Americans had voted early in person or returned mail ballots, nearly 10 million more than in 2022, in figures covering 47 states and Washington, D.C. Later national tallies reported Friday put the total above 46 million.
The AP found the sharpest increases in states with competitive Senate races, including gains of more than 30 percent in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina and Kansas, and an 83 percent increase in South Carolina. In states that report party affiliation, the AP counted about 6.8 million Democrats and 5.2 million Republicans among early voters, figures it cautioned are incomplete and reveal nothing about vote choice. The election will determine control of Congress, two years into President Donald Trump's second term.
In Los Angeles County, the final weekend runs on the schedule election officials published for the November 3 general election: all 646 vote centers are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Monday, November 2, any voter may use any center in the county, 429 official ballot drop boxes stay open until 8 p.m. on November 3, and mail ballots must be postmarked by November 3. Election Day hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
