Over 90 Million Early Votes Cast in US Presidential Election... Concerns Grow Over Missing Mail-In Ballots

66% of Total Votes in 2016 Presidential Election... Over 100 Million Possible at Current Pace
"Historic Early Voting Lines... Record Turnout Reported"
Concerns Over Missing Mail-in Ballots in Key Battleground States... Legal Battles May Follow

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Three days before the U.S. presidential election, the number of voters who have cast early ballots has surpassed 90 million. Foreign media predict that if the current pace continues, the total number of early votes before the election will exceed 100 million.

On the 31st of last month (local time), CNN reported that a survey conducted with polling firm Edison Research, nonprofit voter information analysis organization Catalyst, and election officials from all 50 states and Washington D.C. showed these results. This figure accounts for nearly 43% of registered voters nationwide and corresponds to about 66% of total voters in the 2016 presidential election.

By region, among the 50 states, 35 states and Washington D.C. have surpassed half of the total voters from the last election, including key battleground states such as Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Texas, CNN reported. Fourteen states have already completed mail-in voting for more than half of their registered voters.

Regarding the party support distribution among early voters, CNN explained that while the Democratic Party has led in several states such as Florida, North Carolina, Nevada, and Iowa, the Republican Party is narrowing the gap.

The Washington Post (WP) stated, "Despite difficulties caused by COVID-19, the divided election climate has stirred voters' enthusiasm, resulting in a historic early voting turnout," adding, "At the current pace, the number of mail-in voters will exceed 100 million before the 3rd."

The voting methods in the U.S. presidential election are divided into mail-in voting, early in-person voting, and in-person voting on election day. Early voting encompasses both mail-in and early in-person voting. CNN reported, "Amid the ongoing pandemic, early voting nationwide has surged, leading to record turnout compared to the last election." Some analyses suggest that 28% of early voters did not participate in the 2016 presidential election.

As enthusiasm for mail-in voting grows, attention now turns to the vote counting immediately after the election. Notably, a significant number of mail-in ballots from battleground state voters, which could determine the election outcome, have yet to arrive at election authorities.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, based on data from the University of Florida's election information site "U.S. Election Project," that as of the 30th, over 7 million mail-in ballots in 13 battleground states have not yet been delivered. This accounts for 28% of the 24 million mail-in ballots in these 13 battleground states. Included are key battlegrounds such as Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Florida, which decided the 2016 election.

In states like Michigan and Arizona, the mail delivery period is somewhat long, raising the possibility that ballots may arrive after election day and be excluded from the count. Election experts express concerns that delays in mail-in ballot delivery could delay the final election results and lead to legal battles.