Early Voting on Rise, but Partisan Divide Persists: NBC News Poll
While early voting is gaining popularity in the United States, with nearly half of registered voters planning to cast their ballots before Election Day, a stark partisan divide persists, according to the latest national NBC News poll.
The poll, conducted between October 4 and 8, found that 52% of voters intend to vote early, with 44% planning to vote in person on Election Day. This trend reflects a continued shift towards early voting, with similar figures reported in the 2022 midterm elections.
However, the numbers fall short of the 2020 election, which took place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, 59% of voters said they planned to vote early by early October.
Despite the increased interest in early voting, a significant partisan gap remains. Vice President Kamala Harris enjoys a 17-point lead among those planning to vote early or who have already voted, garnering 57% support compared to 40% for former President Donald Trump.
Conversely, Trump leads among those planning to vote on Election Day by a significant 21-point margin, with 58% support compared to 37% for Harris. This divide is attributed to years of criticism of early voting by Trump and his Republican allies, who have repeatedly questioned its legitimacy.
