Early Voting Hits 21 Million as Most Trust Midterm Accuracy

Nearly 21 million Americans had already cast ballots by mail or in person more than a week before Election Day, according to the University of Florida Election Lab. That total marked an increase of roughly 2 million votes in a single day and exceeded comparable early totals from the previous midterm cycle in several battleground states.

A separate New York Times/Siena poll conducted October 12-19 found that 74 percent of voters trust the accuracy of the 2026 midterm results, including majorities across Democrats, Republicans and independents. Twenty-three percent said they do not trust the results, up from 17 percent who expressed similar doubts about the 2024 presidential election.

The same poll showed half of likely voters worried that Republicans might attempt to overturn results through illegal means, while 31 percent voiced parallel concerns about Democrats. Eighty-six percent of Democrats and just over half of independents expressed concern about Republican efforts; 85 percent of Republicans said they were more worried about ineligible votes being cast than about eligible voters being blocked.

More than three-quarters of respondents said American democracy faces a threat, a figure consistent since 2022. Large majorities in both parties still described members of the opposing party as fellow Americans rather than enemies, though the share viewing opponents as enemies has risen slightly since 2024.

NPR reported that Democrats were participating in early voting at higher rates than Republicans, consistent with historical patterns in which Republicans tend to vote on Election Day. The poll and early-vote data together show broad confidence in the count alongside partisan differences over potential disruptions.