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A new Gallup poll shows that more than half of registered voters plan to take advantage of early voting options before the general election on November 5.
The poll found that 54% of registered voters have already voted or plan to vote before Election Day. The number is down from the 2020 election, in which 64% of voters said they planned to vote early during the COVID pandemic.
Democrats hold a significant lead over Republicans when it comes to early voting. The poll found that 63% of voters who are registered as Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents have already cast their ballot or plan to go to the polls before November 5. Meanwhile, 47% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents said they have already voted or plan to vote before Election Day.
The 16% difference is similar to 2020 when the gap between the two parties was 18%.
While more people are planning to vote early in this election, fewer said they plan to vote by mail. In 2020, when lockdowns and mask mandates were still in effect, 35% of voters said they voted by mail. This year, 26% of voters said they plan to mail in their ballots.
While many Americans are taking advantage of early voting, there will still be millions of people heading to the polls on Tuesday. According to the poll, the number of in-person voters on Election Day will favor Republicans, with 46% of Republicans planning to wait, compared to just 33% of Democrats.