US midterms 2026: Early voting surpasses 50.5 million, Texas sees significant voter turnout increase

Over 50.5 million early votes cast by Saturday morning/Image: Reuters More than 50.5 million Americans have voted early ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections, nearly five million more than the total recorded during the 2022 midterms. The increase comes as both parties face closely contested races that could determine control of Congress for the final two years of President Donald Trump's second term.Data from the University of Florida's Election Lab showed that early voting had surpassed 50.5 million by Saturday morning, ahead of Tuesday's election.Among states that track voters' party affiliations, registered Democrats accounted for 10.7 million early ballots, compared with 7.8 million from registered Republicans. These figures reflect the political registration of voters who have cast ballots and do not indicate which candidates they have supported.The higher number of Democratic voters comes as Republicans face competitive contests in states that have traditionally favoured the party. Dissatisfaction with Trump's presidency and concerns about the cost of living have also become prominent issues in the campaign.Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate and are se...