Early voting has risen across five U.S. Senate battlegrounds, with Kansas more than doubling its 2022 pace and Texas up 74%, as parties compete for control of the chamber. An Associated Press (AP) comparison of state election data found higher totals at the two-week mark before Election Day in each midterm cycle; that point fell on Oct. 20 in 2026.
AP matched early in-person ballots and returned absentee ballots recorded at that cutoff across the two cycles. Kansas had 55,500 ballots, compared with 27,300 in 2022, a 103% increase. Texas recorded 956,400, up 74% from 549,600. Maine reached 136,000, a 39% rise from 97,800; North Carolina had 733,100, up 38% from 530,200; and Ohio recorded 676,800, up 30% from 520,100.
The totals show when ballots were cast or returned, not which candidates voters chose. The Texas Secretary of State’s dashboard does not identify returned ballots by party registration. Axios cautioned that early-voting totals are an unreliable predictor of final results because people who vote early tend to be more politically engaged.
AP identifies the five contests as Democratic efforts to take seats held by Republicans. It also cited dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump’s tariffs, living costs and higher gasoline and diesel prices as political pressures on Republicans; the ballot figures do not establish whether those issues prompted people to vote early. AP found early-vote totals in Michigan and Georgia were similar to 2022, while Iowa’s were down about 6%.
The Senate’s party division lists 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents. Ohio’s 2026 mail-ballot rules also differ from the previous cycle: the Ohio Legislative Service Commission says a law that took effect March 20 requires regular mail ballots to reach county election boards by Election Day, ending a four-day grace period.
The Texas Secretary of State’s calendar sets in-person early voting through Oct. 30, following its Oct. 19 start. Election Day is Nov. 3.
