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Summary
: The country is seeing record turnout for early voting, as well as some late legal challenges around when — and if — all those votes get counted. Almost 70 million people have already cast their ballots, with Election Day still a week away.
- The 70 million early voters represent around half the total votes cast for all presidential candidates in 2016. This suggests total votes for presidential candidates may far surpass 2016 voting numbers.
- Some states such as Texas have already seen voting numbers equal to 90% or more of the total votes cast in the state in 2016.
- Across many battleground states, more Democrats than Republicans are taking advantage of early voting, especially vote by mail . Republicans are expected to make up the gap in many states on Election Day. This difference in voting method by party may result in skewed early voting counts in some states , and winners of given states may not be announced for days after Election Day.
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- Who is voting early this year in record numbers?
- What is the difference between election day voting, early voting and vote by mail?
- When and where have early voting records been set?
- Why would it be significant if the percent of eligible voters that actually vote is as high as it's been in over a century?
- How will voters learn who won the election in case of a close race?
- Do you think early voting should be expanded from state to state? Why or why not?
- Do you think it's important that the winner of the presidential race be announced on Election Day? Why or why not?
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