US pre-voting surpasses 70mn despite week remaining in Election Day

Over 70 million American have already casted their votes in the US presidential election, which is more than half of the total turnout of the 2016 election despite a week remaining until election day.

According to the tally from the US Elections Project, it which shows a record-breaking pace that could lead to the highest voter turnout in percentage terms in mote then a century.

It also highlights voters’ desire to reduce their risk of exposure to Covid-19 as the pandemic regathers strength heading into winter.

The data also indicates that intense interest in the contest between Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden.

Democrats hold a significant advantage in early voting due to their embrace of mail balloting, which Republicans have historically cast in large numbers but have shunned amid repeated and unfounded attacks by Trump, who says the system is prone to widespread fraud.

Overall, Democrats hold roughly a two-to-one advantage in early voting numbers.

The high level of early voting has led Michael McDonald, the University of Florida professor who administers the US Elections Project, to predict a record US voter turnout of about 150m, representing 65 per cent of those eligible to vote, the highest rate since 1908.

US voters have already cast far more early votes during this presidential campaign than they did in all of 2016 when they passed the 47m mark earlier this month, data shows.