Record Voter Turnout Expected Across the U.S. as Election Day Unfolds

Polling places across the United States are reporting high voter turnout as Americans cast their ballots in the 2024 presidential election. In Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state, officials are anticipating a record number of voters. Westmoreland County is expecting between 85% and 90% of its 255,000 registered voters to cast ballots, with 87% of the 61,000 requested mail-in ballots already returned as of Monday afternoon.

In Allegheny County, voter turnout is projected to reach 70% to 75% of the county’s 953,000 registered voters, with nearly 84% of the 257,650 requested mail-in ballots returned. Despite some minor delays at a few polling sites, all 1,327 precincts in Allegheny County were open by 7 a.m. on Election Day.

Nationally, more than 78 million Americans had already cast their votes before Election Day, setting a new record for early voting. This trend reflects a continued high level of voter engagement, similar to the 2020 presidential election which saw the highest voter turnout since 1900.

In Texas, while early voting turnout was slightly lower than in 2020, more than 9 million Texans had voted by November 1, which is still a significant number. The decline is largely attributed to a reduction in mail-in voting, but overall, the total number of voters is still higher than in previous presidential elections except for 2020.

The high voter turnout is attributed to various factors, including expanded voting options and a strong sense of civic engagement. Voters are motivated by a range of issues, including healthcare, women’s rights, and reproductive rights, as evident from the diverse reasons cited by voters in different regions.