The number of Americans who voted early in person for their presidential candidate of choice has surpassed the total in 2020.

According to the latest data from the University of Florida's Election Lab, more than 38 million U.S. voters have cast their ballots in person so far. Four years ago that number was just over 35 million.

Early voting data is analyzed to better predict the outcome of the election. It will identify various trends to gain a better understanding of whether former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris will be victorious on November 5th.

While the number of in-person votes is higher this year, the total number of early votes cast this year is still far behind the 101 million early votes cast in 2020, which includes mail-in ballots. As of Saturday, just over 72 million people had already cast their votes.

The Associated Press reported that a total of two-thirds of voters cast ballots in early 2020, likely due in part to COVID-19. The pandemic made it necessary to reduce large gatherings and close contact situations, including at polling stations. Voting by mail, or early voting, helped minimize the risk of spreading the virus because people could vote safely from home or at less crowded times.

Although early voting numbers have not yet been exceeded in 2020, early voting numbers have surpassed those of 2016 and the 2022 midterm elections.

One of the trends evident in early voter data this year is the noticeable gender gap: According to Election Lab and based on states that report gender data, 54 percent of early voters so far are women.

Another trend found in the early voting data is that more Republicans are voting early this year than in 2020.

When Trump ran against Joe Biden, 30 percent of early voters were Republicans, while nearly 45 percent were Democrats.

That gap has narrowed so far this year, as 36 percent of first-time voters were Republicans while 38 percent were Democrats.

Another difference in voting behavior between this year's election and four years ago is that young people were more likely to vote at the start of 2020, but this year only 8 percent of early voters were between the ages of 18 and 25, the center said For information and research on civic learning and engagement (CIRCLE).

CIRCLE found that 70 percent of young Americans voted in early 2020, higher than those ages 30 to 44.

Early voting rates were highest among those 65 and older, which the center believes is due to concerns about their higher vulnerability to COVID-19.

This year it is 41 to 60 year olds who secured the highest proportion of early voters at 39 percent.

In mid-October, Trump was narrowly ahead of his Democratic opponent in early voting data, but Harris took the lead late last month.

A USA today A Suffolk University poll showed the vice president up 63 percent among early voters to Trump's 34 percent in late October, but also found Trump ahead 52 percent to 35 percent among those planning to vote on Election Day.

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