US National Ballot Volume Statistics 2026 show 124.33 million ballots counted, the largest midterm total on record, for a 49.42% turnout rate among 251.59 million eligible voters. That rate ranks second since 1914, behind the 50.05% of 2018.
US National Ballot Volume 2026 – Introduction
US National Ballot Volume 2026 set a new midterm record. The University of Florida Election Lab counted 124.33 million ballots as of November 6, up from the 122.7 million reported on November 5. That equals 49.42% of the 251.59 million eligible voters. Only the 2018 midterm, at 50.05%, drew a higher rate since 1914. Early voting also set a record.
This report tracks total ballots, state volume, early and Election Day ballots, mail and in-person ballots, and historical comparisons. Figures come from the Election Lab, ABC News, the Texas Tribune, Florida election officials, and state trackers. All numbers are preliminary estimates, not certified totals. California and Washington accept late-arriving mail ballots, so those counts will keep rising.
Interesting Facts: US National Ballot Volume 2026
Midterm Turnout Rate of Eligible Voters
2014 ███████████████████████████████▌ 36.7%
2022 █████████████████████████████████████████ 46.1%
2026 ████████████████████████████████████████████ 49.42%
2018 ██████████████████████████████████████████████ 50.05%| Interesting Fact | 2026 Data |
|---|---|
| Total ballots counted | 124.33 million, a midterm record |
| Voter participation rate | 49.42% of eligible voters |
| Voting-eligible population | 251.59 million |
| Midterm rate rank since 1914 | Second, behind 2018 |
| Pre-election early ballots | 58.6 million, a midterm record |
| Texas ballots | 9.8 million |
| Florida ballots | 8,333,641 (60.81% of registered) |
| Minnesota ballots | About 2.87 million |
Source: University of Florida Election Lab (updated November 6, 2026); ABC News; Texas Tribune; Florida Division of Elections; Minnesota Secretary of State.
The count of 124.33 million is the largest midterm total ever recorded. It beats the roughly 120 million ballots of 2018, even though the rate is 0.63 points lower. The eligible population grew faster than the ballot count. Early voting set its own record at 58.6 million ballots before Election Day. Treat every figure as preliminary until certification.
Three big states reported high volume. Texas counted 9.8 million ballots, its most for a midterm since at least 1970. Florida counted 8,333,641, or 60.81% of its 13.7 million active registered voters. Minnesota counted about 2.87 million, a midterm record. These numbers remain unofficial until states certify.
Total Ballots Counted in 2026: How the National Estimate Changed From 122.7 to 124.33 Million
Total Ballots Counted, Millions (each █ = 5)
Nov. 5 estimate ████████████████████████▌ 122.7
Nov. 6 estimate ████████████████████████▌ 124.33
| Metric | Nov. 5 Report | Nov. 6 Update |
|---|---|---|
| Total ballots counted | 122.7 million | 124.33 million |
| Voter participation rate | 48.8% | 49.42% |
| Voting-eligible population | Not reported | 251.59 million |
| Midterm turnout position | Second since 1914 | Second since 1914 |
Source: University of Florida Election Lab (November 5 and 6, 2026); Al Jazeera; ABC News. Preliminary, not certified.
Estimates differ by 1.63 million ballots between the November 5 report and the November 6 update, and the rate moved from 48.8% to 49.42%. Michael McDonald, who runs the Election Lab, published the same 49.42% estimate on November 4. Different snapshots of counted ballots explain the gap. The Lab builds its estimate from state reports and Associated Press day-after counts.
The numerator is total ballots counted, not votes for a top race. The denominator is the voting-eligible population, which removes non-citizens and, in some states, people with felony convictions. It adds eligible overseas voters nationally. California and Washington have the most uncertainty because mail ballots postmarked by Election Day still arrive. The Election Lab updates the page as states all report.
Ballot Volume by State 2026: Highest-Volume States From Published Totals
Ballots by State, Millions (each █ = 0.5)
Texas, total ███████████████████▌ 9.8
Florida, total ████████████████▌ 8.33
California, early only █████████████ 6.66
Minnesota, total █████▌ 2.87
Colorado, ballots counted █████ 2.74
Georgia, early only █████ 2.51
Illinois, early only ████ 2.08
New York, early only ███▌ 1.97
| State | Ballots | What the Number Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 9.8 million | Total ballots, unofficial |
| Florida | 8,333,641 | Total ballots, unofficial |
| California | 6,662,914 | Early ballots as of Nov. 3; count continuing |
| Minnesota | About 2.87 million | Total ballots, unofficial |
| Colorado | 2,744,355 | Ballots counted as of Nov. 6 |
| Georgia | 2,513,648 | Early ballots as of Nov. 3 |
| Illinois | 2,077,607 | Early ballots as of Nov. 6 |
| New York | 1,965,043 | Early in-person ballots as of Nov. 6 |
| Ohio | 1,777,904 | Early ballots as of Nov. 6 |
| Michigan | 1,745,903 | Early mail ballots as of Nov. 6 |
Source: Texas Tribune; Florida Division of Elections; OnPoint Politics and Polling Desk early-vote trackers (November 3 and 6, 2026); Minnesota Secretary of State.
A full top-20 ranking is not possible yet. Only Texas, Florida, and Minnesota have published total ballots among the largest states. California’s 6.66 million is early ballots only, and its final total will rise sharply. Texas leads on published totals, and Florida follows. Florida’s 60.81% uses registered voters, so it is not comparable to national rates. California has the most registered voters at 23.2 million, followed by Texas at 17.4 million and Florida at 13.6 million, according to USAFacts.
Early-ballot figures show who will likely join the top 20. California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and New York each exceeded 1.9 million early ballots. Ohio and Michigan each topped 1.7 million. Pennsylvania had 1.16 million mail ballots by November 6. Final totals for these states will be far higher once Election Day votes are counted.
Early Voting vs Election Day Ballots 2026: Record Pre-Election Ballots
Early Ballots by Midterm, Millions (each █ = 2)
2018 ███████████████████▌ 39
2022 ██████████████████████▌ 45.9
2026, pre-election █████████████████████████████ 58.6
| Year | Early Ballots | Total Ballots (Approx.) | Early Share (Calculated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 39 million | 120 million | 32.5% |
| 2022 | 45.9 million | 112 million | 41.0% |
| 2026 | 58.6 million | 124.33 million | 47.1% |
Source: University of Florida Election Lab and U.S. Elections Project; McDonald’s pre-election count as reported November 2-4, 2026; shares calculated by this report.
Early voters cast 58.6 million ballots before Election Day, McDonald reported, roughly 12 to 13 million more than the comparable 2022 point. The 2022 midterm produced 45.9 million early ballots in total. The 2026 early count is 27.7% above that. By this report’s calculation, early voting made up about 47.1% of all ballots, up from 41.0% in 2022.
The remaining 65.7 million ballots came on Election Day or arrived after it, by subtraction. That includes late mail and provisional ballots. Earlier in October, McDonald said early voting ran about 50% above 2022 at the same point. The early share is a calculation, because some late mail ballots count as early in state reports. Early voting is open to all voters in 47 states and Washington, D.C., and Connecticut, Michigan, and New York offered expanded options in a midterm for the first time.
Mail-In vs In-Person Ballot Volume 2026: State Breakdown
Early Ballots by Method, Millions (as of Nov. 3) (each █ = 1)
Mail returned ████████████████████████████ 28.41
In-person early ██████████████████████████▌ 26.74
| State | Mail Ballots | In-Person Early Ballots | Total Early |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 6,364,403 | 298,511 | 6,662,914 |
| Florida | 2,017,142 | 3,467,812 | 5,484,954 |
| Georgia | 111,365 | 2,402,283 | 2,513,648 |
| New York | 0 | 1,965,043 | 1,965,043 |
| Ohio | 653,742 | 1,100,989 | 1,754,731 |
| Michigan | 1,628,714 | 0 | 1,628,714 |
| Illinois | 676,022 | 909,989 | 1,586,011 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,112,494 | 0 | 1,112,494 |
Source: Polling Desk early-vote tracker, state reports as of November 3, 2026.
Nationwide, 28.41 million mail ballots and 26.74 million in-person early ballots had been cast by November 3, a total of 55,154,769 in 47 states. By November 6, mail reached 32.8 million and in-person early reached 30.0 million, for 62,785,566. Mail made up about 52% of early ballots.
Methods split sharply by state. California’s early ballots were 96% mail. Georgia’s were 96% in person. Florida used both, with 3.47 million in person and 2.02 million by mail. Michigan and Pennsylvania counted mail ballots only in this tracker. New York reported only in-person early votes.
2026 vs 2018, 2022 and 2014 Ballot Totals: Midterm Ballot Volume Compared
Total Ballots by Midterm, Millions (each █ = 4)
2014 ████████████████████▌ 83
2022 ████████████████████████████ 112
2018 ██████████████████████████████ 120
2026 ███████████████████████████████ 124.33
| Midterm | Total Ballots (Approx.) | Turnout Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 83 million | 36.7% |
| 2018 | 120 million | 50.05% |
| 2022 | 112 million | 46.1% |
| 2026 | 124.33 million | 49.42% |
Source: University of Florida Election Lab and U.S. Elections Project; Brennan Center; Pew Research Center. Earlier totals are approximate.
The 2026 count is 41.3 million above 2014, an increase of about 50%. It is 12.3 million above 2022 and 4.3 million above 2018. The 2018 rate stays higher at 50.05%. House-race vote counts run lower than ballots counted. Pew counted 107.7 million House votes in 2022, and the Brennan Center cited 114 million in 2018.
Totals differ by source and by definition. Estimates for 2018 ranged from 113 million to over 120 million as states finished counting. This report uses ballots counted, the Election Lab’s preferred measure. Final official figures from the Election Assistance Commission may not appear until mid-to-late 2027.
States With the Largest Increases in Ballot Volume 2026
Early Ballot Increase Over 2022 at the Same Point
South Carolina ████████████████████▌ +83%
Texas ████████████▌ +50%
Maine ███████████ +44%
Michigan ████████ +32%
| State | Increase Measure | 2026 Result |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | Early ballots versus 2022 | Up 83% |
| Texas | Early ballots versus 2022 | 6.3 million versus 4.2 million (up 50%) |
| Maine | Early ballots versus 2022 | Up 44% |
| Michigan | Early ballots versus 2022 | Up 32%; about 409,000 more |
| Colorado | Ballots counted versus 2022 total | 108% of 2022 turnout |
| Minnesota | Total ballots versus 2022 | About 300,000 more |
Source: Associated Press via No Labels (late October 2026); MPR News; Ohio Secretary of State data via 10TV; OnPoint Politics early-vote tracker (November 6, 2026).
South Carolina led the early-voting surge at 83%, followed by Texas at 50% and Maine at 44%. Michigan rose 32%, with about 409,000 more early ballots. North Carolina and Kansas each rose more than 30%. Michigan offered early in-person voting in a midterm for the first time, which complicates comparisons.
Colorado had already counted 108% of its 2022 turnout by November 6. Minnesota cast about 300,000 more ballots than in 2022. Ohio’s turnout hit about 58%, the highest for an Ohio midterm since 1990, up from 52% in 2022. Final increases will change as states finish counting. Maine and Minnesota led all states on turnout rate, at 65.78% and 65.16% of eligible voters.
Ballot Volume by Party in Florida 2026: Republican, Democratic and Other Voters
Florida Turnout of Registered Voters by Party (each █ = 2)
Democratic ██████████████████████████████████ 68.37%
Republican ███████████████████████████████ 62.63%
All voters ██████████████████████████████ 60.76%
Other ████████████████████████▌ 49.87%
| Group | Ballots Cast | Turnout of Registered |
|---|---|---|
| Republican | 3,561,765 | 62.63% |
| Democratic | 2,834,557 | 68.37% |
| Other and unaffiliated | 1,930,492 | 49.87% |
| All voters | 8,326,814 | 60.76% |
Source: Florida Division of Elections and county supervisors, via FreshTake.Vote (University of Florida, updated November 4, 2026).
Florida shows how volume and rate can diverge. Republicans cast 3,561,765 ballots, 727,208 more than Democrats. Democrats voted at a higher rate, 68.37% versus 62.63%. Republicans entered the election with far more registered voters. Unaffiliated and other voters cast 1,930,492 ballots at 49.87%, the lowest rate of the three groups.
Nationally, party data covers only some states. In states that publish party registration, registered Democrats cast 39.5% of early ballots and registered Republicans cast 32.4% as of November 6. Florida’s final count reached 8,333,641 ballots, slightly above the party table. Party tracking comes from state files and updates daily.
Ballot Volume vs Voter Participation Rate 2026: Why a Record Count Has a Lower Rate
Change From 2018 to 2026 (each █ = 0.5)
Total ballots, percent change ███████ +3.6%
Eligible population, percent change █████████▌ +4.9%
| Measure | 2018 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ballots | About 120 million | 124.33 million | +4.3 million (+3.6%) |
| Eligible voters (calculated) | About 240 million | 251.59 million | +11.8 million (+4.9%) |
| Turnout rate | 50.05% | 49.42% | -0.63 points |
Source: University of Florida Election Lab; report calculations from published ballots and turnout rates; 2018 eligible population implied by the 50.05% rate.
Ballots grew 3.6% since 2018, but the eligible population grew about 4.9%. That gap explains the lower rate. The 2018 eligible population is implied by dividing about 120 million ballots by the 50.05% rate. Because that total is approximate, the 11.8 million growth figure is a rough calculation.
Compared with 2022, both measures rose. Ballots increased about 11%, and the rate rose 3.32 points, from 46.1% to 49.42%. A rising count with a falling rate happens when population growth outpaces participation. Analysts should cite both numbers to avoid misleading comparisons.
Historical Records for US Midterm Ballot Volume and Turnout
Midterm Turnout Landmarks (each █ = 1)
2014, lowest since WWII ████████████████████████████████████▌ 36.7%
2010 █████████████████████████████████████████ 41%
1966 █████████████████████████████████████████████████ 49%
2026 █████████████████████████████████████████████████ 49.42%
2018, highest since 1914 ██████████████████████████████████████████████████ 50.05%
| Record | Year | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Largest midterm ballot count | 2026 | 124.33 million |
| Highest midterm turnout rate since 1914 | 2018 | 50.05% |
| Second-highest midterm rate since 1914 | 2026 | 49.42% |
| Previous rate near 49% | 1966 | 49% |
| Lowest midterm rate since World War II | 2014 | 36.7% |
| Midterm rate under Obama’s first term | 2010 | 41% |
Source: University of Florida Election Lab; CBS News and Brennan Center, citing U.S. Elections Project; Euronews.
The 2018 midterm was the first to pass 100 million votes. The 2026 midterm is the first to pass 124 million ballots. The last time a midterm rate topped 49% before 2018 was 1966. McDonald said a rate above 50% required going back to 1914. Only 2018 has cleared that bar.
The 2014 midterm sank to 36.7%, the lowest since World War II. In 2010, 41% voted. In the last three decades, midterm turnout averaged near 40%, according to McDonald. The 2026 rate of 49.42% sits nearly 10 points above that average.
US National Ballot Volume 2026 – FAQs
How Many Ballots Were Counted in the 2026 Midterm Elections?
About 124.33 million ballots as of November 6, 2026, according to the University of Florida Election Lab. That is the largest midterm total on record.
What Was National Voter Turnout in the 2026 Midterms?
49.42% of 251.59 million eligible voters. It is the second-highest midterm rate since 1914, behind 50.05% in 2018.
Did 2026 Beat the 2018 Midterm Turnout Record?
On ballots, yes: 124.33 million versus about 120 million. On rate, no: 49.42% versus 50.05%.
How Many Early Ballots Were Cast in the 2026 Midterms?
About 58.6 million before Election Day, a midterm record, according to McDonald. The 2022 midterm had 45.9 million early ballots in total.
How Many Mail Ballots Were Cast in 2026?
By November 6, 32.8 million mail ballots had been returned in 47 reporting states, with 30.0 million in-person early ballots.
Which State Had the Most Ballots Cast in 2026?
Among published totals, Texas, with 9.8 million. Florida followed with 8,333,641. California’s total was not final.
Which States Had the Largest Increases in Ballot Volume in 2026?
South Carolina’s early vote rose 83%, Texas 50%, Maine 44%, and Michigan 32% versus 2022. Colorado reached 108% of its 2022 total.
How Does 2026 Ballot Volume Compare With 2022?
About 12.3 million more ballots than 2022’s roughly 112 million. The rate rose 3.32 points to 49.42%.
Why Is the 2026 Turnout Rate Lower Than 2018 With More Ballots?
The eligible population grew faster than ballots. Ballots rose about 3.6% since 2018, while eligible voters rose about 4.9%.
How Many Ballots Were Cast in Florida in 2026?
Florida counted 8,333,641 ballots, 60.81% of 13.7 million active registered voters. Republicans cast 3.56 million and Democrats cast 2.83 million.
How Did Early Ballots Split by Party in 2026?
In states that publish party registration, Democrats cast 39.5% of early ballots and Republicans cast 32.4% as of November 6, 2026.
How Many Registered Voters Do the Largest States Have?
California has 23.2 million registered voters, Texas has 17.4 million, and Florida has 13.6 million, according to USAFacts figures reported by Al Jazeera.
Which States Expanded Early Voting for the 2026 Midterms?
Connecticut, Michigan, and New York offered expanded early options in a midterm for the first time. Early voting is available to all voters in 47 states and D.C.
Are the 2026 Ballot Counts Final?
No. They are preliminary estimates. States must certify results, and California and Washington keep counting late mail ballots.
What Was the Lowest Midterm Turnout Since World War II?
36.7% in 2014, according to University of Florida data.
Where Can I Find Official 2026 Ballot Volume Data?
The University of Florida Election Lab publishes turnout estimates. State election offices certify results, and the Election Assistance Commission may publish federal totals in mid-to-late 2027.
Disclaimer: The data research report we present here is based on information found from various sources. We are not liable for any financial loss, errors, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of the information herein. We acknowledge that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented.
