CBS News
More than 55 million people have voted early in run-up to Election Day
Washington — More than 55 million people have cast their ballots either in person or by mail during early voting, according to recent figures, weighing in on the presidential contest and down-ballot races ahead of Election Day on Nov. 5.
Data compiled by the University of Florida Election Lab shows that more than 29 million early votes have been cast at polling places in-person, and another 25.9 million mail ballots have been returned. There were more than 65.6 million mail ballots requested.
A higher number of registered Democrats, just under 11 million, have already voted, compared to nearly 10 million registered Republicans, according to data from 25 states that report party registration. Of those who have submitted ballots in-person during early voting, 3.8 million are registered Republicans and 3.1 million are registered Democrats
For people voting by mail, more Democrats, 7.3 million, have returned ballots, compared to just over 5.6 million registered GOP voters, according to the University of Florida Election Lab.
In the battleground state of Georgia, more than 3 million people have voted so far, which is 45% of registered voters in the state, according to data from Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office. Raffensperger told reporters that the figures mark the best turnout during the early voting period that the state has seen.
“It’s easy to cast a ballot, but it’s hard to cheat,” he told reporters.
Republicans have been working to encourage their supporters to cast their ballots before Election Day in the dozens of states where it is allowed. Former President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee have been pushing voters to vote either through absentee voting or in person. But Trump has also continued to rail against voting before Election Day, calling it “stupid” during a rally in Pennsylvania last month.
While the GOP presidential nominee indicated in a radio interview last week that he would be casting his own ballot early, former first lady Melania Trump told Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday that she and the former president will vote on Election Day in Palm Beach, Florida.
“We will be in Palm Beach and in the morning, we will go to vote, me and my husband, and then it will be a waiting time, period of waiting and we’ll see. I hope it is a success and a party in the evening,” she said.
Among those who have cast their ballots already are President Biden, who voted early in person near Wilmington, Delaware, on Monday, and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, who voted alongside his wife and son in St. Paul, Minnesota, last week. The 2024 general election marked the first time voting for Gus Walz, the governor’s son, who recently turned 18.
CBS News
Democrats and Republicans in tight races seize on comments stemming from “garbage” joke at Trump rally
In the home stretch of the 2024 election, after a racist comment at a Trump rally comparing Puerto Rico to garbage, both parties are trying to fan political flames to burn the opposition on congressional races, in addition to the presidential contest.
In the hours after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe told a racist joke about Puerto Ricans at a rally for former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Democrats circulated a list of competitive U.S. House races in which people of Puerto Rican descent make up large percentages of the electorate.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Republican operatives have tried to seize on a gaffe by President Biden, in which he used the term “garbage” to describe the Trump supporter who made the racist joke. But Republicans have accused Mr. Biden of instead referring to all Trump supporters as “garbage” and are trying to tie Democratic congressional candidates to their accusation regarding the president’s words.
The dual controversies are being amplified and shifting the closing messages in the final few days before Election Day, amid highly competitive contests for control of the Senate and House.
According to a memo obtained by CBS News from Democratic campaign operatives, more than 10% of registered voters in Pennsylvania’s competitive 7th District House race are people of Puerto Rican descent. The memo also said at least 4% of registered voters have ties to Puerto Rico in a three competitive House races in New York, two more in Pennsylvania and at least one each in Florida and Connecticut.
Leaning into the Madison Square Garden rally controversy, Rep. Susie Lee, a Pennsylvania Democrat defending the battleground 7th Congressional District in and around Allentown, has already raised the issue. Speaking to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “I am hearing more on this than I’ve heard on almost any other issue this entire campaign season.”
On Long Island, in New York’s competitive 4th District House race, Democratic candidate Laura Gillen amplified the firestorm over the racist joke Tuesday. Rep. Nydia Valazquez, a New York Democrat who was born in Puerto Rico, who was speaking at a Gillen campaign event for small businesses, referenced the controversy and joke.
Fighting to hold a competitive seat in Western Connecticut, Democratic Rep. Jahanna Hayes posted on social media, “Every person, not just the Puerto Rican community, should be saddened and upset by the behavior of the Trump rally at MSG.”
Republicans meanwhile are seeking to magnify President Biden’s potential gaffe from Tuesday.
“The President of the United States just smeared half of the country – House Democrats can speak up now to disagree, or their silence will say everything voters need to know,” GOP North Carolina Rep. Richard Hudson, who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement.
Rep. Marc Molinaro, a first-term Republican who’s trying to defend his New York 19th Congressional District seat, posted on social media about Biden’s statement. Molinaro wrote in part, “Biden says if you don’t support Kamala Harris, you are garbage.”
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Democrats and Republicans in tight races seize on comments stemming from “garbage” joke at Trump rally
Shawn Fagan tapped to lead the Rochester Downtown Alliance
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