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| An "I voted today" sticker is seen on the ground at Philadelphia's City Hall, an early voting location for the upcoming presidential election, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., October 20, 2020. (Photo by=REUTERS/Rachel Wisniewski) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] About 52 million Americans cast ballots in the presidential election, an early-voting expert said on Friday (Oct 23), signaling a potential record turnout for the Nov 3 election between President Donald Trump and challenger Joe Biden.
According to Michael McDonald of the University of Florida's Elections Project, at least 52 million people had cast ballots in person or by mail 11 days before election day. That’s 22 percent of all eligible US voters. McDonald and other experts predict the election could set a modern turnout record, surpassing the 60 percent participation rate of presidential elections. The massive early-vote total gives the Republican Trump less chance to change minds before voting concludes.
Trump said those polls underestimated his support. "I think we're leading in a lot of states you don't know about," he told reporters at the White House. Campaign manager Bill Stepien said the race was tightening in Minnesota and said the campaign would buy more television advertising there. Opinion polls show Biden leading in the state. A final debate with Biden on Thursday offered Trump a chance to reverse his fortunes, but analysts said it was unlikely to alter the race in any fundamental way.
