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As Election Day approaches, nationwide early voting efforts are coming to an end, with the focus intensifying on key communities where voter turnout could decisively impact the results. Black voters continue to be a pivotal voting bloc, often navigating systematic challenges to exercise their voting rights.
Unlike the 2020 election, where early voting surged out of necessity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2024 early voting trend reflects a growing preference among voters to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day.
But are Black voters showing up at the polls in record numbers, or has election fatigue left them uninterested?
The answer could shape the outcome of some important races in this election and offer insights into the broader political landscape of 2024.
The Candidates
Vice President Kamala Harris and her team have prioritized early voting and have pushed for their constituents to utilize early voting, especially in battleground states like Georgia, North Carolina, and Michigan.
Trump’s team has taken a different approach, demonizing early voting, though his Republican counterparts have been pushing for early voting despite Trump’s rhetoric.
The Numbers
With Nov. 5 just around the corner, more than 78 million Americans have already voted early. But, Black voters seem split on their preferences for when they decide to vote.
In some battleground states, Black voter turnout has experienced record highs, while in others, the numbers are lagging.
The state of Georgia has experienced a record number of Black voters participating in the early voting period.
According to the Atlanta Voice, the number of Black voters jumped past the one million mark on Friday, Nov. 1, the final day of the early voting period. During a press conference last week, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger confirmed the record-setting performance by Black voters, saying, “Georgia voters are smashing through every voting record.” In total, nearly four million Georgians have already cast their ballots.
In Florida, however, early voter turnout among Black voters is down, especially among Black men. According to WUFT, statewide, 48% of 1.78 million voters who identified as Black submitted mail ballots or visited polling places for early voting, compared to 61% of 8.51 million active white voters. Among Black men, turnout was even lower at 44%, seven percentage points lower than Black women. The publication also said that the 48% compares to 60% of Black voters who voted by mail or voted early at this point in 2020. Voting by mail was also down 20% among Black voters when compared to 2020.
Louisiana also saw lower numbers of Black voters voting early when compared to past elections. According to BRProud, over 960,000 Louisianans cast their ballots early. That is about 26,000 fewer than the state saw in 2020. JMC Analytics’ John Couvillon attributed it to the drop in the number of participating Black voters. “Black turnout was quite mediocre statewide, and especially in East Baton Rouge Parish. So, at this point, four years ago, 30% of the early-voting electorate was Black. It was 25% as of last night,” Couvillon said.
In North Carolina, on the first day of early voting, a record 353,000 ballots were cast, even though the state was still recovering from Hurricane Helene.
St. Joseph A.M.E. Church in Durham, North Carolina, Central University and other organizations held a “Soar to the Polls” rally to celebrate the first day of early voting. Participants were accompanied by a marching band, who led the enthusiastic voters in a march through the streets to their local polling station.
As early voting comes to a close, the turnout data from Black communities paints a picture of sustained engagement despite the challenges and competing narratives surrounding the Black vote. While some numbers have dipped since 2020, Black voters are still a driving force in key battleground states. Their turnout could be the deciding factor in shaping not only our future political landscape but also the future of this nation.
The close of early voting also marks the culmination of weeks of anticipation and effort, setting the stage for a decisive and impactful election. As the nation awaits the final results, the emphasis on voter turnout within the Black community highlights the ongoing quest for a more inclusive and respective democracy.
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