DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) – The number of Iowans voting early or sending an absentee ballot by mail is less than half what it was this time in 2020. Still, county supervisors report strong turnout.

It is not easy to compare turnout in this election with that of four years ago.

In 2020, absentee ballot applications were made to all registered voters during the pandemic period, and as a result, absentee voting records were broken. It didn’t happen that way this time. Republican lawmakers also I shortened the window He said early voting was allowed.

University of Iowa Political Science Professor Tim Hagle says we will return to the normal range for early voting this election.

“With the 2024 election, we should probably expect slightly below 2020 turnout and slightly above 2016 in terms of early voting,” he said.

Megan Goldberg, Professor of Political Science at Cornell University He says he still expects turnout to be very high.

“This is indicative of an election year with really high turnout. “I don’t know how it compares to 2020, which had record turnout, especially among certain groups, but I think this is also on track to be a really high turnout presidential election,” he said.

Approximately so far 10,000 more registered Democrats voted compared to registered Republicans.

“Overall, Democrats again do a very good job of fielding absentee requests, so they generally have a very high, very steep curve in the beginning and then they level off as they get closer to the election,” he said.

Hagle says Republicans will close this gap as the election approaches, noting that Republicans still largely vote on election day.

Turnout in Eastern Iowa’s 1st Congressional District is the highest in the state. It is also high in central Iowa’s 3rd District.

“And that’s not surprising because those are the two races that look the most competitive, and they’re also the races that Democrats are targeting, so they generally have a better early voting vote,” Hagle said.

Goldberg says the reason District 1 turnout is so high may be due to the student population at the University of Iowa.

“There are many different groups that are also targeting University of Iowa students for early voting. “You know, we’re trying to make it as convenient as possible for college students who are trying to fit into their class schedules,” he said.

In-person early voting is possible through November 4. Absentee ballots must be returned to county auditors by 8 p.m. on election night, so officials say it’s best to return them as soon as possible.

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Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email him/her [email protected]; and follow him on Facebook Conner HendricksTV or on X/Twitter @ConnerReports.

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