Over 60 million Americans cast early ballots

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Over 60 million Americans have cast early ballots in the US's forthcoming presidential election, setting the stage for potentially record-breaking turnout this year.

In all, 60,268,395 people have voted early this year, according to a running tally being compiled by the US Elections Project Monday, which is run by a professor at the University of Florida.

Democrats continue to comprise the bulk of early voters at nearly 49%. While having gained ground Republicans account for just over 28%, and non-affiliated voters comprise 22.4%.

The surge in early voting has already eclipsed the number seen in 2016 when about 58 million people cast early ballots, according to multiple media reports.

Voters have increasingly turned to mail-in balloting and early voting at polling places this year amid health concerns sparked by the coronavirus pandemic.

US President Donald Trump has sought to frame mail-in-voting as being unduly prone to fraud, but has not backed his claims up with evidence.

But Democrats have pushed for expanding vote-by-mail to create a safe way to hold elections amid the pandemic that has infected 8.6 million and killed over 225,000 in the country.