Black early voting surges in South, boosting Democrats

Key facts

• Black voters in southern states are casting early ballots at a pace ahead of previous midterms.
• Voting rights advocates cite backlash against Republican gerrymandering as a driver of early voting.
• In North Carolina, Black voters comprise a larger share of the early vote compared to the last midterm cycle.

Black voters, particularly in southern states, are participating in early voting at a rate exceeding that of previous midterm elections, providing a potential advantage for Democrats. According to voting rights advocates, a negative reaction to Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts to the disadvantage of Black voters is fueling this increase in early and absentee voting. In North Carolina, a state that tracks voter race, Black voters' share of the early vote has increased compared to the last midterm election cycle.