The US House, Senate, Gubernatorial, and legislative races this year will determine the future of President Trump’s term, what he can get done and not done, plus the future of 36 state governor races. Voting early may affect outcomes.
In 1996, 90 percent of Americans voted on Election Day. No more. In 2024, America saw “exceptionally high” turnout, which many trace back to the availability of more options for early voting, not requiring all to vote on one day.
In practical terms, 2024 saw more than half of all votes cast before election day, whether mail-in or early in-person at town offices around the country. The practical result was 153 million votes cast, front-loaded voting that produced a Trump win.
Going back in time, for reasons complex and not so complex, Republicans have tended – traditionalists that we are – to vote on election days, while Democrats pushed absentee and early voting.
Not surprisingly, whatever one’s party affiliation, life can interfere with voting on election day. In the natural course of events, sickness, work, and parenting requirements, even forgetfulness can reduce voter turnout relative to intent.
Since Republicans tend to vote in larger numbers on election day, and Democrats vigorously use early voting options, many races turned into nail-biters on election night last cycle, or were lost for Republicans, due to disinterest in early voting.
This is beginning to change, however. If Republicans choose to vote early in 2026 – both in primaries and the general election – the results may prove decisive. All the voter – in either party – has to do is go to the town office to vote now, in primaries from Maine to Minnesota. Republicans should do that, vote early.
In states like Maine, where so-called “rank choice voting” is pushed by Democrats in primaries, voters should go early and put one name across all fill-in-circles if they do not believe in “rank choice voting,” but one-person, one-vote.
By voting early at your local town office – before the primary date (in Maine, June 9) and putting just one name across all available choices, we assure that the vote is counted. We also uphold the Constitution, which never imagined “rank choice.”
Stepping back and looking at the entire nation, another important outcome will flow from Republicans voting early this critical election year, primary and general.
Candidates who win in early voting, especially Republicans who convince their supporters to vote early, tend to win. In the primary and November, this may prove decisive – permitting Republicans to prevail in the US House and Senate, preserving President Trump’s ability to lead without obstruction and new impeachments.
Bottom line: Republican voters may prefer to vote on election day or “primary election day” (in early June in many states). If so, they should. But the more votes a Republican candidate gets from early voting, the more likely they are to win.
That matters in primaries as much as the general election in November. Election integrity remains a big issue, vigilance the watchword, but time is coming when more Republicans vote early, and – on the numbers – that may help them win. So, what should you do if you can? Vote early!
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, Maine attorney, ten-year naval intelligence officer (USNR), and 25-year businessman. He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (North Country Press, 2018), and “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024). He is the National Spokesman for AMAC. Today, he is running to be Maine’s next Governor (please visit BobbyforMaine.com to learn more)!
For about 50 years, I always voted on Election Day. However, since I moved to Florida I have been voting early (in person), because elections are held during hurricane season and there is no guarantee that the polling place will be open on election day.
The Save America Act had better pass, and soon! I’ve never missed an election since I turned 18, but I’ve always lived in a rural area and voted absentee. That would likely go away and might cause some voters to stay home, like seniors. But, I agree that election DAY needs to rule, not election week, or election month. This will stop the “early” calling of races by the media. Good luck in the Governor’s race, RBC!
Although I prefer early voting, I see the downside – how the Democrats always magically find tens of thousands of last minute democrat mail in votes… So, I support election day being a holiday & mail-in votes being limited to verified voters unable to vote on election day. – with all mail-in votes being post marked 10 days in advance. We need voter ID & election oversight. We have to stop the corruption.
Conservative candidates in Knox County, TN encouraged early voting for the county primaries and it led to record-high primary turnout.
Once upon a time, my wife and I voted on election day. Life was simpler back then, there were no really long lines, and politicians were less obviously bought and paid for.
But now, we vote early. And HOPE for the best. However, I fear this next election will be the end of way of life and the beginning of another. Woe be to the USA.
I am tired of seeing otherwise conservative voters DEMANDING that voting be limited to Election day only. Do you realize how many people will show up on their lunch break to vote, see long lines and hours of waiting, and turn around and go home? How many people will not vote if they have to stand in line in the rain or snow? How many people who have medical issues and traditionally vote early will not cast their vote because of long lines? Here in Florida, where we have IDs that prove we are U.S. citizens that we are required to show, we have early voting and I ALWAYS vote early. It takes less time to vote (I come prepared with a sample ballot already filled in) than to park.
I think these election day only people think that long lines will discourage democrats more than republicans, and that may or may not be true, but this is AMERICA, and every citizen has a right to cast their vote without undue hardship. PASS the SAVE ACT! Only citizens are allowed to vote.Thank you Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) for fighting tirelessly to get it through congress.
RBC, my wife and I have always voted early, and we get our children to vote early also.
I like to vote early, and avoid the long lines (& limited parking!) on election day. There’s nothing I can do about any chicanery that may occur after I cast my vote, except pray for any lawlessness to be exposed, and that we have a fair election.
Idk, Charles. Seems to me, it will just give DemocRat-run states more time to change votes on submitted ballots. It will also let them know how many fraudulent votes they need to “find” to steal elections.
Don’t vote early. Take a stand for how it ought to be–voting only on Election Day. Early voting, mail-in voting, etc., are all Democrat schemes for jiggling the results.
I always enjoy driving by the cemetery on election day and see those same stickers on the Head Stones , I Voted Early . : )))))
Early in person voting or making sure to get your mailed in ballot delivered to the Board of election –not just postmarked –but physically there. No ballots should arrive magically after the end of the general Election Day close.Especially knowing that USPS mail process is not instantaneous delivery, making the effort to personally deliver ballot or making that effort to vote in person is what counts. There’s ample opportunity despite some individuals claiming that theybdon’t have the time to go. No one should be spoon fed pushed to go vote as it is a civic duty responsibility, ignore at your own risk and don’t complain about the results if you didn’t vote.
In WA state we have only mail in voting, so can’t vote until the ballot gets here. I always send it back within a day or two. As an aside, we haven’t had a republican governor since mail in voting was instituted. Coincidence?
Florida here, I am 65 and have always voted the day of election and will continue to do so as long as I am able. I don’t trust the mail in yet. But the day may come that I might can trust it. For now, I like casting my vote on election day. I don’t mind standing in line with other patriots, so far, I’ve never had to wait more than 15 minutes. God bless America. 🙂
I believe according to the lowlife dems it’s vote early and vote often.
It would be great to go back to one day to vote.
The possible problem in my location is the city hall where you do your early voting is completely staffed by Democrats.