Early voting results appear to give Hillary Clinton the advantage over Donald Trump as more Democrats are voting early and requesting absentee ballots than their Republican counterparts, The New York Times reported Tuesday.
Data from Florida, North Carolina, and other states that allow early voting shows Clinton pulling ahead even before Trump's lewd, recorded comments came to light.
In Florida, more Democrats are requesting absentee ballots than were doing so at this time in 2012, particularly Hispanic voters who are unhappy with Trump’s stance on immigration, the Times said. Democrats also are requesting more absentee ballots in North Carolina as Republican requests are declining.
According to the NYT, more than 40 percent of Americans are expected to have voted before Election Day in swing states, which may make the winner clear even before Election Day actually comes.
Thirteen states including Ohio are already voting, and 13 more will begin early voting before Oct. 24.
Democrats typically benefit from early and absentee voting because minority and younger voters may have more trouble getting to the polls on Election Day. The Clintons have been pushing early voting.
Although more Republicans typically show up on Election Day, a large enough early voting lead for Clinton could mean Trump would not be able to win even with heavy Election Day turnout, the NYT said.
The 2016 presidential election is expected to break records in voter turnout. The current record of 131 million voters was set in 2008, when Obama was first elected.