NewsWPLG Local 10October 30, 2026Miami-Dade County
Associated Press report covers early voting surges, DOJ election scrutiny, G20 photo cancellation, and Pope Leo XIV's mail-in ballot
Photo: WPLG Local 10
An Associated Press analysis shows early voting significantly outpacing the last midterm election across 47 states, while civil rights groups and workers filed lawsuits to block Justice Department election interventions. Meanwhile, the U.S. canceled a G20 family photo over objections to Russian diplomat Sergey Lavrov, and the Vatican confirmed Pope Leo XIV voted via mail-in ballot in Chicago.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10Why It Matters
More than 43 million Americans have cast early ballots ahead of midterm elections that will determine control of Congress, while federal legal battles over local election administration escalate.
Key Facts
- More than 43 million Americans voted early in person or returned mail ballots five days before Election Day, nearly 10 million more than at the same point in 2022.
- Data covers 47 states and Washington, D.C., compared to 48 states and D.C. four years prior.
- In reporting states, about 6.8 million Democrats and 5.2 million Republicans cast early ballots.
- Texas early voting reached 6.3 million, a 50% increase compared to 4.2 million four years prior.
- Early voting increased by over 30% in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, and Kansas.
- South Carolina early voting increased by 83% following the passing of late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.
- The Vatican confirmed Pope Leo XIV submitted a mail-in ballot in Chicago ahead of the midterm elections.
- California workers and voting rights groups, including the League of Women Voters, filed legal challenges asking federal judges to stop Justice Department election interventions.
- The U.S. canceled the G20 family photo at the foreign ministers meeting in Atlanta after European diplomats objected to participating alongside Russian diplomat Sergey Lavrov.
- Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola denied knowledge of efforts to place a similarly named candidate on the Alaska ballot.
- President Donald Trump canceled weekend physical rallies in Iowa and Kansas in favor of telerallies reaching nearly two dozen states.
Who's Mentioned
PersonMarco Rubio“Secretary of State who decided to cancel the G20 photo”OrganizationJustice Department“Escalating criminal investigation of voting in California”PersonLeo XIV“Pope who submitted a mail-in ballot in Chicago”OrganizationAssociated Press“Conducted analysis of voting data”PersonSergey Lavrov“Russia's top diplomat attending G20”PersonMary Peltola“Democratic Senate candidate denying knowledge of ballot stacking”PersonJon Husted“U.S. Senator”OrganizationLeague of Women Voters“Challenging voter data collection”PersonDarline Graham“U.S. Senator”PersonRalph Norman“U.S. Congressman”PersonTodd Blanche“Attorney General”PersonRobert Prevost“Pope Leo XIV's birth name”PersonDonald Trump“President who canceled weekend rallies and held telerallies”PersonAnnie Andrews“Democratic nominee”PersonTim Scott“U.S. Senator and campaign arm chairman”