Nearly 48 million Americans have cast their ballots ahead of the November 3, 2026, United States midterm elections, setting a new early-voting record as registered Democrats maintain a significant lead over Republicans in states that track voters’ party affiliations.

Figures released by the University of Florida‘s Election Lab showed that 47,922,669 Americans had voted by midday on Friday, October 30, surpassing the previous midterm early-voting record of 45.9 million recorded in 2022.

The surge in participation has been particularly pronounced in several politically competitive states, where voters are preparing to decide closely contested Senate, House of Representatives and gubernatorial races.

The election is expected to be a major test of President Donald Trump’s political standing and the Republican Party’s control of Congress, with Democrats hoping to regain majorities in both chambers.

According to the figures, Democrats account for approximately 44 per cent of early voters in states that report party affiliation, compared with 31 per cent for Republicans and 25 per cent for independent and minor-party voters.

The early-voting figures represent a substantial increase in participation compared with the 2022 midterm elections, when approximately 45.9 million Americans voted before Election Day.

In Texas, one of the most closely watched battleground states, more than six million people had voted by October 28. In-person early voting was approximately 50 per cent higher than at the same stage of the 2022 elections.

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North Carolina also recorded a significant increase, with early voting rising by nearly 37 per cent compared with the corresponding period four years ago.

South Carolina had already surpassed its entire 2022 midterm early-voting total by October 26, despite having five additional days of early voting remaining.

In Kansas, where Republican Senator Roger Marshall is facing a challenging re-election contest, advance voting was also substantially ahead of the 2022 figures.

The increases have reinforced attention on the Senate contests, particularly in states where Democrats are seeking to make gains against Republican candidates.

The latest figures suggest stronger early-voting participation among registered Democrats than Republicans.

University of Florida political scientist Michael McDonald, who oversees the Election Lab, has also highlighted increased participation among Black and Hispanic voters in states that provide racial and ethnic voting information.

He pointed to particularly strong turnout in predominantly Hispanic communities along the Texas-Mexico border.

Georgia has also recorded a major milestone, with in-person early voting surpassing the state’s previous midterm record on October 29.

Women accounted for approximately 56 per cent of ballots cast in Georgia by that date, compared with 44 per cent for men.

The state’s top elections official, Brad Raffensperger, attributed the record participation to voters’ confidence in the electoral process.

Despite the Democratic advantage in early voting, election analysts have warned against interpreting the figures as an indication of the eventual winner.

Party registration does not necessarily reveal which candidates voters support, while millions of Americans are still expected to cast their ballots on Election Day.

Republicans have historically recorded stronger participation on Election Day in several recent elections, a pattern that could reduce or potentially reverse the Democrats’ current advantage.

There are also differences in voting patterns across states, as some rely more heavily on mail-in ballots while others record greater participation through in-person voting.

Consequently, the early-voting figures provide an indication of voter participation and party mobilisation rather than a reliable prediction of the final results.

The November 3 midterm elections will determine the political balance of power in the United States Congress during the final two years of Trump’s current presidential term.

Republicans currently control both chambers, holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate and a narrow majority in the House of Representatives.

Democrats are seeking to win enough seats to take control of Congress, a development that could significantly affect the president’s legislative agenda and the direction of federal policymaking.

The midterm elections, traditionally held halfway through a president’s four-year tenure, are widely viewed as a referendum on the performance of the sitting administration.

The outcome will therefore provide an important indication of public sentiment towards Trump’s presidency, although the final results will depend on turnout across the country and the outcome of closely contested races.

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a $5,000 (approximately ₦6.7 million) reward for information leading to the arrest of a Nigerian woman, Emuobosan Emanuella Hall, who disappeared after failing to report to prison to begin serving an eight-year sentence for her involvement in a romance scam and financial fraud.

Hall, 46, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison in January 2026 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

The FBI listed her among its wanted persons, saying she violated her bond conditions by failing to surrender to the designated correctional facility to serve her sentence.

According to information released by the FBI, Hall was initially charged in April 2024 over her role in a criminal network that defrauded victims through online romantic relationships before laundering the proceeds.

Members of the syndicate reportedly approached victims through social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, posing as military generals, philanthropists and wealthy entrepreneurs living outside the United States.

After establishing romantic relationships and gaining the victims’ trust, the fraudsters allegedly persuaded them to send money under various false pretences, including claims that the funds were needed for charitable projects or medical expenses involving sick relatives.

Hall and her co-defendant, Kenneth G. Akpieyi, allegedly used a company identified as Le Beau Monde LLC to facilitate the operation.

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Court records indicated that Hall deposited money obtained from victims into bank accounts operated in the company’s name before transferring the funds to other financial institutions, including foreign banks.

Hall admitted responsibility for approximately $851,207 in financial losses suffered by victims.

Her co-defendant, Akpieyi, was found responsible for losses exceeding $3.5 million. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2025 following his conviction.

Hall was arrested in Georgia after the initial charges were filed but was subsequently released on bond while the case proceeded.

In January 2026, a federal judge sentenced her to eight years in prison and directed her to surrender to a designated correctional facility in Minnesota by March 2026.

However, she failed to report as ordered.

According to the FBI, information from her electronic monitoring device showed that her last known location was Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on March 24, 2026, where the device stopped transmitting.

Hall had reportedly informed her probation officer that she intended to travel to Minnesota to begin serving her sentence. However, airline records indicated that she did not board the scheduled flight.

Following her disappearance, a federal arrest warrant was issued against her on March 31, 2026, by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans.

She was subsequently charged with failure to appear for service of a sentence on April 14, 2026.

A federal grand jury indicted her on the additional charge on October 23, 2026.

The FBI identified the wanted woman as a Nigerian-born national who also uses the names Emuobosan E. Hall, Emuobosan Emanuella Erih and the nickname “Mobo”.

The agency disclosed that she has connections to Warri and Oleh in Delta State, as well as Abuja.

Her reported international connections include London, Gloucester and Croydon in England, and Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States.

The FBI described Hall as approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing about 87 kilogrammes, with black hair and brown eyes. She speaks English and some Yoruba.

The agency is offering up to $5,000 for credible information that directly leads to her arrest.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts has been urged to contact the FBI through its toll-free telephone number, 1-800-CALL-FBI, or submit information through its official tips website at https://tips.fbi.gov.

If convicted of the additional failure-to-report offence, Hall could face up to 10 more years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and supervised release, in addition to her existing sentence.