The 2024 presidential election is just a week away, and early voting numbers have already surpassed those of previous elections, with over 50 million votes cast across 47 states and Washington, D.C.

The surge in early voting, which began in 2020 due to the pandemic, has continued into this election cycle, with increased Republican support for the method. Texas currently leads in early voting numbers, followed by Florida and California, with six states already seeing over 30% of their voting-age population casting their votes early.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is preparing for an increase in mailed ballots and advises voters to send them in early, ideally by Tuesday before Election Day. USPS is implementing special measures to ensure timely and secure delivery of ballots, with extra deliveries, collections, and sorting plans in place.

Early voting has seen record-breaking turnout in several states, with the Republican Party encouraging supporters to vote early and by mail like North Carolina and Georgia.

Recent arson incidents targeting ballot boxes in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, have raised concerns about the safety of ballots.

However, steps are being taken to ensure that affected voters are notified and their votes will be counted. The Portland Police Bureau released images of the suspect’s vehicle believed to be connected to the fires.

Voters in Multnomah County can sign up for a Track Your Ballot service to receive alerts about their ballot’s status. The Washington Secretary of State’s office also provides a way for voters to track their ballot’s return status and obtain a replacement if needed.