More Than 800,000 Ballots Already Cast in New Jersey, State Democrats Say

WEST ORANGE — More than 800,000 ballots have already been cast in New Jersey, the New Jersey Democratic State Committee said on Friday, October 30, 2026, describing turnout since early voting began on Saturday as beyond its expectations.

The committee said the early-vote total is outpacing turnout in the 2025 early-vote period, and that Democrats hold a more than 2-to-1 advantage over Republicans among ballots cast so far. Those figures are the committee’s own; the release does not cite the New Jersey Division of Elections or county-by-county returns.

Independent data corroborates the scale of the claim: the University of Florida Election Lab, using New Jersey Secretary of State figures, put the total at 855,440 ballots as of October 30 — 350,596 cast in person and 504,844 by mail — with registered Democrats accounting for about 60 percent and Republicans about 23 percent. Those figures measure the party registration of the voters who cast ballots, not which candidates received their votes.

“We won’t let up on the gas at all. We’re going to keep having conversations with New Jerseyans about the issues they’re facing, and continue to earn their support,” said Chairman LeRoy J. Jones, Jr., in the release. He said the turnout showed voters were “fed up with Trump” and ready to vote against Republican House members Tom Kean Jr., Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew — that characterisation is the chairman’s, not TIO’s.

The release pointed to three news reports it said were taking note of the early-vote numbers:

• The New Jersey Monitor reported that New Jersey Democrats were “voting in droves ahead of Election Day, outpacing turnout in last year’s gubernatorial race in all but two counties as the number of Republicans casting mail ballots or early machine votes declines statewide.”
• Politico’s New Jersey Playbook was quoted as saying “the numbers coming out of New Jersey are striking, and I think Republicans may be dreading next Tuesday.”
• The New Jersey Globe reported that “Democrats have built a commanding advantage in New Jersey’s early voting, with Republican turnout dropping sharply from last year and Democrats casting nearly twice as many in-person ballots as Republicans during the first three days.”

The committee said it “won’t take anything for granted and will keep working until the final ballots are counted.”

Key facts

• Claimed by NJDSC, Oct 30, 2026: more than 800,000 ballots already cast; early voting began Saturday, Oct 24, 2026.
• Claimed party split: Democrats hold a more than 2-to-1 advantage over Republicans in early voting; turnout said to be outpacing 2025.
• Source of the figures: NJDSC press release; the scale of the claim is corroborated by University of Florida Election Lab data based on Secretary of State figures (855,440 as of Oct 30).
• Contact in release: press@njdems.org.

Service box

Early voting has ended — it ran October 24 through November 1. Today, Tuesday, November 3, is Election Day: polls are open 6 AM–8 PM. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by 8 PM today, or delivered to your county Board of Elections office or a secure ballot drop box by 8 PM.

Frequently asked questions

Q: How many ballots have been cast early in New Jersey?
A: The New Jersey Democratic State Committee said on October 30 that more than 800,000 ballots had already been cast. Independent data from the University of Florida Election Lab, based on Secretary of State figures, put the total at 855,440 as of October 30.

Q: When does early voting end?
A: Early voting ended Sunday, November 1. Today, Tuesday, November 3, is Election Day — polls are open 6 AM–8 PM.

Q: What is the claimed party split in early voting?
A: The committee claims Democrats hold a more than 2-to-1 advantage over Republicans among ballots cast so far.