WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Turnout was expected to be much higher than in previous times on Election Day Tuesday when U.S. voters headed to the polls to choose their representatives in both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections.
According to Michael McDonald of U.S. Election Project -- which tracks election turnout -- 38.8 million Americans cast their ballots ahead of the Election Day, surpassing the 27.4 million in the 2014 midterms.
A poll on Sunday by ABC News and The Washington Post found that 80 percent of registered voters are "certain to vote" or have already voted this year, compared with 65 percent in 2014 and 71 percent in 2010.
Meanwhile, young voters, who in the past have been regarded as an unreliable voting group, are projected to make a difference this time around.
A survey by the Pew Research Center in June showed as of April, 59 percent of eligible adult voters are under 53 -- or of the so-called Generation X or younger -- compared with the 53 percent that this age group accounted for in the 2014 midterms.
As far as partisan affiliation is concerned, young Democrats appear more willing to make their voices heard than their Republicans counterparts this cycle.
A poll in October by the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School found that for 18-to-29-year olds, 40 percent report that they will "definitely vote" in the midterms, with 54 percent of Democrats, 43 percent of Republicans and 24 percent of Independents considered likely voters.
The minorities and Latinos, outraged by Trump's attack on caravan migrants, are ready to help Democrats change the congressional landscape. Pew estimates 55 percent of Spaniards are enthusiastic about voting in this election, compared with 37 percent in 2014.
While an August poll by Rasmussen Report indicated Trump's approval rating among African Americans doubled year-on-year to reach 36 percent, most analysts still believe African Americans belong to the Democratic camp. A low turnout of this minority group was thought to have contributed to Trump's victory in the 2016 presidential election.
Another demographic factor key to the Democrats is the number of women voters. According to media reports, among the record number of female candidates running for House seats this year, 185 are Democrats while 52 are Republicans, meaning that a large number of women voters could potentially tilt the results toward the Democrats.
The 2018 midterm elections involve 35 Senate seats, all 435 House seats, as well as 36 gubernatorial seats.
