Since September 30, Democracy Works has sent election reminders to more than 4 million TurboVote subscribers across 31 states. Each reminder linked voters to a personalized Election Guide with their sample ballot, their voting location, and the key dates they need to make a plan to vote.
Three weeks in, a clear shift is emerging. Early on, voters focused on what’s on their ballot. Now early voting is underway in many states and Election Day is less than two weeks away. Voters are turning to where and how they’ll cast their ballot, and a growing number are telling us they’ve already voted.
Voters are moving from research to logistics
On September 30, 15% of engaged TurboVote subscribers looked up where to vote. Among voters who received reminders on October 19, that number had climbed to 50%, a 233% increase.
In our first Insights post, we noted that voting locations might be a lower priority for voters several weeks out from Election Day. That’s changing fast. As voting windows open, voters want to know exactly where to go, which is why accurate, up-to-date polling place information matters more every day.
Iowa stood out this week: 57% of engaged TurboVote subscribers looked up where to vote. Iowa is one of several states with a Senate race rated as competitive this cycle.
Finding where to vote isn’t always simple: voting locations are released on different timelines and in different formats, and they often change as Election Day approaches. Through the Voting Information Project, Democracy Works gathers the most comprehensive and accurate voting location data available for all 50 states and DC, and delivers it through TurboVote and our Elections API so voters can find where to vote wherever they look.
Interest in the ballot is holding steady
Ballot research hasn’t dropped off as voters turn to logistics. 34% of engaged subscribers researched what’s on their ballot after our September 30 reminders, and 34% have done so across all 31 states to date.
That consistency tells us voters aren’t swapping one question for another. They’re adding steps to their plan: first learning what they’re voting on, then figuring out where and when they’ll vote.
Young voters in Massachusetts are mapping out where to go
In Massachusetts, 64% of engaged TurboVote subscribers ages 18–24 looked up where to vote.
The data doesn’t tell us why, but many voters in this age group may be voting for the first time, or voting from a new address after a move or the start of a school year. For first-time voters, finding a polling place can be one of the biggest unknowns. When voters can find that answer quickly, it’s one less barrier between intention and action.
Voters are already casting ballots
On September 30, none of the engaged subscribers who received reminders told us they’d already voted. That was expected, because few voting windows were open yet. By October 19, 7% reported that they had voted.
In Nebraska, 9% of engaged TurboVote subscribers reported that they had already voted within 48 hours after receiving our election reminder on 10/16. Early voting officially opened in Nebraska on 10/5, indicating a significant number of voters had already voted early either in person or by mail.
Voters are asking AI chatbots for election information
TurboVote is only one of the places voters look for election information. Through our Elections API, Democracy Works also provides accurate, nonpartisan election data to partner platforms, including AI tools.
Right now, our Elections API is receiving more than four requests per second from integrated AI platforms. The type of information those platforms request is changing as the election gets closer:
- Earlier in the cycle, voter registration information made up a large share of requests.
- As early voting gets underway, we’re seeing more requests related to voting procedures, including early voting and voting by mail.
- As November 3 approaches, we expect information about polling places, voting hours, and Election Day logistics to become increasingly important.
This mirrors what we’re seeing in TurboVote: as voting windows open, the information voters need shifts from getting registered and getting informed to the logistics of casting a ballot.
We can see which election information our systems deliver, but not the individual conversations on these platforms or how the information is presented to users. What we do know is that wherever voters look for election information, it matters that it comes from accurate, verified sources. That’s what the Elections API is built to provide.
What’s next
Three weeks of data tell a consistent story. Voters want to understand their ballot, they need accurate polling place information as voting gets closer, and they’re acting on it.
Next week, we’ll share insights from reminders sent to voters in Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina and more as the final stretch to November 3 begins. Stay tuned!
About the data
All TurboVote figures reflect activity of engaged subscribers who received election notifications between September 30 and October 19, 2026. “Increase” figures compare rates between two points in time (for example, 50% is 233% higher than 15%). “Already voted” figures are self-reported by subscribers. Elections API figures reflect data requests from integrated AI platforms. Analysis shows differences in behavior, not cause and effect.
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