Election Day voting kicked off across much of the United States on Tuesday morning, following a wave of early ballots that saw tens of millions of Americans participate ahead of time. With record-breaking turnout in battleground states like Georgia and North Carolina, the outcome of this election could hinge on these crucial votes.

In Georgia, where the political landscape has swung between Republican and Democratic candidates in the last two presidential elections, early voting has been particularly strong. More than 4 million voters have already cast their ballots, leading officials in the secretary of state’s office to predict that polling places may appear “ghost town-like” on Election Day itself due to the high early turnout.

As of Monday, the Associated Press reported that approximately 82 million ballots had been cast nationwide, surpassing half of the total votes recorded in the previous presidential election four years ago. This surge in early voting has been partially attributed to a concerted effort by former President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee, which aimed to encourage Republican voters to take advantage of early voting and diminish the Democrats’ traditional edge in this area.

With polling locations open and voters lining up, attention now turns to the unfolding results and what they mean for the future of the nation. Political analysts and citizens alike are watching closely as this historic election progresses, with implications that will be felt far beyond today.