Ballot Request Surge , Setting Records in US.br 28 million ballots have been requested. br This is in addition to the 43 million ballots that br will automatically be mailed out.br With nearly six weeks left before the election, br these numbers have far exceeded the pre-Election Daybr ballots that were cast in the 2016 election. .br Nearly 50 million pre-Election Day br ballots were sent out in 2016.br Close to a dozen states have expanded br the rules for mail-in ballots to accommodate br voters affected by the coronavirus pandemic.br Registered Democrats have requested 1.3 million br more ballots than registered Republicans. br Nearly half a million ballots have already been cast.br In 15 states — including Michigan, Wisconsin, br Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Arizona — more br absentee ballots have been br requested than the totals for 2016.br Close to two dozen states have already begun br either absentee voting or in-person voting.