Early voting is continuing to significantly outpace the last midterm election, with millions more Americans casting ballots in advance and particularly sharp increases in states hosting competitive Senate races, according to an Associated Press analysis of voting data five days before Election Day.

The surge is especially pronounced in Texas, where voters are deciding closely watched Senate, House and governor's races.

More than 6. 3 million Texans had voted early as of Wednesday, compared with 4. 2 million at the same point four years ago, a 50% increase.