Early voting has begun in various states across the country, allowing voters to cast their ballots either in person or by mail, and they're doing it in record-breaking numbers. Over 1.5 million voters cast early ballots in Georgia, setting a record for in-person voting on the first day of early voting. According to data-collection firm TargetSmart, as of October 21, approximately 13 million voters had cast their ballots early, including over 6.9 million Democrats and 5.3 million Republicans. In the seven swing states most likely to decide the election results, 2.4 million Democrats have voted, while nearly 2 million Republicans and nearly 400,000 unaffiliated voters have already cast their ballots. Essies, have you headed to the polls? Need more information on how to vote early? Visit ESSENCE.com to see how to find your polling place. #PaintThePollsBlack