In each presidential election, battleground states are make-or-break opportunities for candidates seeking the highest office in the land. Such areas are neither firmly red nor blue, thereby prompting presidential contenders to spend extra time campaigning there.

Winning these states, and subsequently collecting their Electoral College votes, is imperative for reaching the 270 benchmark necessary to secure the presidency. In places like North Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Georgia, both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are eager to garner the necessary support.

With barely over two weeks before November 5 arrives, early voting is already starting across much of the nation. Georgia, in particular, has seen record levels of turnout this year, which could be a bellwether for what's to come.

What to know about massive early voting turnout in the Peach State

Tuesday, October 15 marked the first day of early voting, where Georgia residents cast over 300,000 ballots. This is remarkable as it stands 123% higher than ballots submitted during the 2020 presidential election's initial day for voting early. By the time Friday rolled around, one million people in Georgia turned in their votes for this year's White House race.

The Peach State will play an essential role in the 2024 election. In 2016, the state backed Trump; however, it flipped blue in 2020, with then-candidate Joe Biden narrowly eking out a win.

Now, Harris is hoping to secure all 16 of Georgia's Electoral College votes. By the same token, this massive turnout of early voters could be a positive sign for her prospects in the state.

Here's what we know about early voting

Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters remain far more likely to vote early than their Republican counterparts. It is a reality that even GOP members have acknowledged. Some of these officials are therefore working to change this by warning mass early voting from Democrats gives them an edge over Republicans.

For years, right-leaning candidates and leaders have sown distrust and suspicions about early voting. Some posit, without concrete evidence, that casting one's ballot early can lead to votes being compromised or "swapped" for the opposing candidate.

If even most of Georgia's early voters have gone to the polls in support of Harris, she could very well end up winning the state next month.