Q&A: Early voting is blowing the doors off this midterm election, but what does it mean?

Election Day is less than a week away, but more than 23 million Americans are apparently so psyched or angry or frightened or inspired or whatever drives people to the polls that they have already cast their ballots.

Early voting has become an increasingly regular part of campaigns, a way for some to avoid last-minute hassles at their polling place or, perhaps, knowing they have hip surgery scheduled for Election Day, to ensure they make their voice heard by voting absentee.

Turnout for the midterm vote, at the halfway point of a