AURORA | Rallies organized by the No Kings network opposed to President Donald Trump were held Saturday in Aurora, the state Capitol, Colorado Springs and cities and communities across the U.S., with an aim of getting people out to vote early in the midterm elections.

The hundreds of planned events were billed as nonpartisan, though they sought to build on nearly two years’ worth of No Kings marches and demonstrations by people upset with Trump’s presidency.

In Aurora, crowds assembled at the intersection of Parker Road and South Havana Street, where they’ve protested several times since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

Voter turnout is brisk so far, according to local and state election officials.

Out of about 425,000 active voters in Arapahoe County, 32,800 have returned ballots as of Friday, which represents a 7.8% turnout in the election so far, according to Arapahoe County clerk officials.

About 13,000 of the ballots were from unaffiliated voters, almost that many from registered Democrats and about 7,000 from registered Republicans.

About 13,000 of the ballots were cast from voters in Aurora, the county’s largest municipality.

Saturday’s event drew local and statewide Democrats, including Aurora Congressperson Jason Crow, Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, state senators Mike Weissman and Iman Jodeh and numerous county, school and city officials.

Large crowds also turned out to the Colorado Capitol in Denver, as well as Colorado Springs and Longmont.

A strong majority of voters believe that President Donald Trump is falling short at home and abroad, and they want major change in the upcoming midterm elections, according to a new AP-NORC poll that raises serious warning signs for the Republican Party at a critical moment.

The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, conducted less than four weeks before Election Day, finds that registered voters who identify as Democrats are more enthusiastic than Republican voters about casting a ballot. More voters want Democrats to win control of Congress and have a more negative view of Republicans.

The Democratic advantage is small in some cases, but, taken together, the findings paint a challenging picture for Republicans, who are clinging to control of Congress under the weight of an unpopular war with Iran and surging prices at home.

About 8 in 10 voters overall say the economy or the cost of living is among their top issues for the upcoming election, while about two-thirds say this about healthcare and the war in Iran. Other issues that are stronger for Trump — like immigration or crime — are lower priorities.

“The world is going backwards. We can barely afford anything,” said Diana Walker, a 65-year-old Democrat from Decatur, Georgia. “Everybody’s down. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or Republican, we’re all catching hell.”

In Washington on Saturday, a band entertained what appeared to be a few hundred people in caps and coats at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. Despite the chilly weather, many in the crowd danced to the tunes. “VOTE EARLY” and “HANDS OFF MY VOTE!” were among the many signs held aloft.

At an Atlanta rally, City Councilman Michael Julian Bond told the crowd to urge others to vote ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.

“The Constitution gives you one power, right? That is the power to vote. Are you gonna use that power?” he said.

“You don’t see Superman giving up his power,” Bond continued. “You don’t see Black Panther giving up his power. You don’t see Wonder Woman giving up her magic lasso. So why would you give up your right, your power, your obligation to vote? Be a super hero, use your power. Go to the polls and vote.”

Trump has long been suspicious of mail voting and has claimed without evidence that voting fraud cost him the 2020 presidential election.

His administration sued California election officials Thursday, asking a judge to bar the state from counting mail-in ballots for the midterm elections from people whom the federal government has identified as “likely” noncitizens until their immigration status can be confirmed.

On Friday the Justice Department warned that local officials who process and tabulate ballots submitted by suspected noncitizen voters are putting themselves at risk of criminal investigation and potential prosecution.

Earlier that day Democratic Sens. Alex Padilla of California, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Dick Durbin of Illinois wrote to Attorney General Todd Blanche demanding that the Justice Department commit to not seizing ballots or other election materials before the midterm elections are certified.

— The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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