Biden's ABC town hall: Former VP lays out vision in stark contrast to Trump's

Early voting has already begun in 48 states plus Washington, D.C., with data continuing to hit record numbers across the country. 

In the states reporting data, at least 17.8 million votes have been cast in the 2020 general election and at least 80.7 million ballots have been requested in early voting states.

The large early voting numbers are due to the coronavirus pandemic as well as an increase in voter interest.

However, though millions of ballots have been requested, it's unclear how many might sit at home unmarked. 

Seven states -- California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington -- have an all-mail ballot election, meaning every registered voter is automatically sent a ballot. 

By Friday, all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., will have some form of early voting underway.

-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh

Biden has tested negative for COVID-19, according to a new statement Thursday evening, following their announcement earlier in the day that Biden had tested negative Wednesday night. 

"Vice President Biden underwent PCR testing for COVID-19 today and COVID-19 was not detected," the campaign said in the Thursday evening statement. 

This test comes after the campaign announced an aviation staffer who flew with Biden Monday and Tuesday of this week, but had no passing or close contact to Biden, tested positive for COVID-19.

With President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden holding separate town halls on the same night, “The View” co-hosts discuss which candidate will benefit most.

10:13

Are dueling town halls a disservice to voters?

With President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden holding separate town halls on the same night, “The View” co-hosts discuss which candidate will benefit most.

ABCNews.com

The Biden campaign announced that a person working with the aviation company that charters former Vice President Joe Biden's plane tested positive for COVID-19 Thursday.  While that person flew with Biden on Monday and Tuesday, the campaign said they were not in close contact with the former vice president or his campaign staff.

"The Vice President did not even have passing contact: this individual was over 50 feet from VP Biden at all times, entered and exited the aircraft from a rear entrance, and both the individual and the Vice President wore masks for the entire flight," Biden campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon said in a statement.

The aviation company employee's diagnosis was discovered as a result of the campaign's contact tracing following the positive diagnosis of Sen. Kamala Harris' communication's director Liz Allen and a non-staff flight crew member.

Although Harris tested negative for COVID-19, she canceled her in-person campaigning through Monday. 

Because of Biden's lack of contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19, his campaign said it would not be taking any additional precautions. Biden will still participate in an ABC News town hall Thursday night. 

The Biden campaign announced earlier Thursday that Biden underwent a PCR test for COVID-19 Wednesday night and that test came back negative.

ABC News' Molly Nagle