Early voting breaks record in North Carolina, with more than half of voters casting their ballots

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – As early voting nears its end, lines at the polls continue to grow.

State Board of Elections officials said the lines in southeastern North Carolina reflect record-breaking numbers statewide.

According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, more than 4 million voters in North Carolina cast ballots in this election.

“With early voting sites expected to be very busy today and tomorrow, this is really good news for North Carolina,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the NC State Board of Elections. “For North Carolina voters who haven’t voted yet, you still have time to make your voice heard.”

As of 2 p.m. Friday, more than 3,798,000 voters had cast their votes in person during early voting. That surpasses the previous record of more than 3,629,000 ballots cast during early voting in 2020, NCSBE said.

As we continue to see long lines at county polling places, Brinson Bell says there's a surprising twist when it comes to the areas with the highest voter turnout.

“Voter turnout in the 25 Helene disaster districts continues to exceed voter turnout statewide. We are very proud of the resilient and strong people of Western North Carolina,” she said.

The NCSBE shares the following information:

Early voting runs through Saturday, November 2nd. Locations vary by county. To view each county's schedule, use the Early Voting Site Search tool. If you are eligible, you can also register and vote during the early voting period.

Election day is November 5th. Polling stations are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. To find your polling place on Election Day, use Voter Search.

Tips for early voters on the last two days of in-person early voting

• Go to Early Voting Site Search to find sites and locations in your county.
• Prepare for queues. Bring water and a snack, or even a chair if you won't be able to stand for a long time. Disabled voters have the right to vote from their cars by voting curbside.
• Some counties have wait time trackers on their websites that can help you decide the best time to travel.
• Find your sample ballot using the voter search tool.
• Bring your photo ID with you. For a complete list of acceptable IDs, visit BringItNC.gov.
• Bring a positive attitude. If you encounter difficulties, poll workers are there for you.

Copyright 2024 WECT. All rights reserved.