NC sets record for first day of early voting
(WWAY) — North Carolina voters set a new record for first-day turnout during the state’s in-person early voting period on Thursday, with 353,166 ballots accepted across the state, according to preliminary data from the State Board of Elections.
This number surpasses the previous first-day record of 348,559 ballots set in 2020 by 1.3 percent.
Throughout the day, early voting sites across North Carolina saw lines of voters, though the State Board reported no significant issues or disruptions.
“Yesterday’s turnout is a clear sign that voters are energized about this election, that they trust the elections process, and that a hurricane will not stop North Carolinians from exercising their right to vote,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections.
As of Friday morning, a total of 428,299 ballots had been cast, including 75,133 absentee ballots. Election officials expect more in-person voting this year compared to 2020, when a record 18 percent of voters cast their ballots by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here’s a breakdown by county of the number of people who voted Thursday in our area.
- Bladen County: 1,488
- Brunswick County: 6,627
- Columbus County: 1,909
- New Hanover County: 6,172
- Pender County: 2,540
Early voting continues through Saturday, November 2, at 419 sites statewide.
Eligible voters can cast a ballot at any site within their county. Use the Early Voting Sites Search tool for locations and hours.
Sample ballots are available via the Voter Search tool. Voters can also access the Judicial Voter Guide for information on state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals candidates.
Voters will need to show photo ID at the polls.
