The State Board of Elections in North Carolina reported that over 4.2 million voters participated in early in-person voting, setting a new record beyond the previous mark set in 2020. Voter turnout in the western counties, impacted by Hurricane Helene, surpassed other areas of the state.
Early in-person voting has gained popularity in North Carolina, a key presidential battleground, in recent election cycles. It allows voters to register and cast their ballots simultaneously at designated sites. Four years ago, 3.63 million individuals voted at early voting locations across the state’s 100 counties, a record which was already surpassed by Thursday of this year, as confirmed by the state board.
Including absentee ballots, 4,465,548 voters, or 57% of the state’s 7.8 million registered voters, had voted in the general election as of Sunday morning. Officials noted that the reported turnout might be slightly underestimated due to a delay in data uploading.
In the 25 western counties affected by Hurricane Helene, voter turnout reached 58.9%, approximately 2% higher than the statewide average. Karen Brinson Bell, the Executive Director of the State Board, commended the efforts of all county boards and election workers, particularly those in Western North Carolina.
The increase in early voting can be attributed in part to efforts by state and national Republicans encouraging early participation, a shift from the 2020 election when then-President Donald Trump claimed, without evidence, that mail-in voting was fraudulent.
North Carolina voters are also selecting a new governor, attorney general, and other statewide officials, alongside members of the U.S. House and state General Assembly.
