NORTH CAROLINA, USA — More than 353,000 voters in North Carolina cast their ballots on Thursday, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
Thursday, Oct. 17 marked the first day of in-person early voting for voters in North Carolina. The turnout topped the previous record for the first day of early voting, which was set in 2020.
The State Board of Elections received reports of lines at early voting sites across the state. There were no significant issues or problems despite the turnout.
“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,” Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections, said. “Let’s keep it rolling, North Carolina.”
There have been 428,299 voters who have cast ballots in North Carolina, as of Friday morning. This number includes 75,133 absentee ballots that were cast.
Election officials are projecting a higher turnout for in-person voting this year than in 2020. In 2020, 18% of voters cast their ballots by mail because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Early voting will continue through Saturday, Nov. 2.
"Early voting is great. It offers a lot of flexibility. We've got 28 sites open over two weeks that voters can pick the day, pick the site. It's really nice flexibility. Election day is awesome too though. It's close to your house perhaps. But you don't have that flexibility. So voters get proximity or the flexibility and you never know, something could happen to you. You could get sick, your car could break down for election day. So if you've already done early voting, uh you've got nothing to worry about," said Director of Guilford County Board of Elections, Charlie Collicutt.
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