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What to expect in North Carolina on Election Day

The state is one of a handful of competitive presidential battlegrounds that will likely determine the race for the White House.

NORTH CAROLINA, USA — The Associated Press contributed to this story.

North Carolina voters will cast ballots for president and governor in the Nov. 5 general election while many in the state are still dealing with the aftermath and massive destruction caused by Hurricane Helene. 

The Tarheel State is one of a handful of competitive presidential battlegrounds that will likely determine the race for the White House. Polls here have tightened considerably since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July, making the state a popular destination in both campaigns. 

Since the storm, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump and their running mates have all visited North Carolina. 

Since 1968, Democratic presidential candidates have carried North Carolina only twice: in 1976 and 2008. Nonetheless, the state has been competitive in recent years. Trump carried North Carolina twice but with less than 50% of the vote each time. He edged Biden in 2020 by about one percentage point, his smallest winning margin in any state.

In the race for governor, Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and Democratic state Attorney General Josh Stein are the nominees to replace Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who is term-limited. Robinson has denied a CNN report that he posted explicit messages on a pornography web site more than a decade ago. Since the allegations surfaced, many of his campaign staff members have resigned and he was excluded from a Trump campaign event in Wilmington.

Also on the ballot is a competitive race in the 1st Congressional District in northeastern North Carolina. Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis is seeking a second term against Republican Laurie Buckhout.

In the state Legislature, Republicans overwhelmingly outnumber Democrats in both chambers, but a net loss of a single seat in the Senate or the House could cost the GOP its supermajority, and its ability to override the governor’s veto along with it. All 50 state Senate and 120 state House seats are up for election.

Voters will also consider a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would specify that only U.S. citizens can vote in the state.

Here’s a look at what to expect in the 2024 election in North Carolina:

Election Day: Nov. 5.

Poll closing time: 7:30 p.m. ET.

Presidential electoral votes: 16 awarded to the statewide winner.

Key races and candidates:

President: Harris (D) v. Trump (R) v. Chase Oliver (Libertarian) v. Jill Stein (Green) v. Randall Terry (Constitution) v. Cornel West (Justice For All).

Governor: Robinson (R) v. Stein (D) and three others.

1st Congressional District: Davis (D) vs. Buckhout (R) and one other.

Ballot measure: N.C. 1 (Citizenship Requirement to Vote General).

Other races of interest:

U.S. House, Agriculture Commissioner, Attorney General, Auditor, Court of Appeals, Insurance Commissioner, Labor Commissioner, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Supreme Court, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Treasurer, state Senate, state House.

2020: Trump (R) 50%, Biden (D) 49%, AP race call: Fri. Nov. 13, 2020, 3:49 p.m. ET.

Registered voters: 7,666,436 (as of Sept. 1, 2024). 31% Democrats, 30% Republicans.

Voter turnout in 2020 presidential election: 75% of registered voters.

Votes cast before Election Day 2020: about 84% of the total vote.

Votes cast before Election Day 2022: about 58% of the total vote.

Votes cast before Election Day 2024: See AP Advance Vote tracker.

First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 7:42 p.m. ET.

By midnight ET: about 99% of total votes cast were reported.

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