Voter turnout data published by the North Carolina State Board of Elections

North Carolina Breaks Early Voting Record with Over 4.2 Million Ballots Cast, 57% Turnout

Nov 4, 2024, 08:35 AM

Early voting in North Carolina has reached a record high ahead of the November 5 presidential election, with over 4.2 million residents casting ballots. This marks a significant turnout, representing 57% of North Carolina's registered voters. Despite the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene in late September, which caused severe flooding and infrastructure damage, voter turnout in the affected western counties has outpaced the rest of the state. The early voting period, which lasted 17 days, saw participation from 1,524,456 unaffiliated voters, 1,478,746 Republicans, and 1,437,281 Democrats. State officials noted that nearly all 80 planned early-voting sites opened on schedule, contributing to the high turnout. The total early votes cast are close to the 2020 turnout, where approximately 5.5 million people voted in total, suggesting a similarly high engagement for the upcoming election. The 4.44 million votes cast represent roughly 80% of the expected electorate, with 4.1 million Americans participating in early voting.