By: Jordan Meadows
Staff Writer
As early voting progresses in North Carolina, the state has reported 1 million ballots cast as of Monday morning, representing approximately 13 percent of all registered voters in the state. This year’s turnout includes 916,433 in-person early votes, 77,831 absentee domestic votes, 11,168 absentee overseas votes, and 2,691 absentee military votes.
Compared to previous elections, early voting has seen notable shifts in demographics and party affiliations. The racial breakdown shows a predominance of White non-Hispanic voters, who represent a larger percentage than their share of the registered voter pool. In contrast, Black non-Hispanic voters account for 20 percent, Hispanic/Latino voters 4 percent, and all others or unknown make up 13 percent of the voter registration pool.
“My sincerest thanks goes out to the county boards of elections and the thousands of election workers around the state who are making this happen,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board. “It has been an incredibly busy few days. Please thank those in your community who are making sure your vote counts.”
The turnout also reveals gender dynamics, with a greater number of female voters participating in early voting. Regionally, suburban areas have seen a higher turnout, and the age demographic skews significantly older.
Political affiliation statistics indicate a slight shift compared to early voting numbers from the 2020 election. Democrats are down 2 percent, while Republicans and unaffiliated voters have increased 1 percent. Overall, the early voting numbers are at 75 percent of the total from four years ago, which is a notable decrease primarily driven by a significant drop in absentee mail ballots stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Four years ago, North Carolina accepted 427,382 mail-in ballots by the fourth day of early voting; this year, that number has plummeted to 92,086.
Some counties, such as Franklin, Granville, and Brunswick, have matched or exceeded their 2020 early voting numbers; most others have yet to break their numbers from the last election. Among those who have voted in person, 65 percent of voters cast their ballots in the same manner as they did in 2020, while 15 percent transitioned from mail-in voting to in-person.
According to a 2013 report by the Brennan Center for Justice, early voting is seen as a “crucial way to modernize” elections by reducing long lines and wait times on Election Day. This system offers flexibility and convenience, encouraging more voters to engage in the electoral process. Notably, North Carolina allows voters who miss the registration deadline to register and cast their ballots at early voting sites, further increasing accessibility.
Former President Donald Trump campaigned in Swannanoa, located in the western part of North Carolina, on Monday, followed by rallies in Greenville and Concord throughout the week. Vice President Kamala Harris also held a rally in Greenville on October 13.
On Tuesday, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff campaigned for the Harris-Walz ticket in the Triangle area. This followed a weekend that included a block party and a bus tour featuring Governor Tim Walz and former President Bill Clinton, which took place in Durham, New Hanover County, Greenville, and Raleigh. Additionally, former President Barack Obama is scheduled to rally voters in Charlotte, urging them to make the most of early voting and mail-in ballots.
Analysts emphasize the importance of this election, noting that if Kamala Harris wins North Carolina, she has a 91.3 percent chance of winning the presidency, while Trump would have an 81.2 percent chance of claiming the electoral college if he secures the state.
