North Carolina voters showed up in record numbers Thursday to cast their ballots on the first day of early voting.
The State Board of Elections reported that 353,166 people voted in person on Thursday — slightly breaking the record set for the first day of 2020 by about 4,500 votes.
“Yesterday’s turnout is a clear sign that voters are energized about this election, that they have confidence in the electoral process and that a hurricane will not stop North Carolina residents from exercising their right to vote,” said Karen Brinson Bell , executive director of the board. in a press release.
In addition to in-person early voting, more than 75,000 votes have already been cast by mail, including military and overseas voters, bringing the total number of votes cast to date to more than 428,000.
Although attendance set a record on the first day, it did not increase as much as the state’s population grew.
So far, registered Democrats have cast the highest percentage of early and mail-in votes, accounting for more than 36% of all votes cast.
Republicans make up the second largest share at more than 33%, and unaffiliated voters account for just under 30%.
Chris Cooper, a political scientist at Western Carolina University, urged voters not to read too much into these numbers.
“If you’re looking for tea leaves to read who’s going to win, that’s a fool’s errand,” he said.
Nationally and in North Carolina, Republican leaders have encouraged voters to vote early or by mail — despite former President Donald Trump previously spreading false conspiracy theories that the methods would lead to fraud.
After the first day of early voting in 2020, Republicans accounted for only about 21% of all votes cast — compared to nearly 50% for Democrats.
Now those numbers appear to have largely stabilized.
“The less party polarization we see in the way people vote, the better,” Cooper said. “Does this mean Republicans will do better after Election Day? I have no idea.”
In Wilmington, excited voters stood in long lines Thursday to cast their ballots.
Carol and Laverne James, sisters who came to vote together at Cape Fear Community College, said they were excited to cast their votes for Vice President Kamala Harris.
“At first we were sad that my friend Biden had to go, but he was gracious and we appreciated it,” Laverne James said.
Pamela Hewitt, a Republican voter, said she voted for Trump in the presidential race but would abstain in the governor’s race rather than support Republican Party candidate Mark Robinson.
She said some of his comments, including saying “some people should be killed,” influenced her decision.
“You just can’t say that,” Hewitt said.
Early voting lasts until November 2. Voters can find early voting sites near them using the State Board of Elections’ online search tool.
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