North Carolina sets record for first day of voting with more than 350,000 ballots

North Carolina set a new all-time record for early voting with a surge of more than 350,000 voters on the first day of open polls.

The State Board of Elections reported 353,166 voters Thursday, narrowly beating out the 2020 record of 348,559 ballots — a staggering shift in enthusiasm from the start of the campaign, when voters seemed to largely dread an expected rematch between a pair of familiar presidential candidates.

That dynamic turned on its head in July with the exit of President Joe Biden from the race and the nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris, who ignited enthusiasm in Democrats and trepidation in Republicans — enough to help drive a historic start to the 2024 race in the Tar Heel state.

“Haven’t stood in a line like this to vote since Obama 2008,” blogger Tom Sullivan posted on X, photographing dozens lined up out the doors of one Asheville polling place.

Asheville, North Carolina. Haven’t stood in a line like this to vote since Obama 2008. pic.twitter.com/JwxNfTlzNs
— @TomSullivan@mstdn.social (@BloggersRUs) October 17, 2024

The result is even more noteworthy in consideration of the devastation to western North Carolina from Hurricane Helene, which observers widely predicted would present major disruptions to the election. According to the State Board of Elections, voters reported “no significant issues or problems” on Thursday.

“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,” said election board executive director Karen Brinson Bell.

Among Thursday’s early voters was Democratic candidate for governor Attorney General Josh Stein, who met a crowd of supporters in southeast Raleigh to cast his ballot, encouraging all North Carolinians to take advantage of the state’s 17 days of early voting.

In its initial relief bill, the state allocated $5 million to the election board to help alleviate issues in the western part of the state, permitting changes to early voting in polling places in 25 affected counties. Lawmakers rejected a separate proposal to postpone registration and mail-in ballot return deadlines in those counties.

Another 75,133 voters have already turned in absentee ballots, the state board said — a marked downturn from 2020, when 553,000 mail-in ballots had been received, in large part due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the election process. That year, 18% of all voters cast their ballots through the mail. Officials expect that rate to decrease in 2024 in the absence of pandemic safety measures.

Voters can find a list of polling sites on the board of elections website alongside other instructions on how to vote early. Those who have not yet registered can still register in-person at any polling place until the conclusion of early voting at 3 p.m. on Nov. 2. North Carolina state law requires voters to present a photo ID when casting their ballots.

NC Newsline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. NC Newsline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Rob Schofield for questions: info@ncnewsline.com. Follow NC Newsline on Facebook and X.