A friend messaged to ask how it’s going?
A brief update in North Carolina, as of Friday evening 10-18-2024:
I hear it was a record first day yesterday (Opening Day of early voting). At our polling place nearby, they told us 800 had voted there yesterday ), a record.
A later statewide report came from the NC state election board:
North Carolina Sets Turnout Record for First Day of Early Voting
More than 353,000 N.C. voters cast ballots Thursday, the first day of in-person early voting.
RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina voters turned out in droves on the weather-friendly first day of the in-person early voting period on Thursday, setting a first-day record of 353,166 ballots accepted at sites statewide, according to preliminary State Board of Elections data.
The early voting numbers topped the previous record for the first day of early voting — 348,559, set in 2020 — by 1.3 percent. . . .
Throughout the day Thursday, the State Board received reports of lines at early voting sites across the state. Despite the turnout, no significant issues or problems were reported to the State Board.
As of Friday morning, 428,299 voters had cast ballots in North Carolina. This includes 75,133 absentee ballots cast. . . .
[And shortly after noon, I cast my vote in Durham, in a polling place that was busy but not crowded. Parking was easy.]
Election officials expect more in-person voting this year than in 2020, when a record 18% of voters cast their ballots by mail due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In-person early voting continues through Saturday, November 2 at 419 sites statewide.
Saturday AM update:
NOTE: by party registration, it might appear that Democrats have a 4% edge (37%-D vs 33%-R). HOWEVER, with 30% of early votes with NO party designation, it’s more accurate to acknowledge that as far as which party ticket is ahead in NC at this point, observers don’t have a clue. The suspense continues.
Does this mean a democratic wave like it would’ve meant last time. Or are the Maggas voting early too?
Excellent question, Ben. I have not yet seen any useful analysis of the early vote; i hope that’s coming soon..
I hope this bodes-well for reason and common sense over misinformation and hate.