Nearly a million people in North Carolina have already made their voices heard in this year’s general election, according to state officials. As of Sunday, 1,008,123 citizens had cast their votes, marking a significant participation ahead of the official Election Day. The breakdown includes 916,433 individuals who voted early in person, 77,831 who submitted civilian absentee ballots, and close to 14,000 service members or residents abroad who also participated through military or overseas absentee voting. This early turnout signifies about 13 percent engagement of the state’s approximately 7.8 million registered voters.
Karen Brinson Bell, the executive director of the North Carolina State Election Board, expressed gratitude towards county election boards and workers for their dedication during this busy period. “It has been an incredibly busy few days. Please thank those in your community who are making sure your vote counts,” she remarked.
The election process in North Carolina has not been without its challenges. Last month saw the Republican Party filing a lawsuit against the use of digital IDs for voting—a case that was ultimately dismissed by state judges who found no legal basis to prohibit such IDs. Additionally, ballot distribution faced delays as officials were compelled to reprint thousands of ballots to exclude Robert F. Kennedy Jr., following a successful legal challenge from the former independent presidential candidate.
North Carolina's enthusiastic voter turnout mirrors a similar trend observed in Georgia where over a million voters have also cast early ballots, breaking previous records for state turnout. Despite these high participation rates, polls suggest that the race remains closely contested within North Carolina. Current averages from Hill/Decision Desk HQ indicate a narrow gap between Vice President Harris and former President Trump—highlighting just how pivotal North Carolina’s votes could be in determining the outcome of this presidential election.
This bustling electoral activity underscores not only the importance of each vote but also reflects the robust efforts behind ensuring a smooth and accessible voting process for all North Carolinians. With both historical challenges and technological advancements shaping this year's election landscape, it remains clear that every effort is being made to count every vote accurately and fairly—a testament to democracy at work in challenging times.
Karen Brinson Bell, the executive director of the North Carolina State Election Board, expressed gratitude towards county election boards and workers for their dedication during this busy period. “It has been an incredibly busy few days. Please thank those in your community who are making sure your vote counts,” she remarked.
The election process in North Carolina has not been without its challenges. Last month saw the Republican Party filing a lawsuit against the use of digital IDs for voting—a case that was ultimately dismissed by state judges who found no legal basis to prohibit such IDs. Additionally, ballot distribution faced delays as officials were compelled to reprint thousands of ballots to exclude Robert F. Kennedy Jr., following a successful legal challenge from the former independent presidential candidate.
North Carolina's enthusiastic voter turnout mirrors a similar trend observed in Georgia where over a million voters have also cast early ballots, breaking previous records for state turnout. Despite these high participation rates, polls suggest that the race remains closely contested within North Carolina. Current averages from Hill/Decision Desk HQ indicate a narrow gap between Vice President Harris and former President Trump—highlighting just how pivotal North Carolina’s votes could be in determining the outcome of this presidential election.
This bustling electoral activity underscores not only the importance of each vote but also reflects the robust efforts behind ensuring a smooth and accessible voting process for all North Carolinians. With both historical challenges and technological advancements shaping this year's election landscape, it remains clear that every effort is being made to count every vote accurately and fairly—a testament to democracy at work in challenging times.
