Early voting in North Carolina has passed three huge milestones.
First, in-person early voting turnout has broken the previous record set four years ago. As of 2 p.m. Friday, more than 3,798,000 voters had cast ballots in-person during the early voting period that started Oct.17 and ends at 3 p.m. Saturday. That beats the previous record of more than 3,629,000 ballots cast during early voting in 2020.
Second, total turnout for the 2024 general election now exceeds 4 million voters.
And third, the ballots cast through 2 p.m. — 4,009,149 — represents a turnout of more than half (51.2 percent) of North Carolina’s registered voters.
“With early voting sites expected to be very busy today and tomorrow, this is really good news for North Carolina,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the N.C. State Board of Elections. “For the eligible North Carolinians who haven’t voted yet, you still have time to make your voice heard.”
In North Carolina, early voting has become the most popular voting method in larger, statewide elections. In 2020, 65 percent of N.C. voters used the early voting period to cast their ballots.
Early voting runs through Saturday, Nov. 2. Sites vary by county. To view county-by-county schedules, use the Early Voting Site Search tool. If you’re eligible, you can also register and vote during the early voting period.
Election Day is Nov. 5. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. To find your Election Day polling place, use the Voter Search tool.
Tips for Early Voters on the Last Two Days of In-Person Early Voting
- Go to the Early Voting Site Search to find sites and locations in your county.
- Prepare for lines. Bring water and a snack, or even a chair if you can’t stand for long periods of time. Disabled voters are eligible to vote from their car using “curbside” voting.
- Some counties have wait-time trackers on their websites that can help you decide the best time to go.
- Find your sample ballot through the Voter Search tool.
- Bring your photo ID. Go to BringItNC.gov for a full list of acceptable IDs.
- Bring a positive attitude. Poll workers are there to help if you encounter any difficulties.