North Carolina sets record for first day of early votingLocal PoliticsNorth Carolina sets record for first day of early votingMore than 350,000 North Carolina voters cast a ballot Thursday, the first day of the 2024 general election early voting period.Posted 3:00 p.m. Oct 18 — Updated 6:56 p.m. Oct 18NO TITLE PROVIDEDBy Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau ChiefRALEIGH, N.C. — More than 350,000 North Carolina voters cast a ballot Thursday, the first day of the 2024 general election early voting period.A record 353,166 voters turned out statewide, according to data from the State Board of Elections. The board said Friday it had received no reports of significant issues or voting problems.Thursday's early voting numbers topped the previous record for the first day of early voting – 348,559, set in 2020 – by 1.3 percent.The county with the highest population statewide – Wake County - also saw the greatest number of first-day ballots cast: 30,843. Almost 30,000 voters cast ballots in Mecklenburg County.State election director Karen Brinson Bell said the high turnout – even in storm-ravaged counties in western North Carolina – demonstrated that people trust the process."These are critical elections in our state," she said. "We are a battleground state, and there's a lot of attention to us because of the presidential contest, but we will have a new governor, a new lieutenant governor, a new attorney general. We'll have many members newly elected to our legislature."North Carolina has more than 7.7 million registered voters on the rolls. Almost 3 million of them are unaffiliated. Statewide, 2.4 million people are registered as Democrats; 2.3 million are registered as Republicans.Early voting runs through 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2. Voters can cast ballots at any early voting site in the county where they’re registered to vote. Specific early voting days and times vary according to county.Jason Simmons, chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, suggested, "Have a plan to go vote and vote early, so when life gets busy and you get distracted, you have already banked your vote. We want to make sure everybody has that opportunity to do so."Gavin Newsom, governor of California and a high-profile Democrat making the rounds in support of the Harris-Walz ticket agreed with the importance of voting."I just encourage people to exercise their right, this fundamental freedom, and to recognize what's at stake," he said. "For people that just want to sit there on the sidelines and complain about things, this is your opportunity to do something."Clear, sunny weather on Thursday likely aided the turnout, according to election officials.Hurricane Helene last month decimated remote towns throughout western North Carolina, and, while electricity has nearly been fully restored, tens of thousands lack access to clean running water. Still, all but four of the 80 early voting sites initially planned for the 25 western counties hardest hit by the storm were open on Thursday.“Obviously, any time you have something this cataclysmic, it’s going to disrupt people’s lives,” early voter Bill Whalen, 75, of Asheville, said Thursday, but “at least in my neighborhood, there’s a widespread understanding of the importance of this election and how important it is to vote.”See your ballot, make a plan to voteEnter your home address here to see the candidates on your ballot and the times and location for early voting in your county.People who aren't registered to vote, or who need to update their address, name or other information, can also register in person during early voting using a driver’s license or other acceptable proof of ID.Voters in western North Carolina counties affected by Hurricane Helene should check with their county boards of election on the status of local polling places, for early voting as well as on election day.NO TITLE PROVIDEDWhy do we need your address?The WRAL Voter Guide is based on your address because your ballot varies by where you live. Enter your address to see the races and candidates you will vote for come primary day.Based on your address, see and compare the candidates for each office, and read their answers to questions about the issues you care about.The WRAL Voter Guide uses your email address to allow you to double-check your voter registration and set a reminder for your time and place to vote. What you need to know to vote in North Carolina  2024 NC Election FAQ: Voting questions answeredSuggest A CorrectionMore On ThisVoters set record for early voting in North Carolina1:57Presidential campaigns ramp up focus on NC in final weeks of electionRelated Topics2024 electionsearly votingvotingNorth Carolina politicsnccapNCCapitol• Credits Copyright 2025 by WRAL.com and the Associated Press. All rights reserved. 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