More than a million voters have already cast their ballots in North Carolina’s 2024 general election, according to preliminary data from the State Board of Elections. As of 4 p.m. on Sunday, the fourth day of early in-person voting, the total stood at 1,008,123 ballots.
Breaking It Down: In-person early voting has been the top choice for North Carolina voters, accounting for 91% of the ballots cast. Here’s the breakdown:
- In-person early voting: 916,433 voters (91.0%)
- Absentee (civilian): 77,831 voters (7.7%)
- Absentee (overseas): 11,168 voters (1.1%)
- Absentee (military): 2,691 voters (0.3%)
Why It Matters: While the turnout is significant, it trails behind the numbers seen during the 2020 election, when over 1.5 million ballots had been cast by the same point. In 2020, early voting was heavily influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading more voters to opt for mail-in absentee ballots. This year, with fewer COVID-related concerns, a greater share of voters are choosing to cast their ballots in person.
What They’re Saying: Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board, praised the efforts of local election officials, stating, “My sincerest thanks goes out to the county boards of elections and the thousands of election workers around the state who are making this happen. It has been an incredibly busy few days. Please thank those in your community who are making sure your vote counts.”
Bottom Line: With over one million ballots cast in just four days, it’s evident that early voting is becoming the preferred choice for many North Carolinians as they grow more comfortable with this option.
