Early voting has ended in New Hanover County, with 103,820 residents casting their ballots over the past 17 days. While this number reflects a 9.6% decrease from the 2020 early voting turnout, it marks a significant milestone: the highest total of early in-person voters. This year, 97,553 individuals voted early in person, surpassing the 87,341 who did so in 2020.
Unaffiliated: For the first time, unaffiliated voters took the lead in participation, casting 38,724 ballots. Republicans followed with 34,355, and Democrats with 29,922.
- This shift highlights the growing political independence in the county, where voters who are not formally aligned with either major party are taking an active role in elections.
Female voters significantly outnumbered their male counterparts, casting nearly 12,000 more ballots. In total, 62,656 women voted early compared to 40,663 men, showcasing a strong turnout among female voters.
More Than Half: Overall, 54.7% of registered voters in New Hanover County participated in early voting. Statewide, early voting numbers surpassed previous records, with over 4 million residents voting in person.
- This figure exceeds the 3.6 million who voted early in 2020 and significantly outpaces the 2.95 million who did so in 2016.
Statewide: Mirroring the trend in New Hanover County, unaffiliated voters also led statewide, with 1.49 million ballots cast. Republicans followed closely at 1.48 million, and Democrats at 1.44 million. Despite their top position in turnout, unaffiliated voters are still underperforming relative to their registration share.
- In New Hanover County, unaffiliated voters represent 45.7% of all registered voters but comprised only 37.3% of early voters. Statewide, they make up 37.8% of registered voters yet accounted for just 33.6% of the early vote.
Looking Ahead: These figures suggest that many unaffiliated voters may still be undecided and could be waiting until Election Day to make their final decisions. Alternatively, the turnout pattern could signal that total voter participation this year may align more closely with the 66% turnout seen in 2016, rather than the nearly 75% seen in 2020.
