Early voting in North Carolina draws significant numbers of enthusiastic voters on day 1

The state’s board of elections says that more than 200,000 people voted in person on the first day of early voting in North Carolina.

There were just under 350,000 people who voted early in the 2020 election on the first day. Officials in charge of the state election think that the final count for the first day of 2024 will be at least 350,000.

Terrell Halcomb tried something new on Thursday.

“I came out because I have never lived in a state with early voting before this one.” He said, “Because every state should have early voting.”

It was the second time that Arely Chaviano had voted.

“The most important thing is that every vote counts. “That’s why we’re here,” Chaviano, who is from Cuba, said.

Both women went to the Durham County Main Library and waited in line to vote. This is one of 419 early voting sites across the state that are now open.

Lines were between 45 minutes and an hour for most of the morning and early afternoon. At the end of the day, they got shorter. The rate of voters in Durham County in 2020 was 74%, which was just below the overall rate of 75%.

On the first day of early voting, there were long lines.
“It’s great. I was shocked by how many people showed up this year; I didn’t see as many the other years. “But I’m really hopeful,” said voter Linda Evans.

While the State Board of Elections says that 53% of people who voted in the 2022 midterms did so, 65% of people who voted in 2020 did so first.

North Carolina has 16 electoral votes, which means it could decide the winner of the presidential race. Both parties have put a lot of effort into the state.

“The Harris-Walz administration will make sure that the American dream of buying a first home is within reach. They will also give more money to all of you through the middle class tax cut and to parents through the expanded child tax credit.”

They are going to make sure that we come together as Americans, turn down the heat, and stop yelling at each other. They’re going to tell us that we are all Americans first, then party members second, third, or fourth. “They are going to keep fighting for reproductive freedom so that women can make their own health care choices,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear told ABC11 on Thursday.

Former President Donald Trump won North Carolina in both 2016 and 2020. His most recent win was closer than the others, though, making it his best win of the cycle. Courtney Geels, who used to run for Congress and is now the 4th District Chair for the North Carolina Republican Party, said she was sure Trump would win the Tar Heel State again.

“We need to “drill, baby drill,” as Trump says. We want to take care of the earth, but we also want to be the world’s energy leader. So I think about being independent in terms of energy, the economy, and the border. “Those are the top three things that President Trump has talked about,” Geels said to show how Trump is different from Harris.

Thursday, voters talked about the main reasons they voted the way they did.

“Progress. “Making sure that our country is safe and democratic, that women are safe, and that the person in charge is honest, moral, and of good character,” Halcomb said.

“Taking care of seniors and housing,” Mary Parker said.

“I want a good president in the White House that will help out people,” Bell said.

My family came from another country, so that was important to me, along with women’s rights, health care, schooling, and being a woman. “I work in health care,” Anabel Caceres said.

“Rights for women. Rights for veterans. Ray Brown said, “Social Security.”

Based on a study from earlier this month, 90% of voters said that the economy was “extremely important” or “very important,” which was the most popular answer. To round out the top five, there was immigration, terrorism and national security, democracy in the US, and the types of Supreme Court judges candidates would choose.

Until the election, both parties will try to get their supporters to vote and win over people who haven’t chosen yet. Young people are one group that could be very important in this case.

The Tufts Tisch College of Civil Life looked at data from the 2020 election and found that 50% of people aged 18 to 29 voted. This is a big increase from 2016. 55% of people aged 18 to 29 in North Carolina did that, which was the second-highest rate in the southeast.

“They hold the future in their hands.” I’m back now. They’re up there. She said, “So they need to step up to the plate.”

It might have an even bigger effect in Durham. The American Community Survey from last year found that the median age of people living in Durham is 35, while the median age across the whole state is 39.4 years.

“They’re our future and if they don’t take an interest in what’s going on in the world, then we’re going to be in a boatload of trouble,” said Gale.

“I think they should be able to be heard. “Their views may be different from those of older people, but they still need to be heard,” Kurt Campbell said.