RALEIGH, N.C. — More North Carolina residents turned out to cast ballots on the first day of early voting this year than in 2020, even as residents from the mountainous western portion of the state continued to recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene.

The State Board of Elections reported that as of Sunday, the fourth day of in-person early voting for the 2024 general election, more than 1 million voters in North Carolina have cast their ballots, according to preliminary data.

The more than 353,000 ballots cast signaled enthusiasm in the battleground state, but the significance of the high turnout was unclear.

Saturday marked the first weekend of early voting in North Carolina. Overall, the state had strong numbers for turnout earlier this week even as western North Carolina continues to recover from Hurricane Helene.

Early in-person voting has started in the presidential battleground state of North Carolina. That includes in the mountains, where some potential voters still lack power and clean running water after Hurricane Helene’s epic flooding last month.

North Carolinians set a record on the first day of early voting in the state, casting 353,166 ballots on Thursday and becoming the second battleground state this week to top its previous mark.

“Yesterday’s turnout is a clear sign that voters are energized about this election, that they trust the elections process, and that a hurricane will not stop North Carolinians from exercising their right to vote,” Brinson Bell said in a press release Friday.

North Carolina set a record for the first day of early voting, but the impact from Hurricane Helene may still depress turnout across the state, The New […]

Two North Carolina officials are hopeful their state will see massive voter turnout despite the effects of Helene, and both suggested they think Donald Trump will win.

Bell said 65 percent of North Carolina voters cast their ballot during in-person early voting in 2020. Early voting will be available until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day. Voters can request an absentee ballot until Tuesday, Oct. 29. The deadline to return an absentee ballot is 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5.