(The Center Square) – Nearly 6 in 10 registered voters in North Carolina’s 13 counties hardest hit by Hurricane Helene have cast ballots either by absentee mail or early in person.
The 58.2% turnout rate surpasses the 56.7% statewide as North Carolina through Saturday had crossed the threshold of 7.8 million registered voters. The largest voting bloc, those registering unaffiliated, lead in volume and share of votes cast thus far, and in volume and share of votes eligible to be cast on Election Day.
In a release, State Board of Elections Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell said, “I am proud of all of our 100 county boards of elections and the thousands of election workers who are making this happen in their communities. And I am especially proud of the workers and voters of western North Carolina. You are an inspiration to us all.”
The turnout of more than 4.4 million is greater than the 2.9 million of 2016, the last time comparable because of the 2020 pandemic. Four years ago, more than 4.5 million voted prior to Election Day.