Three days into the early voting period, the number of ballots cast is up significantly compared to the 2022 midterm elections.
By the end of the day Friday, 398,581 early votes had been cast across North Carolina. Including mail-in ballots, the total rose to 437,217. Compared to 2022’s totals by the end of day two, the number of votes cast is up almost 48%.
Wake County is leading the state in the number of ballots cast at 50,694, with early votes and mail-in ballots combined. The county also has 18 early voting sites this election cycle. According to the county website, it’s the highest number of early voting sites ever in the county for a general midterm election.
Voters at the Cary Senior Center on Saturday said several issues brought them out to the polls.
“Prices are huge and social rights for marginalized groups, trans rights, all those things,” Voter Katie Knudson said.
Another voter, Kunal Thakkar, mentioned artificial intelligence and the debate over how to regulate it as a reason they were eager to vote.
“How will we look at AI in terms of as a country, as well as how do we influence regulations around that?” Thakkar said. “This is a time to make a difference. So that’s why I want to make sure that my voice is heard.”
A major issue among many voters WRAL spoke with was the economy. A WRAL/WSOC poll found the economy is the single strongest factor motivating likely voters this year.
“People are kind of fed up with the way things have been going for the past couple of years,” Knudson said. “I’m personally fed up with paying out the wazoo for everything just to exist in this country.”
North Carolina State Board of Elections spokesman Jason Tyson said the initial numbers of people coming out to vote were “a bit surprising” even to his office. However, he pointed to several reasons why numbers might be up.
“Like every voting cycle, there’s been a lot of advertising. There’s been a lot of attention, and people, I think, are just anxious to get their vote cast,” Tyson said. “We had a lot of registrations in the last two years come in. And I think because it’s a midterm and there’s some important races on the ballot here in North Carolina, that’s probably contributing.”
“State growth is another thing,” Tyson added. “The tremendous growth we’ve experienced since the 2022 midterm election. People are more informed. There’s a lot more ways to stay in tune.”
Voters at the Cary Senior Center weren’t surprised to hear numbers are up this year, saying they believe many voters like themselves are dissatisfied with the way the government is being run.
“Maybe people have finally gotten their heads together and realized that they do have to vote, because that is the way to make changes,” first-time voter Carmen Streacuzza said.
Tyson said the state is well-equipped to handle the increase in voters, with 370 voting sites across the state, thousands of poll workers and backup tabulators in case of equipment issues.
Early voting in North Carolina is available through Oct. 31. There are 18 sites in Wake County, and many accept same-day registration.
To view wait times at Wake County early voting centers, click here.