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Record-setting early-voting period ends in North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. — Early in-person voting has ended in North Carolina, where records have been smashed by those who preferred not to vote at their Election Day precincts.

SPECIAL SECTION: Vote 2020

Early voting sites in all 100 counties closed at 3 p.m. Saturday. Jill Biden, the wife of Joe Biden, and Vice President Mike Pence scheduled campaign events in the state on Saturday. Biden planned to be in Greensboro and Charlotte, while Pence was heading to the Rocky Mount-Wilson area and Elizabeth City.

President Donald Trump is also set to make a campaign stop in North Carolina Sunday for a rally at the Hickory Regional Airport. And Pence will travel to Boone Sunday, where he plans to attend a church service.

Over 4.5 million North Carolina residents have voted as of Saturday evening — 3.5 million in person and 925,000 through mail-in ballots. The total surpasses the 3.1 million early votes recorded during the entire 2016 presidential election and equates to 62% of all registered voters.

In Mecklenburg County, more than 457,000 residents have voted as of Friday — 348,000 in person and 108,000 through absentee ballots.

Poll: With coronavirus concerns a factor, it’s all tied up in North Carolina

The highest election turnout in recent state history was 69.5% in 2008. Registered voters can still vote in person on Tuesday or postmark their mail-in ballots by that day.

Voting on Election Day

On Election Day, registered voters must vote at their assigned polling place. Click here to find your polling place.

Polls will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Any voter who is in line at their assigned polling place at 7:30 p.m. will be able to vote. (remember, voters are also not required to show their ID for elections in 2020).

>> Unsure if you are registered? Click here to check your status.

In 2020, every voting site in North Carolina offers curbside voting for voters who, because of a physical disability, illiteracy or blindness, are unable to enter the voting booth or mark a ballot without help, and may receive help from other assistants. If you need help with your ballot, you can ask a near relative or legal guardian to come with you to the polls and fill the ballot in with your choices.

To protect voters and election workers, masks and hand sanitizer will be available to all voters. Social distancing will also be enforced at voting sites.

ALSO READ: Election 2020 timeline: What happens after Election Day?

Vote by mail

Any registered North Carolina voter can request, receive and vote with a mail-in absentee ballot. No special circumstance or reason is needed to vote by mail in the state.

Once you’ve completed your absentee ballot, there are a few ways to return it:

  • By mail to your county board of elections, postmarked on or before Election Day, and received by 5 p.m. Nov. 6
  • By commercial courier service (DHL, FedEx or UPS)
  • Dropped off in person at your county board of elections office by 5 p.m. on Election Day (Nov. 3)
  • Dropped off in person at any early voting site in your county during voting hours (Oct. 15–31)*

>> Want to track your ballot through the mail? Click here.

Remember: *Voted absentee ballots will not be accepted at polling places on Election Day.

Tuesday at 5 p.m. was the last day to request an absentee ballot in North Carolina. If you missed the deadline, you will have to vote in person.

Record number of voters casting ballots early across our area

Cox Media Group

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