Record-breaking number of in-person early voting on the first day

A record number of North Carolina voters cast ballots on the first day of in-person early voting on Thursday, according to a North Carolina news release North Carolina Board of Elections.

More than 350,000 people voted at locations across the state, surpassing the previous record of 348,559 ballots accepted on the first day of early voting in 2020.

“Yesterday’s turnout is a clear sign that voters are energized about this election, that they trust the electoral process and that a hurricane will not stop North Carolinians from exercising their right to vote,” said State Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell Board of Elections said in a press release. “Let’s keep it going, North Carolina.”

Buncombe County elections director Corrine Duncan gathered before voters at the Wesley Grant Southside Center in Asheville, an early voting site, and said voting would go on despite the devastation suffered by Hurricane Helene.

READ MORE HERE: Your Voice: Voter’s Guide for Western North Carolina

“In-person early voting opened as expected in all 100 North Carolina counties,” said Brinson Bell. “This includes 76 early voting locations in the 25 counties in the Helene disaster area. Just four fewer than the originally planned 80 early voting sites.”

Brinson Bell expressed appreciation to election workers at the various county locations and the nonpartisan State Election Commission for their quick response to the storm.

“Within a week of the storm, the state’s nonpartisan Board of Elections voted unanimously to approve a series of emergency measures designed to give county election boards in western North Carolina the flexibility to serve their voters despite the damage and to secure their votes.” We provide additional options for requesting and returning mail-in ballots in the region,” said Brinson Bell.

Duncan then explained the challenge of supporting voting in Buncombe County, the largest county in western North Carolina.

“We cover 660 square miles, have over 214,000 registered voters, we support 80 Election Day polling locations and have robust early voting plans in place.”

After Helene, Duncan explained that the BCBOE kept getting people knocking on the door wanting to know if there would be an election and the answer was yes.

The BOE unanimously approved adjustments to the voting locations.

READ MORE HERE: Buncombe County announces early voting locations

“We are ensuring that voters have every opportunity to cast their ballot in this election and that they do so safely,” Duncan said. “…The right to cast a vote is valued and in other ways reflects the rise of our community together.”

As of Friday morning, more than 6,000 Buncombe voters cast their votes in in-person early voting.

Among them was Leslie Hines, a lifelong Asheville resident who expressed the need for strong leadership and collaboration.

“Leadership is important to me. The economy goes up and down, but that’s not that important to me,” Hines said. “People are important to me. I think everyone should have the right to live in one of the greatest countries in the world.”

Hines added that he doesn’t believe in divided government and believes voters need to “cross the line, find a solution, talk about it and try to make it what’s best for everyone.”

Madison County Voters

Madison County also had a busy day on the first day of early voting, with nearly 1,000 voters casting their ballots.

At the Beech Glen Community Center in Mars Hill, there was never a time when voters were not out voting, said Ruby Payne, judge at the Beech Glen location.

One of those voters was David Pressley, a 52-year-old Mars Hill resident. Pressley, a registered Democrat, said he was concerned about the behavior of politicians and others recently.

“I worry about civility as a manner of behavior,” Pressley said. “In this particular presidential election, I’m worried that one of the candidates isn’t interested… I wanted to make sure I cast my vote as soon as I had the opportunity,” he said.

Registered independent Tim Teves said he has tended to vote Conservative over the past 24 years.

“I was really disappointed with the governance of the last four years at the federal level and just wanted to make sure there was change,” Teves said. “I think the biggest impact that has had, at least on our family, is economic. High inflation. And I won’t lie that some stupid policies pushed by the current administration have been huge disappointments.”