Morrisville, N.C. (October 18, 2024) — Hundreds of thousands of North Carolina voters converged on county polls on Thursday for the kick off of in-person Early Voting, running from October 17 through November 2. In total, 353,166 votes were cast in person by day’s end, compared to 348,559 cast by the same point in the 2020 General Election.
“The tremendous voter turnout on the first day of early voting speaks to both the enthusiasm and concern of voters about this year’s election,” said Adrienne Kelly, Co-Executive Director of Democracy North Carolina. “As a Presidential election, of course we expect more voters to be engaged. But there are also serious decisions and stark contrasts between candidates and their policies on healthcare, housing, the environment, and other critical issues, up and down the ballot. At Democracy NC, we encourage voters to ‘do their homework’ and to research candidates at their local, state, and national level, and identify those whose values are aligned with their own. Local elections are particularly impactful on one’s daily life. Voters should come prepared with their candidate selections and their voter photo ID in hand. It looks like North Carolinians are doing just that!”
The state’s nonpartisan voter assistance hotline 888-OUR-VOTE, hosted by Democracy North Carolina in partnership with Southern Coalition for Social Justice and the National Lawyer’s Committee, received nearly 300 calls on the first day of Early Voting, compared to 214 calls on the first day of Early Voting during the 2020 Election. Most of the calls concerned massively long lines in counties across the state, ranging from 45 minutes to 3 hours (including curbside voting), reports of aggressive electioneering, and inquiring information on voter registration.
Following the photo voter ID ruling in 2023, voters are increasingly aware of the law and its implications, but not always the specifics. One common voter question related to the address on one’s ID versus registration. It’s important for voters to know that the address on an ID does not matter – the law says ID is only used to prove who you are, not where you live. However, a voter’s registration must match their current address. In addition, voters who cannot provide a photo ID at the polls can vote a provisional ballot and either complete an ID Exception Form (also known as a reasonable impediment form) or bring their acceptable photo ID to their county elections board by November 14, 2024 (the day before county canvass).
Democracy NC’s nonpartisan Vote Protector program deploys hundreds of voter assistance volunteers to polls across the state during the Early Voting period and Election Day to monitor and make note of long lines, problems with curbside voting and accessibility, misinformation, and voter intimidation. On the first day of Early Voting, over 300 Vote Protectors were located in 51 counties across the state.
“The record turnout on the first day early voting only tells a part of the story — the truth is that folks in North Carolina are more motivated than ever based on how engaged they are outside the polls, too. From 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM, our Vote Protectors helped voters in real time with questions about the new voter ID law, same day registration, and what’s on the ballot, while our Hotline experts responded to dozens of administrative issues ranging from long lines to ballot processing delays. By showing up in full force on the first day of early voting, not only did we help facilitate record in-person turnout, but we ensured election officials at the precinct, county, and state level are set up for success for the coming weeks,” said Katelin Kaiser, Policy Director for Democracy North Carolina.
Voters are encouraged to visit www.ncvoter.org for information about counties and voters affected by the hurricane, photo ID, early voting, same-day registration, or to call or text the hotline (888-OUR-VOTE) with any questions or challenges experienced at the polls, no matter how big or small.
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Democracy North Carolina is a statewide nonpartisan organization that uses research, organizing, and advocacy to increase civic participation, reduce the influence of big money in politics, and remove systemic barriers to voting and serving in elected office.