Footage from our Election Day press briefings are available at www.democracync.org/electionday2024
Morrisville, N.C. — Ahead of final numbers being verified in the post-canvass election period, North Carolina voters arrived at the polls in record numbers during the 2024 General Election, with more than 5.6 million voters casting their ballot during the Early Voting period and Election Day.
Groups from across the election protection space, including Democracy North Carolina and Southern Coalition for Social Justice, worked to assist and protect voters, ensuring all have safe and secure access to the polls.
“Turnout in NC has been historic this election, which speaks to how important this election is at all levels of our government,” said Cheryl Carter, Co-Executive Director of Democracy North Carolina. “We’ve been hearing stories from across the state from our organizers, partners, and election protection experts ensuring that everyone who is eligible and chooses to vote is able to do so. At the end of the day, when all the votes have been counted, we want to say we did all we could to make sure all voices were heard in this election.”
“North Carolinians showed incredible resilience, turning out in record numbers to protect their voices at the ballot box despite new obstacles,” said Jeff Loperfido, Chief Counsel for Voting Rights at Southern Coalition for Social Justice. “Our dedicated volunteers stand ready to support voters across the state through this certification process, ensuring every ballot is counted and every right upheld. No matter the tactics of intimidation or misinformation that may arise, we are fully prepared to defend this election and the will of the people.”
Democracy NC and SCSJ will be reviewing preliminary data throughout the week as provisional ballots and cured ballots start to be processed. Analysis of the 2024 election is unique due to new election laws like voter ID, printing and mailing delays of absentee ballots, the impacts of Hurricane Helene, and the removal of the three-day grace period for voting by mail. Some initial data points of note*:
Based on unofficial results, more than 5.6 million North Carolinians cast their ballots this fall out of 7.8 million registered voters.
- Statewide, more than 4.2 million voters cast their ballot ahead of election day (either by mail or in person during the early voting period), more than half a million more than 2020, for an overall increase of 16 percent.
- No counties in Western NC under State Disaster Law finished with lower turnout during early voting than in 2020. Buncombe County saw initial decreases in the first 7 days of early voting but finished with an increase of more than 10,000 voters (9.5 percent) than in 2020.
- Ahead of Election Day, more than 2.9 million unaffiliated ballots were cast, compared to 2.3 million Republican ballots and 2.4 Democratic ballots.
* These numbers will not be finalized until the statewide post-election canvass, expected on November 26, to ensure all votes have been counted correctly and required audits have been completed. Those interested in being part of the canvassing process can learn more at demnc.co/canvass.
The nonpartisan voter protection hotline (888-OUR-VOTE), operated by Democracy NC and Southern Coalition for Social Justice and in partnership with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, received more than 6,000 calls in the weeks leading up to the election, as early voting turnout eclipsed that of the 2020 election, with 1,400 calls on Election Day alone. The most common issues on the hotline pertained to voter ID challenges, such as voters that were not being offered an ID exception form but were eligible (including Carteret, Cleveland, Cumberland, Durham, Edgecombe, Guilford, Johnston, Mecklenburg, Nash, New Hanover, Rowan, Walke, and Wilkes Counties) or voters that wanted general information about what was considered an acceptable photo ID. In some cases, voters reported not being offered provisional ballots upon requesting them (Onslow County). Issues around registration, either due to voters not registering in time, not changing their registration after moving, or having failed registrations were additional challenges. The hotline also received reports of voter intimidation, including aggressive electioneers roving at sites. Analysis of the Voter Protection Hotline is preliminary and based on a point-in-time analysis of data. Future analyses may differ.
Meanwhile, Democracy North Carolina’s nonpartisan Vote Protector program, which works to ensure every eligible voter in our state can successfully cast their ballot, sent more than 1,000 Vote Protectors to over 50 counties on Election Day.
Now the state begins the all important post-election canvass period, where advocates will continue their efforts to protect our elections. Although many races have been “called” across the state, the election didn’t end last night. Even when local elections officials say “100% of precincts reporting,” they may still be waiting on thousands of vote-by-mail and provisional ballots that are uncounted and can swing close races.
“Democracy NC and our partners have been educating and mobilizing the public for months leading up to this election,” said Adrienne Kelly, Co-Executive Director of Democracy NC. “For the last several weeks we have been protecting ALL voters at the polls – ensuring polling sites are compliant with electioneering and voter access laws, debunking misinformation, de-escalating tensions, and reporting problems to our hotline. We have done the work to educate, mobilize, and protect voters so their voices could be heard. That is the work of Democracy NC and the work continues – yesterday, today, and tomorrow, regardless of who is in power at the state or federal level. We will be here.”
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Democracy North Carolina is a statewide nonpartisan organization that uses research, organizing, and advocacy to strengthen democratic structures, build power among disenfranchised communities, and inspire confidence in a transformed political process that works for all.