The North Carolina State Board of Elections has reported that as of Thursday afternoon, there have been 209,644 early voting ballots cast. It is important to note that this number is not final as voting is still ongoing, and not all counties have been included in this count. Therefore, it is challenging to make a direct comparison to previous years. However, based on the numbers available so far, it appears that the state is on track to match or even surpass the early voting turnout seen in 2020.
The state election board is expected to release a more comprehensive update on today's early voting numbers on Friday morning. Looking back at the first full day of early voting for past federal elections in North Carolina, the numbers are as follows:
- October 18, 2012: 166,617
- October 23, 2014: 121,209
- October 20, 2016: 165,947
- October 17, 2018: 136,454
- October 15, 2020: 348,599
- October 20, 2022: 137,387
These figures provide a historical context for early voting trends in the state, showing fluctuations in turnout over the years. The significant increase in early voting numbers in 2020 compared to previous elections is particularly noteworthy. As the 2022 election progresses, it will be interesting to see if the state continues to see high levels of early voter participation.
