The Time to Vote Early is Now! Early Voting Ends Nov. 2nd

Early voting in North Carolina started with a bang last week, as a record 353,000 voters cast their ballots on the first day, October 17. 

Unlike previous election cycles, early voting is being used by both Republican and Democratic voters, and to a lesser degree by unaffiliated. Of the 353,000 first-day voters, 128,205 were registered Democrats, 122,606 Republicans, and 100,927 unaffiliated. North Carolina has more unaffiliated voters (2.9 million) than Democrats (2.4 million) or Republicans (2.3 million). 

Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz barnstormed the state on the first day of early voting, firing up crowded rallies in Durham and Winston-Salem. In Winston-Salem, Walz preached the importance of voting early, and appealed to rally-goers to take a carload of friends with them to the polls ASAP.

Plan to Vote Early

Early voting continues in North Carolina through Saturday, November 2, at 3 p.m. See the exact daily hours and find early voting sites in your county through the NC State Board of Elections website. Statewide, voters may cast their ballot at any in-person early voting site in their home county through November 2. People eligible to vote can register and vote in one stop at any early voting site in their home county during this time. Plus, measures have been approved to assist voters in the most-impacted counties by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. 

Remember that a valid photo ID is required to vote this year for the first time in a general presidential election. See valid photo ID’s and how to obtain a photo ID from the county Boards of Election here.

Voter Suppression

Although the voting finale of traditional Election Day is now little more than two weeks away (November 5), the North Carolina Republican Party has pursued litigation to have a quarter-million voters purged from the voting rolls.

This latest threat to voting rights in our state is one more reason to protect your right to vote by exercising it without delay. Vote early now and take your friends with you!

Vote for the Environment

To prepare to vote, remember the new statewide green voter guide is available now. Use it to find the candidates endorsed by NC’s leading environmental groups. And finally, remember that Vice President Kamala Harris has the strong endorsement of the national League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and other major American environmental and climate action groups this year.