### Record Early Voting Turnout in North Carolina Despite Hurricane Helene

Raleigh, N.C. – North Carolina has broken its early-voting record set in 2020, according to the State Board of Elections. The board announced on Sunday that over 4.2 million voters utilized early in-person voting sites, with a notable increase in voter turnout in the state’s western counties affected by Hurricane Helene.

Early in-person voting concluded on Saturday, marking it as a preferred method for many elections in this key presidential battleground state. This method allows individuals to register and vote at the same locations. The previous record of 3.63 million early voters was surpassed by Thursday, days before the early voting period ended this year.

Including absentee ballots, a total of 4,465,548 voters, accounting for 57% of the state's 7.8 million registered voters, participated in the general election by Sunday morning. The State Board of Elections indicated that this turnout figure could be slightly higher due to delays in data reporting.

The western counties of North Carolina, which were impacted by Hurricane Helene, showed a higher turnout at 58.9%, surpassing the statewide average by approximately 2%. State board Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell commended the dedication of election workers and voters in these regions, calling them an inspiration.

This surge in early voting comes amid a campaign by both state and national Republicans encouraging early participation. This contrasts with the 2020 election when former President Donald Trump claimed, without evidence, that mail-in voting was susceptible to fraud.

Voters in North Carolina are not only casting ballots for the presidential election but also deciding on key positions including governor, attorney general, various other statewide roles, and representatives for the U.S. House and state General Assembly.