Early voters showing up in droves across North Carolina
OCTOBER 25, 2022 – On the fourth day since Early Voting began in North Carolina for the 2022 mid-term election, Buncombe County Election officials say voter turnout is already approaching 2018 numbers. (Photo credit: WLOS Staff)
By Charles Perez for WLOS, Wednesday, October 26, 2022.
BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Early voting continues with voters throughout the region heading to the polls across western North Carolina.
In Buncombe County, Tuesday, Oct. 25, marked day 4 since the start of early voting began. Officials say the day started with 15,000 early votes cast and 9,000 absentee ballots having been received.
According to Buncombe County Director of Elections, Corrine Duncan, these numbers are approaching the number of voters who turned out for the last mid-term election in 2018 at this point in time.
Other Western North Carolina Counties, including Haywood, Henderson, McDowell and Macon, all reported similar results approaching the previous 2018 mid-term election numbers.
Statewide, the numbers are stronger. The state board of elections, in Raleigh, is reporting a total of approximately 465,000 early votes cast through the 4th day of voting, these are about 30,000 more votes than were cast four years ago during the previous mid-terms.
Early voting sites throughout Buncombe will remain open over the next two weekends, with doors opening at 10 am and closing at 3 pm. With two weeks to go until election day, the intent is to give everyone who wants to vote the opportunity to vote.
If you are not yet registered to vote, you can register and vote at any of the early voting locations. This can only be done during early voting and can not be done on election day. Additionally, during early voting, voters can vote at any early voting site in their county. However, on election day they will be required to vote at their specific precinct.
In Buncombe County, lines have grown longer at some of the locations. However, there are three locations that have had less traffic where you might find much shorter wait times. The three locations are:
- Elections Warehouse, 50 Coxe Avenue, Asheville
- Friendships Community Center, 142 Shiloh Road, Asheville
- The Wesley Grant Southside Center, 285 Livingston St, Asheville
