By Peter Vankevich
Following a trend throughout the country, Ocracoke had a high early-voting turnout with 173 ballots cast in last week’s two-day early voting.
According to Hyde County Elections Office Director Viola Williams, as of closing on Wednesday, 199 had opted for early voting on the mainland and 40 absentee ballots have been received.
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8, and the Ocracoke polling place in the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department on Irvin Garrish Highway will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Ocracoke residents can travel to Swan Quarter during this early voting period and either vote early or register and immediately vote in the Hyde County Elections Office, 1223 Main St., Swan Quarter, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 8 am to 3 p.m.
Ocracoke has 832 voters with 372 registered Democrats, 132 Republicans, 6 Libertarians and 331 unaffiliated.
All of Hyde County, including Ocracoke, has 3,106 registered voters–1,386 Democrats, 637 Republicans, 17 Libertarian and 1,066 unaffiliated.
Democrats led the way in early voting with 93 on Ocracoke and 91 on the mainland. Unaffiliated voters were second with 54 Ocracoke and 69 mainland. A total of 58 Republicans voted, 21 on Ocracoke and 38 on the mainland.
Unaffiliated voters surpassed the major parties earlier this year as the largest voting group in the state representing more than 35% of registered North Carolina voters.
More than 1.1 million North Carolinians have already voted in the 2022 general election, according to the Raleigh News & Observer.
As of Oct.29, there are 7,404,580 registered voters, reported the N.C. Board of Elections.
For questions regarding Hyde County voting, contact the Board of Elections Office, 252-926-4194. Official voting information is on the North Carolina State Board of Elections website.
To read more: Hyde County candidates in the Nov. 8 election present their views
To see the ballot, click here: A sneak peak at the November election ballot and early voting schedule
