By Peter Vankevich
Ocracoke voters turned out for the first day of early voting Oct. 22, with 150 people casting ballots, including two who registered and voted the same day. On the mainland, 28 people voted, with no same-day registrations, according to the Hyde County Board of Elections.
Ocracoke has just two days of early voting: Oct. 22 and 23, ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Voting from 8 am to 5 pm takes place at the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department, 822 Irvin Garrish Highway, which will also serve as the island’s Election Day polling place.
Statewide, early voting began on Oct. 15, through 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.
In Hyde County, early voting is available at the Hyde County Board of Elections office in the Public Safety Building, 1223 Main St., Swan Quarter.
Hours are Monday through Friday, Oct. 15 to 30, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The North Carolina State board of Elections reported that as of Oct. 21 North Carolina had 7,886,108 registered voters. A total of 1,050,225 early voting ballots and 51,096 absentee ballots had been cast, bringing the statewide total to 1,101,321 votes.
Ocracoke has 815 registered voters: 345 Democrats, 322 unaffiliated voters, 141 Republicans and seven Libertarians.
Hyde County, which includes Ocracoke, has 3,043 registered voters: 1,162 unaffiliated voters, 1,131 Democrats, 737 Republicans and 13 Libertarians.
North Carolina allows eligible voters to register and vote at the same time during early voting. Voters must provide proof of their current residence. Same-day registration is not available on Election Day Nov. 3.