By Peter Vankevich
With North Carolina’s Nov. 3 general election just days away, combined mail and in-person early voting is running ahead of the pace set at a comparable point in the 2022 midterm election, according to On Point Politics’ tracker, which uses state election data.
Ocracoke had just two days of early voting, Oct. 22 and 23. The island’s early-voting site recorded 231 ballots: 126 from registered Democrats, 73 from unaffiliated voters, 30 from registered Republicans and two from registered Libertarians.
That represents nearly 40% of the 588 early in-person votes cast across Hyde County as of Oct. 28.
The mainland early-voting site at the Hyde County Board of Elections in Swan Quarter recorded 357 ballots: 157 from Democrats, 131 from unaffiliated voters and 69 from Republicans.
Countywide, 11 voters registered and voted on the same day — eight at the mainland site and three on Ocracoke. Same-day registration is not available on Election Day.
As of Oct. 28, North Carolina had recorded 1,961,167 ballots through early in-person and mail voting, according to State Board of Elections figures. Of those, 1,890,391 were cast in person and 70,776 by mail.
Registered Democrats accounted for 40.4% of ballots cast, registered Republicans 24.8%, and voters registered as unaffiliated or with other political parties in small numbers at 34.8%. These figures reflect the party registration of voters who had cast ballots, not the candidates they supported.
Mail ballot requests decline
Fewer North Carolinians have requested absentee ballots by mail than at the comparable point in the 2022 election cycle. State Board of Elections figures cited in reports show requests down by roughly one-third.
Political scientists interviewed by The Daily Tar Heel cited changes in absentee-ballot rules and concerns about postal delivery as possible contributors to the decline.
Despite fewer absentee ballot requests, combined early participation is running ahead of the 2022 pace.
North Carolina recorded 3,790,202 ballots in the 2022 general election, with a turnout rate of 51.14%.
Hyde County surpasses 2022 early-voting total
Hyde County recorded a 60.59% turnout rate in the 2022 general election. The county reported 1,348 Election Day voters, 62 absentee-by-mail voters, 458 one-stop early voters and 11 provisional voters.
The 588 in-person early votes recorded across Hyde County through Oct. 28 already exceed the 458 early voters counted in the entire 2022 election. The comparison is between the current early-voting count and the completed election’s early-voting total; it does not indicate the county’s final 2026 turnout.
Where to vote Nov. 3
Polls will be open Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters should bring an acceptable form of photo identification.
On Ocracoke, voting will take place at the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department, 822 Irvin Garrish Highway.
Mainland voters must vote at their assigned Election Day precinct. Hyde County has seven precincts:
- Burgess Mill: Ponzer Ruritan Building, 39911 E. U.S. Highway 264, Belhaven
- Sladesville: Sladesville Volunteer Fire Department, 123 Sladesville-Credle Road, Scranton
- Fairfield: Mattamuskeet Opportunities, 69 Church St., Fairfield
- Ocracoke: Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department, 822 Irvin Garrish Highway
- Swan Quarter: Swan Quarter Fire Department, 25 Oyster Creek Road, Swan Quarter
- Engelhard: Engelhard Community Building, 34545 U.S. Highway 264, Engelhard
- Lake Landing: St. George’s Parish House, 31655 U.S. Highway 264, Engelhard
Voters can confirm their assigned polling place using the N.C. State Board of Elections voter search.
For voting questions, contact the Hyde County Board of Elections at 252-926-4194 or visit the N.C. State Board of Elections website.
