Voting sites across North Carolina will open their doors to voters on Thursday as early voting kicks off across the state, offering 17 days ahead of Election Day to cast ballots in the 2024 general election. 

Across North Carolina, 419 early voting sites will open starting on Thursday, and voters can go to any site open in their county to cast their ballot. Though hours of operation will vary by location, early voting will offer flexibility to voters with weekend and evening hours.

“What we know is that early voting is the most popular voting method for North Carolinians,” said State Board Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell during a press briefing on Tuesday. “So we believe that we will see that again, as people turn out to vote in 2024 across the state, including in the affected counties.”

In 2016, 62% of North Carolinians voted early, and in 2020, 65% voted early. Officials with the North Carolina State Board of Elections say they could see a higher percentage turn out for early voting this election cycle despite the storm damage in the western part of the state.

“I do not anticipate people using this voting method less. If anything, it quite possibly will be even higher the percentage of people who choose to use the in-person early voting,” said Brinson Bell.

Mecklenburg County, encompassing the Charlotte area, is slated to have 33 sites open, the most across the state. Guildford follows close behind with 28 sites open, and Wake will have 22 open. 

Despite the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, 76 early voting sites will open to voters on Thursday in the 25 western North Carolina counties listed in the federal disaster declaration, only four less than originally planned. Avery County added an additional site following last week’s report

“We are especially grateful to the residents of western North Carolina, who, though they suffered greatly from the storm, will show up to work at early voting sites this week. The people of Western North Carolina will vote,” stated Brinson Bell.

During presidential elections, roughly 25,000 people work at voting sites statewide. Impacted counties report that they are well-staffed at early voting sites and Election Day sites.

SEE ALSO: Over 90% of early voting sites in WNC will be operational Thursday, officials say

The mail system is operating in all of North Carolina, and county boards of elections are receiving mail and able to send mail, extending flexibility for voters with absentee ballots. The Board does not anticipate a significant impact on county operations across the state as they receive ballots from voters in the affected counties.

The North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $5 million to NCSBE in a disaster relief bill passed last week. The Board has directed the money into five categories: personnel, printing, messaging, technology, and sites. 

Early voting will close on Saturday, Nov. 2, before Election Day. Similar to past elections, the board aims to post election results around midnight after polls close.