A new level of voter engagement was seen on Thursday as a record-setting 353,166 voters cast their ballots at voting sites across North Carolina on the first day of early voting.

Almost 5,000 more votes were cast compared to the first day of early voting in the 2020 general election, when 348,599 voters participated on the first day.

By party breakdown, participation among Democrat registered voters is down about 28% on the first day of early voting, while Republican participation is up 22%. Unaffiliated voter participation is up about 9% on the first day of early voting.

Jim Stirling, a research fellow at the John Locke Foundation, said he did not expect voter trends to increase as compared to 2020, an atypical election year in the midst of a pandemic.

“I think this increase is indicative of two major things: one, people are engaged in this year’s election and know who they are voting for; two, the efforts made to get Republicans to vote early has worked,” Stirling said.

Republican efforts to “bank their vote” have worked, which will likely help them with get-out-the-vote efforts targeted at lower-propensity voters, Stirling explained, but an important question remains: Who exactly are these early voters? If they are typically Election Day voters who are just moving up their timetable, it could mean that election night will not be as good for Republicans as it has been in the past.

As of Friday, 428,300 voters had cast ballots in North Carolina, including 75,133 absentee ballots. As early voting continues for another two weeks, voter trends could go one of two ways. Usually, voter participation steadily increases during early voting as Election Day draws near. However, the first day of early voting in 2020 saw the highest level of turnout ahead of Election Day, according to the John Locke Foundation’s Voter Tracker.

Despite a large turnout and reports of lines at early voting sites across the state on Thursday, the State Board said no significant issues or problems were reported.

“Yesterday’s turnout is a clear sign that voters are energized about this election, that they trust the elections process, and that a hurricane will not stop North Carolinians from exercising their right to vote,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “Let’s keep it rolling, North Carolina.”

The early voting turnout on the first day has increased over the years. In 2008, 116,594 voters cast their ballots on the first day, followed by 166,617 in 2012 and 165,947 in 2016. A significant jump occurred in 2020, with 348,599 voters participating on the first day, with the upward trend continuing in 2024.

SEE ALSO: Early voting begins on Thursday – Here’s where NC voters can cast their ballots

The kick-off to 17 days of early voting enables North Carolinians to vote at any early voting site in their county, as the State Board of Elections website outlines.