By Becky Long
Publisher
If the Oct. 17 opening day of early voting is any indication — there are a lot of folks interested in this year’s election in Clay County and across the state.
The county Elections Board recorded 739 votes on the first day and Director Rebecca Hall reports that was a record for their office.
Opening day was smooth, but very busy with lines to the end of the building for most of the day,” Hall said.
Hall said voters continued to flock to the elections board on Friday with 694 voters and lengthy lines, but she said so far this week it had slowed bit with 661 reported on Tuesday and 570 on Wednesday voting.
That trend continued across North Carolina. Statewide in-person early voting on Oct. 17 and 18 was recorded at 916,433 or a little over 13 percent of the state’s registered voters.
“Election workers will get you through the lines as quickly as possible, but Hall says their busiest times are from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
“We would love to thank the voters for being patient and kind as they waited in line and being so appreciative of our workers,” Hall noted.
Early voting continues at the BOE office at 75 Riverside Circle in Suite 3, and is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the lone Saturday and final day of early voting, Nov 2.
As of 9:34 a.m. Wednesday, the number of ballots cast by voter registration is 370 Democratic Party; seven Libertarian; 1,508 Republican; and 818 unaffiliated.
People may also same-day register during early voting, but not in the Nov. 5 general election when they vote at precincts. Hall said there have been about 20 same-day registrations so far.
Clay County has a total of 10,289 registered voters. Here’s how overall registration breaks down:
• 1,383 Democratic Party
• 1 Green Party
•1 Justice for All
• 56 Libertarian
• 4 No Labels Party
• 5,072 Republican
•3,771 Unaffiliated
• 1 We The People