State moves to extend early voting Saturday

About a third of North Carolina's registered voters had cast ballots through Thursday, and with more crowds expected, many counties are adding hours for early voting Saturday.

As of 10 p.m. Thursday, more than 2 million people had voted, including 1.9 million who cast ballots at early voting sites and absentee voters. About 39 percent of registered Democrats and about 31 percent of registered Republicans had voted statewide.

Early voting had been scheduled to end at 1 p.m. Saturday in most counties. But the state Board of Elections on Thursday asked counties to extend early voting until 5 p.m. Saturday.

The Wake, Johnston and Chatham County elections boards have approved the request, but the Orange County Board of Elections voted unanimously today not to extend the voting hours beyond 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Other local boards are expected to act today.

The Orange County Board of Elections met this morning in an emergency meeting as directed by the State Board of Elections to discuss the possible extension of early voting hours on Saturday. The board members agreed unanimously not to make changes in the pre-established voting times.

There are 5 sites available for early voting in Orange County on Saturday, November 1st, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Heavy turnout has led to long lines in some areas, particularly in Mecklenburg and Guilford counties. Officials in those counties sought the extra voting hours.

Triangle counties also are seeing a large turnout, but they haven't been plagued by long lines.

"We're doing well on getting the numbers through," said Cherie Poucher, director of the Wake County Board of Elections. By the end of the day Thursday, 202,522 people had voted in Wake — and Poucher expected today through Saturday to be the busiest days yet for early voting.

The total number of registered voters in Wake County is 584,978, meaning that 35 percent of those voters already have voted.

Poucher said she expects voting to continue toward "unprecedented" turnout in Wake County. Her advice to voters facing lines: "Bring patience."

"But everyone will have ample opportunity to exercise their right to vote," she added.

Wake Board of Elections staffmembers are wracking up overtime to accommodate the waves of voters, ensuring that those standing in line at closing time for the polls today, tomorrow and on election day will still be allowed to cast a ballot, Poucher said.

In Orange County, the average wait has been 15 minutes or less, said director Tracy Reams of the Board of Elections. By the end of Wednesday, 38,904 people -- more than 40 percent of registered voters -- already had voted in Orange. That's also the percentage in Durham County, where 70,896 people had cast ballots through Wednesday.

Michael Ashe, director of the Durham County Board of Elections, said even adding four hours would not be enough to satisfy everyone who wants to vote early.

"No matter what time you end it ... some will always wish it was later," he said.