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Under state law, only unaffiliated voters may choose between the Democratic and Republican ballot on primary day; others must vote in the primary of the party with which they were registered as of April 11, Poucher said.

Republicans who insisted on Democratic ballots were being allowed to vote provisionally, though by law only their votes in nonpartisan races can count.

Few problems were reported at polling places statewide, according to Bartlett.

A polling place in Pamlico County opened an hour late because the local chief judge of elections failed to show up with the voter registration lists and other necessary information, said Bartlett.

Voters who showed up during that hour were directed to the county board of elections office about eight miles away. In addition, the polling place will stay open an hour late this evening to accommodate voters, he said.

A polling place in Cherokee County was closed for 30 minutes this afternoon in response to a bomb threat, Bartlett said. It, too, will stay open an extra hour — until 8:30 p.m.

Winston Thompson Hooker Sr. of Cary, who voted this morning at White Oak Missionary Baptist Church in Apex, described himself as a longtime conservative Republican who recently switched his registration to unaffiliated. That allowed him to participate in the Democratic primary.

"I will support Hillary for the Democratic nomination and president if she gets the nomination," Hooker said. "If she fails to get the nomination, I will write in 'Newt Gingrich' in November, but I will vote."

Claire Curran, a nurse and graduate student in Chapel Hill who voted at the Estes Hill precinct, said her main reason for voting was the chance to support Barack Obama in his bid for the presidency.

"I voted for Obama, for many many reasons," said Curran. "The most compelling reason for me is I do believe he is the agent for change where Hillary Clinton cannot be, for many many reasons, her electability and her past experience."

Carolyn Weaver, a nurse at Durham’s VA Hospital, cast her vote at Glenn School about 6 p.m. A Democrat, she had voted for Barack Obama for president and Beverly Perdue for governor.

“He’s about change,” said Weaver, who is black. “To me, it’s not a black and white issue, but it’s about someone wanting to make a change for everybody. ... I think we, all Americans, are looking for a change for the better for all people.”

Republican Charles Saunders said he supports Texas Congressman Ron Paul for president. Paul, with a libertarian philosophy of minimal government, has not garnered a great deal of support through the primary process.

“This [election] concerns me,” Saunders said. “I don’t think we have politicians today that really connect with the American public.”

Saunders had no preference for governor. “I’ve seen too many negative things on TV to be comfortable about any of them,” he said.

Just a few weeks ago, North Carolina was seen as an easy Obama victory. But the race has narrowed to the point that Obama and Clinton were throwing everything into the fight -- including sending their spouses, former President Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama, into towns they could not visit themselves.

The Obamas, meanwhile, planned an election night party at Reynolds Coliseum at N.C. State University. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets for the event are no longer available.

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