More than 386,000 early voters in North Carolina
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Early voting totals are up - way up - from 2010.
In the first four days of early voting, about 2.5 times more people voted this year than four years ago.
As Meredith College Political Science Professor David McLennan puts it, "people are getting comfortable with it and using it."
McLennan says he expects early voting will continue to get more popular, but just as important as how many people are voting is who they are. According to the state Board of Elections, in the first four days of early voting 148,001 Democrats voted; compared to 88,900 Republicans; 59,783 Unaffiliated Voters; and 457 Libertarians.
However, McLennan cautions not to make too much of that. "It would indicate enthusiasm on the part of Democrats but the issue is, if they come out early, who's left to vote on Election Day? Is this going to be like 2012, where we had a big push during early voting and we had a big turnout at the polls on Election Day? Or is it the case where Democrats come out early and have not much left?"
McLennan and other observers are also keeping their eyes on the shortened window of early voting this year. In 2013, Republicans in the state legislature cut it from 17 days to 10 days.
