No clear leader in 2024 election, CNN poll shows; early voting ends Saturday | Live Blog

Friday, the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) announced its plans to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in 86 jurisdictions in 27 states for the Nov. 5 general election.

Three of those jurisdictions are in North Carolina. According to information from the DOJ, they will be monitoring elections in Wake County, Alamance County and Mecklenburg County.

The Justice Department says it regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country.

Early voting in North Carolina has reached record levels in 2024.

The in-person early voting turnout broke the record set four years ago, the North Carolina State Board of Elections said Friday. As of 2 p.m. Friday, more than 3,798,000 voters had cast ballots in person during the early voting period that began Oct. 17 and ends at 3 p.m. Saturday.

NC Ballot Tracker | Early voting in North Carolina

In 2020, more than 3,629,000 ballots were cast during early voting.

Total turnout for the 2024 general election now exceeds 4 million voters. The ballots cast through 2 p.m. - 4,009,149 - represent a turnout of more than half (51.2%) of North Carolina's registered voters.

"With early voting sites expected to be very busy today and tomorrow, this is really good news for North Carolina," said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the NC State Board of Elections. "For the eligible North Carolinians who haven't voted yet, you still have time to make your voice heard."

In 2020, 65% of NC voters used the early voting period to cast their ballots.

Republicans have historically turned out in smaller numbers than Democrats in early voting -- generally voting in larger numbers on Election Day -- but this year's turnout has been substantially higher.

Former President Donald Trump returns to North Carolina on Monday with a rally in Raleigh

On the eve of the general election, Trump will hold an event at Dorton Arena.

Doors open at 6 a.m. Monday and Trump is expected to deliver remarks at 10 a.m.

Trump is expected to talk mostly about the economy and the effects of illegal immigration.

Dorton Arena is at 4285 Trinity Road.

Those who want to attend can get ticket information here.

On Saturday, Trump will speak in Greensboro.

The Trump team also announced that Trump will speak in Kinston on Sunday.

The event will be at Kinston Jet Center, 2860 Jetport Road.

Doors open at 10 a.m. Trump is expected to speak at 2 p.m.

Registration information for that rally can be found here.
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The latest job report revealed job growth has slowed down -- as many experts expected.

Just 12,000 jobs were added last month. That's the smallest gain since 2020. This is also significantly lower than the 223,000 jobs added in September.

Economist Mike Walden said the report is a special case due to special circumstances, pointing to the aftermath of two major hurricanes, Helene and Milton, plus strikes at Boeing.

How could the latest job report influence voters in the upcoming election?

This is the final jobs report ahead of Election Day where contests can be decided based on how well the economy is doing. Some North Carolinians have expressed that the economy and inflation are driving factors in this election.

Walden told ABC11 that voters will probably hear ads point to the lack of job growth and "maybe try to play up the negative part of this."

"But to an economist, this number was expected and furthermore, we are still seeing the economy grow," he said. "This is a special situation due to special factors that are outside, really, the control of anyone."

Walden anticipates things will turn around quickly, pointing to a low unemployment rate of 4.1%.

Some North Carolinians have expressed that the economy and inflation are driving factors in this election.