CHARLOTTE — Democracy is alive and well in North Carolina. More North Carolinians are voting so far in the 2026 midterm elections than they did in the 2022 midterm elections. More than 75,000 votes have been cast so far in Mecklenburg County.
“I’ve been voting ever since I was 18 years old, and I’m 81,” long-time voter Viola Ellis said.
“It just feels so, like, exciting,” first-time voter Noemi Granillo-Candia said.
Around lunchtime, the former University City library had a line out the door with people planning to cast their ballot.
“I researched everybody I’m voting for beforehand and I researched the amendments as well,” voter Miessa Cunningham said.
More than 733,000 people have voted in North Carolina so far. That’s up 38% from the 2022 midterm elections. Compared to in-person voting in 2022, Democratic voters are up 69%, unaffiliated voters are up 75% and Republican voters are down 3%.
Republican voters typically vote more on Election Day.
In-person early voting continues through Halloween. So while it is tough to take away too much from the data right now, it is safe to say voters are motivated and turning out in larger numbers.
Despite that, a poll worker we spoke to says there haven’t been many issues.
“Generally everyone’s really nice and they’re all really excited to vote,” poll worker Megan Knudsen said.
While the line may be long, Ellis hopes it gets longer.
“Oh, I love it,” she said. “I just want more and more to come. The more, better.”
Only two counties in the Channel 9 viewing area are showing a decrease in early voting compared to 2022: Alexander and Rowan.
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