VOTE 2020: More than 100,000 people have already voted in Meck County

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — We are two weeks away from Election Day and, so far, more than 27 million ballots have been cast in the United States -- with that number expected to rise as early voting begins in five more states on Monday.

In North Carolina, more people will cast their vote, joining the 1.5 million so far. That’s more than 20% of registered voters in the state.

In Mecklenburg County, officials reported more than 100,000 early voters. That’s twice as many as the same time frame in 2016.

Election officials said one reason is that there are more options for voters. There are 33 early voting places in Mecklenburg County alone, which is almost twice as many as the last election.

In addition, this election has generated more interest than any in recent memory and more early voting too.

Election Director Michael Dickerson said there are two things that are driving that.

“This year, we have added factors of it’s going to tick up because of a pandemic and because of the charged atmosphere that we’re living in in this huge presidential election,” Dickerson said.

On Monday, a group of alumni and staff at West Charlotte High School planned a March to Polls event to translate school spirit into political spirit.

“I’m going to take a picture here and let everyone know I voted at West Charlotte today, and there’s no excuse,” student Joselynn Freeman said. “You need to come out and vote.”

Teacher Morgan Osburn said she was at the school to vote.

“If you were ever going to vote at all, this is the one election to vote in,” Osburn said.

VOTE 2020: More than 1 million people have voted in the Tar Heel State

Cox Media Group