Today is the last day of early voting in NC: Here’s everything you need to know

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[SPECIAL SECTION: VOTE 2020]

Early Voting

Early voting in North Carolina for the 2020 general election runs from Oct. 15. to Oct. 31.

People who are not registered to vote can also register at early voting sites during the early voting period. After registering, people can vote at the same site (remember, voters are also not required to show their ID for elections in 2020).

So far, more than 4 million North Carolina voters have already cast their ballots, which means more than 55% of registered voters in the state have made their voices heard.

Here’s a look at how people are voting:

• More than 3.2 million chose early voting sites to cast their ballot
• Nearly 884,000 voted through absentee ballots

In 2020, every voting site in North Carolina offers curbside voting for voters who, because of a physical disability, illiteracy or blindness, are unable to enter the voting booth or mark a ballot without help, and may receive help from other assistants. If you need help with your ballot, you can ask a near relative or legal guardian to come with you to the polls and fill the ballot in with your choices.

>> Click here for a list of early voting sites in Mecklenburg County.

To protect voters and election workers, masks and hand sanitizer will be available to all voters. Social distancing will also be enforced at voting sites.

During early voting, voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county. This is different than Election Day, where registered voters must vote at their assigned polling place.

>> Unsure if you are registered? Click here to check your status.

Vote by mail

Any registered North Carolina voter can request, receive and vote with a mail-in absentee ballot. No special circumstance or reason is needed to vote by mail in the state.

Once you’ve completed your absentee ballot, there are a few ways to return it:

• By mail to your county board of elections, postmarked on or before Election Day, and received by 5 p.m. Nov. 6
• By commercial courier service (DHL, FedEx or UPS)
• Dropped off in person at your county board of elections office by 5 p.m. on Election Day (Nov. 3)
• Dropped off in person at any early voting site in your county during voting hours (Oct. 15–31)*

>> Want to track your ballot through the mail? Click here.

Remember: *Voted absentee ballots will not be accepted at polling places on Election Day.

Tuesday at 5 p.m. was the last day to request an absentee ballot in North Carolina. If you missed the deadline, you will have to vote in person.

Where do key races stand?

Presidential race

According to a new ABC News/Washington Post poll in North Carolina, Biden has 49% support among likely voters with 48% for Trump.

Nationally, an ABC/Post poll earlier this month found a 12-point Biden lead -- in large part given differing demographics. Most notably, evangelical white Protestants account for 31% of likely voters in North Carolina, compared with 15% nationally. White evangelicals in the state support Trump over Biden by 82-17%.

Rural voters also are part of the difference in this survey, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates; they account for 21% of likely voters nationally but 28% in the state, and back Trump by nearly 2-1, 63-33%. So, too, are very conservative likely voters -- 16% nationally but 24% in North Carolina, nearly all for Trump.

Biden pushes back with a 34-point lead among moderate voters, 64-30%, surpassing Hillary Clinton’s 20-point win in this group in 2016; a 68-30% lead in the state’s political, academic and technology hub, the Raleigh-Durham area; and 60-38% among college graduates -- the widest Democratic advantage in this group in exit polls since 1988.

U.S. North Carolina Senate race

The U.S. Senate race, potentially critical for control of the chamber, is similar, with 49% support for Democrat Cal Cunningham, despite revelations of an extramarital relationship, and 47% for incumbent Republican Thom Tillis, according to an ABC/Post poll.

Scandal aside, the race is highly reflective of the presidential contest in the state. Cunningham leads among Democrats (93%), liberals (92%), racial and ethnic minorities (73%), those concerned about catching the coronavirus (65%), city residents (64%), moderates (61%) and women (55%). Tillis is boosted by support among Republicans (92%), conservatives (85%), evangelical white Protestants (82%), those in rural areas (62%), white people (58%) and men (55%). The race is essentially tied among independents and suburban voters.