Early Voting Surges 50% In Mecklenburg, Lows Persist In Georgia South Carolina

Early voting has concluded in multiple regions across the U.S. ahead of the November 4 election, showing varying levels of voter engagement. In Staunton, Virginia, nearly 4,000 voters participated early, with an additional 955 absentee ballots returned by mail. Georgia experienced modest early turnout with about 8.9% of active voters participating, totaling over 630,000 ballots, while South Carolina's early voting was significantly lower, at less than 1%. Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, saw a notable surge with over 63,000 early votes cast—a 50% increase from the previous year—potentially driven by a transportation tax referendum. Election officials across these regions remind voters that polls will be open on Election Day with varying hours and some areas are offering incentives such as fare-free transit rides to polling places. These early voting patterns highlight diverse voter enthusiasm and key local issues influencing turnout in different states.