Early Vote Day Report: Day 12
Data through Monday, Oct. 26, 2026
Snapshot
After 12 days of early voting, North Carolinians have cast 1,773,890 ballots in person and by mail, 37% more than at the same point in 2022. 183,108 voted in person on Monday, 45% more than on 2022's Monday (125,987). The Democratic turnout edge widened to 12.7 points on Monday, from 12.3 after Sunday: 31.2% of registered Democrats have voted, against 18.5% of registered Republicans. At this point in 2022 the gap was 2.2. If the last five days run like 2022's, Republicans would need to out-vote Democrats by more than 240,000 on Election Day to erase their ballot lead, 35% more than in 2022 (177,807).
Seats to watch today
- HD-43, Wheatley (R), R+9.7 in 2024. Monday's ballots widened the Democratic turnout edge here by 1.2 points, the biggest one-day jump of the 31 seats to watch. Democrats lead turnout by 14.1 points, against 4.3 at this point in 2022.
- HD-25, Chesser (R), D+2.6 in 2024. Republicans led turnout at this point in 2022, by 0.6 points; Democrats lead by 12.6 now.
- HD-82, Echevarria (R), R+7.5 in 2024. 68% more ballots have been cast here than at this point in 2022, all parties together, the biggest increase of the 31 seats to watch. Democrats lead turnout by 14.1 points, against 3.0 then.
- SD-34, open seat, R+6.8 in 2024. Since this point in 2022, the turnout edge has swung 10.7 points toward Democrats. Democrats lead turnout by 10.9 points, against 0.1 then.
- SD-11, Barnes (R), R+0.8 in 2024. Since this point in 2022, Republican ballots here are up 13% and Democratic ballots up 31%. Democrats lead turnout by 12.3 points, against 1.7 then.
