Early Vote Day Report: Day 9
Data through Friday, Oct. 23, 2026
Snapshot
Through Friday, the ninth day of early voting, North Carolinians have cast 1,453,517 ballots in person and by mail, 36% more than at the same point in 2022. The Democratic turnout edge widened to 10.9 points on Friday, from 10.3 after Thursday: 25.8% of registered Democrats have voted, against 15.0% of registered Republicans. At this point in 2022 the gap was 1.7. 178,356 voted in person on Friday, 33% more than on 2022's ninth day (133,689), and they were younger than on the days before: 39.9% were 65 or older, against 51.2%, and 20.3% were occasional voters (sporadic or unlikely), against 16.4%. On 2022's Friday the shares were 40.7% and 16.7%.
Seats to watch today
- SD-18, Fatmi (D), R+0.8 in 2024. The turnout edge grew 1.1 points here on Friday, the third-largest gain of the 31 seats to watch. Democrats lead turnout by 14.4 points, against 4.7 at this point in 2022.
- HD-25, Chesser (R), D+2.6 in 2024. Republicans led turnout at this point in 2022, by 0.3 points; Democrats lead by 11.6 now.
- HD-37, Paré (R), R+2.4 in 2024. Ballots are up 48% from this point in 2022, the fifth-fastest growth of the 31 seats to watch. Democrats lead turnout by 12.4 points, against 3.0 then.
- HD-105, Cotham (R), R+1.9 in 2024. The turnout edge has moved 12.9 points toward Democrats since this point in 2022. Democrats lead turnout by 15.1 points, against 2.2 then.
- HD-63, open seat, R+6.1 in 2024. Democrats lead turnout by 7.5 points here, the second-narrowest edge of the 31 seats to watch, against Republicans by 0.1 at this point in 2022.
