North Carolina has set a new record for early voting. The state board of elections says nearly 4.5 MILLION North Carolinians cast their ballots early this year—including 4.2 MILLION who did so at in-person voting sites—That far exceeds the previous state record of 3.6 MILLION who did so in 2020. Many feared that after Hurricane Helen caused widespread damage in the wesern patt of the state voting would be impacted. Instea, state officials ay, turnout in the 25 counties hardest hit by the storm was 58.9 percent, about TWO percent higher than the statewide average.