Early Voting Is Shattering Records in Georgia — and Surging Across North Carolina

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — Early voting for the 2026 midterms is running far ahead of the last midterm cycle on both sides of the state line — and mountain voters are part of the rush.

Georgia set a midterm record on opening day, Oct. 13, when 188,667 voters cast ballots in person, a 40 percent jump over the first day of early voting in 2022 and more than double the 2018 figure, according to the Secretary of State's office. By Saturday night, the statewide early total was approaching one million ballots in the first six days. The surge comes with U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff facing Republican challenger Mike Collins and an open governor's race between Republican Rick Jackson and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms.

North Carolina's numbers are up nearly as sharply. Through Saturday — the third day of one-stop voting — the state had accepted more than 500,000 ballots, 38.2 percent ahead of the same point in 2022, according to an analysis of State Board of Elections data. In-person voting is driving it: 461,048 voters showed up at early voting sites, up 51.2 percent from four years ago. Mail ballots are the exception, down about 30 percent, as more voters choose to cast ballots in person. North Carolina's ballot is topped by an open U.S. Senate seat, with Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley vying to succeed retiring Sen. Thom Tillis.

Locally, Cherokee County cast 515 ballots on opening day, up 25.9 percent from 2022, and Clay County cast 301, up 30.9 percent, according to WNC Times calculations from State Board data.

Georgia advance voting runs through Oct. 30, North Carolina early voting through 3 p.m. Oct. 31, and Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.