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Anticipation is building as the date of the 2022 mid term election draws nearer.

The General Election is 10 days away and that fact has generated a final push towards the finish line for federal, state, and local candidates on this year’s ballot.

The number of One Stop (early voting) ballots cast through Thursday of this week is slightly more than the last mid term General Election in 2018. By Oct. 27, 842,986 ballots had been cast at One Stop locations throughout the state. In comparison, there were 812,368 early votes cast by this point in the 2018 election.

To date, the majority (39.42%) of the One Stop votes have been cast by those registered as Democrats. Republican voters have cast 31.16 percent of the One Stop ballots through Thursday of this week while Unaffiliated voters represent 29.22 percent of the One Stop balloting.

White voters have cast the highest percentage (74.14%) of One Stop ballots statewide through Oct. 27. Black voters have cast 18.48 percent of those ballots.

To date, there have been more females (51.94%) than males (44.38%) casting One Stop ballots in North Carolina.

One Stop locations throughout the Roanoke-Chowan area have been busy since the early voting period opened on Oct. 20. Through Thursday of this week, 1,583 One Stop votes had been cast in Bertie County followed by 1,452 in Northampton County, 1,334 in Hertford County, and 909 in Gates County.

Those seeking to cast a vote prior to the Nov. 8 General Election can do so in their county of residence. One Stop voting sites, which also permit same-day registration, in the Roanoke-Chowan area are at the following locations:

Bertie County – the Board of Elections office (210 W. Watson Street, Windsor) and Powellsville Town Hall (106 E. Main Street, Powellsville). Both sites will be open each weekday during the early voting period from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. No sites will be open during the weekend except for Saturday, Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Gates County – the Gates County Community Center, located at 130 US 158 West, Gatesville. The site will be open each weekday from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. during the early voting period. Voters can also cast their ballots on two Saturdays, Oct. 29, and Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Hertford County – the Board of Elections office (418 Everett Street, Suite A, Ahoskie). The site will be open each weekday during the early voting period from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. They will not be open during the weekend except for Saturday, Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Northampton County – the Northampton County Cultural and Wellness Center (9536 NC Hwy 305, Jackson), Cool Spring Community Center (101 Cherry Street, Gaston), and Creecy Gymnasium (210 Roberts Road, Rich Square). All sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays during the early voting period. No sites will be open during the weekend except for Saturday, Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Meanwhile, North Carolina registered voters wishing to cast a ballot by mail for the 2022 general election have until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1 to request one.

Through Wednesday of this week, 234,366 North Carolinians had requested a ballot by mail, more than double the number of voters who requested ballots at this point in the last midterm election in 2018, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Statewide, 73,514 voters had returned absentee ballots through Wednesday, up from 31,462 in 2018.

“We believe many people who voted by mail in 2020 due to the pandemic found the process simple and efficient, and are voting by mail again this year,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “Of course, all voters should use the voting method that best suits them – either by mail, or in-person during the early voting period or on Election Day, November 8.”

All registered voters in North Carolina may request, receive, and return a mail-in absentee ballot. There are two ways to request an absentee ballot:

Online at the N.C. Absentee Ballot Portal.

On paper with the English N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form for 2022 (fillable PDF) or the Spanish N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form for 2022 (fillable PDF).

Due to the approaching deadline, requesting a ballot online is the best option.

Note: If you are a blind or visually impaired registered voter in North Carolina, you can request, complete, and return an accessible absentee ballot online through a system that is compatible with screen readers and allows for a digital or typed signature. Find detailed instructions on the State Board of Elections website at Accessible Absentee Voting.

Once you have requested your absentee ballot, you can track its status, from when it is sent to you and then accepted by the county board of elections, by signing up online for status notifications through BallotTrax.

A voter or the voter’s near relative or legal guardian may return their absentee ballot. It may be returned in person to an early voting site during the early voting period or to the voter’s county board of elections office until 5 p.m. on Election Day. Voters may not return an absentee ballot to an Election Day polling place.

Voters may also mail their absentee ballot to their county board of elections office. Please ensure that your ballot receives a postmark if mailing near Election Day. Completed absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the voter’s county board of elections by Monday, Nov. 14.

For more information about the absentee voting process, consult the website of the State Board of Elections, which includes Detailed Instructions to Vote By Mail and FAQ: Voting By Mail.