The Raleigh News & Observer this morning reports statistics from the State Board of Elections showing that the number of early voters this year surpassed 2012’s total by 8%, rising from about 657,000 to 710,000. Republican primary voters increased by about 3000, Democrats increased by 23,000, and unaffiliateds increased by 27,000. No word on which ballots these voters used.
The population of North Carolina is increasing about 1% per year, so it is not enough to account for the increased number of voters. Of course, the lack of a presidential contest on the Democratic side in 2012 is also a factor in the higher turnout this year. What is more remarkable in 2016 is that Trump is apparently not stimulating greater turnout among NC Republicans.