After three days of one-stop, early voting, which started on Thursday, the number of accepted ballots cast in Democratic primaries is 44,189, over 13,000 more than the 30,539 Republican primary ballots.
In North Carolina, unaffiliated voters are allowed to vote in party primaries.
Top contenders in the crowded Democratic presidential primary have been visiting North Carolina and opening field offices ahead of the March 3 Super Tuesday primary. President Donald Trump has visited the Tar Heel State, too, and the Republican National Convention will be held in Charlotte, in August.
"It feels urgent," said James McCracken, on Friday, referring to the current election season. McCracken had just cast his early vote at a polling site in Durham. "I think there's a lot on the line," he added. "The politics are polarized and I think we all need to be considerate about who we're voting for to be in either party."
Just after casting her ballot at the same polling site, retired teacher Alma Brown also said she always votes early.
"I don't have to rush. You know, I can get my thoughts together and all of that without being hurried along," she explained.
Early voting — and same-day registration — run through February 29.
