Scenes from the polls; on first day, ballots up 61% compared with 2022 Early voting across North Carolina started Thursday, Oct. 15. In Mecklenburg County, the day saw considerable civic momentum — especially from Democratic voters. Michael Dickerson, Mecklenburg County Elections Director, told The Election Hub that across the county, 17,700 people cast their ballots on the first day of early voting. On the first day of the last midterm in 2022, that number was 10,971 — an i