Last Updated on November 3, 2026 4:26 pm
More than 26,800 voters in Watauga, Ashe and Avery counties cast ballots before Election Day, according to data from the N.C. State Board of Elections covering ballots accepted through Monday, Nov. 2.
The three counties combined for 25,991 in-person early votes and 868 mail ballots. Statewide, more than 2.8 million ballots had been cast, including about 2.73 million in person. That in-person total is roughly 36 percent higher than the 2.01 million early votes recorded at the same point in the 2022 midterm, according to the state board.
| County | In person | By mail | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watauga | 16,190 | 583 | 16,773 |
| Ashe | 6,731 | 190 | 6,921 |
| Avery | 3,070 | 95 | 3,165 |
Watauga County
Of Watauga County’s 16,773 ballots, registered Democrats cast 5,457, Republicans 3,844 and unaffiliated voters 7,406. Another 66 in-person ballots came from Libertarian and Green Party voters. Party figures reflect how voters are registered, not how they voted.
The Appalachian State University Student Union was the busiest of the county’s six sites with 5,027 in-person ballots, followed by the Watauga County Administration Building (4,054), Deep Gap (2,221), Blowing Rock (2,043), Western Watauga (1,752) and Meat Camp (1,093). About 3,784 in-person voters, roughly 23 percent, were between 18 and 25. State data show 719 Watauga residents registered and voted on the same day during the early voting period.
The busiest day was Friday, Oct. 30, with 1,723 ballots. Early voting opened Oct. 15 with 1,504. Saturday, Oct. 31 was the only day on which registered Republicans (349) outvoted registered Democrats (287) in the county.
Ashe County
Ashe County recorded 6,921 ballots: 1,538 from registered Democrats, 2,845 from Republicans and 2,523 from unaffiliated voters. Voters 66 and older cast 3,455 in-person ballots, about half of the county’s in-person total. The Oct. 30 session drew 591 voters, and the final Saturday, Oct. 31, brought 465. A total of 54 voters registered at the site and voted the same day.
Avery County
Avery County recorded 3,165 ballots: 462 from registered Democrats, 1,576 from Republicans and 1,120 from unaffiliated voters. Voters 66 and older cast 1,761 in-person ballots. The single site at The Dive In in Newland saw its busiest day on Oct. 30 with 301 voters, and 38 voters registered and voted the same day.
Election Day
Polls are open today, Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters who did not vote early go to their assigned precincts, which may differ from early voting sites. Photo ID is requested; voters without one can complete an ID exception form. Same-day registration is not available on Election Day. Mail ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m.
Figures are from NCSBE absentee and early voting data through Nov. 2 and may differ slightly from later updates.
