Almost 33% of Burke registered voters have cast an early ballot

Burke County voters headed into Tuesday's general election having already cast 20,277 ballots, one for every three registered voters, as in-person early voting surpassed the 2022 midterm total by nearly 14%.

According to the county's final early-voting tally Saturday, Oct. 31, 19,890 ballots were cast in person, with another 387 absentee ballots reported.

Together, those ballots represent 33.3% of Burke County's 60,832 registered voters, with Election Day voting still to come.

The in-person total exceeded the 2022 midterm election's 17,467 early in-person ballots by 2,423, an increase of 13.9%.

The numbers also reveal a shift in the political registration of those voting early.

Registered Republicans accounted for approximately 40% of Burke County's in-person early ballots, compared with 44% in 2022.

Unaffiliated voters increased their share from 31% to 35%, while registered Democrats accounted for approximately 25% in both elections.

The growing share of unaffiliated voters is particularly noteworthy, although voter registration does not indicate which candidates received their support.

Demographic participation also deserves attention.

In the completed 2022 election, statewide turnout among voters 66 and older reached 71%, compared with 24% among voters ages 18 to 25. White voters participated at a rate of 58%, compared with 42% of Black voters and 26% of Hispanic voters.

Those historical turnout rates provide context but cannot yet be directly compared with 2026 early-voter demographic shares. A fuller picture will emerge after Election Day.

Readers can explore candidate profiles, responses to The Paper's questionnaires, election coverage and information about ballot questions in the Election 2026 section at www.ThePaper.media. Candidate profiles include position statements supplied by the candidates.

Knowing who wins matters. Understanding who participates, why voting patterns change and what elected officials do afterward matters just as much.

The Paper will continue examining the numbers and their implications for Burke and Caldwell counties.

Read more about early voting sites and candidates at thepaper.media and click on Election 2026 in the main menu. 

Below are the votes by day, according to party affiliation and early voting site.

12TH DAY RESULTS

Party Affiliation

• Democrat: 296
• Republican: 661
• Unaffiliated: 502
• Other: 7

By Early Voting Site

• Board of Elections Lobby: 340
• Burke Senior Center: 441
• Glen Alpine Town Hall: 151
• Hildebran Senior Center/Library: 270
• Rutherford College Town Hall: 264

So far, 387 absentee ballots have been received as of Tuesday, Oct. 27. The next absentee count is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 2.

11TH DAY RESULTS

Party Affiliation

• Democrat: 250
• Republican: 613
• Unaffiliated: 478
• Other: 4

By Early Voting Site

• Board of Elections Lobby: 304
• Burke Senior Center: 492
• Glen Alpine Town Hall: 132
• Hildebran Senior Center/Library: 208
• Rutherford College Town Hall: 209

Below are the votes by day, according to party affiliation and early voting site.

10TH DAY RESULTS

Party Affiliation

• Democrat: 292
• Republican: 656
• Unaffiliated: 532
• Other: 4

By Early Voting Site

• Board of Elections Lobby: 361
• Burke County Senior Center: 458
• Glen Alpine Town Hall: 155
• Hildebran Senior Center/Library: 237
• Rutherford College Town Hall: 273

NINTH DAY RESULTS

Party Affiliation

• Democrat: 328
• Republican: 665
• Unaffiliated: 464
• Other: 4

By Early Voting Site

• Board of Elections Lobby: 344
• Burke County Senior Center: 453
• Glen Alpine Town Hall: 186
• Hildebran Senior Center/Library: 218
• Rutherford College Town Hall: 260

EIGHTH DAY RESULTS

Party Affiliation

• Democrat: 141
• Republican: 267
• Unaffiliated: 250
• Other: 1

By Early Voting Site

• Board of Elections Lobby: 171
• Burke County Senior Center: 189
• Glen Alpine Town Hall: 76
• Hildebran Senior Center/Library: 93
• Rutherford College Town Hall: 130

SEVENTH DAY RESULTS

Party Affiliation

• Democrat: 318
• Republican: 599
• Unaffiliated: 455
• Other: 7

By Early Voting Site

• Board of Elections Lobby: 343
• Burke County Senior Center: 407
• Glen Alpine Town Hall: 166
• Hildebran Senior Center/Library: 241
• Rutherford College Town Hall: 222

SIXTH DAY RESULTS

Party Affiliation

• Democrat: 329
• Republican: 508
• Unaffiliated: 436
• Other: 2

By Early Voting Site

• Board of Elections Lobby: 314
• Burke County Senior Center: 392
• Glen Alpine Town Hall: 146
• Hildebran Senior Center/Library: 201
• Rutherford College Town Hall: 222

A total of 272 ballots have been received as of Oct. 20. The next absentee tally is scheduled for Oct. 27.

As of Thursday, Oct. 22, 15.33% of registered voters in Burke County have cast a ballot. 

FIFTH DAY RESULTS

Party Affiliation

• Democrat: 355
• Republican: 536
• Unaffiliated: 444
• Other: 3

By Early Voting Site

• Board of Elections Lobby: 401
• Burke County Senior Center: 482
• Glen Alpine Town Hall: 157
• Hildebran Senior Center/Library: 204
• Rutherford College Town Hall: 233

FOURTH DAY RESULTS

Party Affiliation

• Democrat: 430
• Republican: 584
• Unaffiliated: 528
• Other: 4

By Early Voting Site

• Board of Elections Lobby: 401
• Burke County Senior Center: 482
• Glen Alpine Town Hall: 173
• Hildebran Senior Center/Library: 237
• Rutherford College Town Hall: 253

THIRD DAY RESULTS

Party Affiliation

• Democrat: 542
• Republican: 568
• Unaffiliated: 666
• Other: 2

By Early Voting Site

• Board of Elections Lobby:428
• Burke County Senior Center: 614
• Glen Alpine Town Hall: 207
• Hildebran Senior Center/Library: 249
• Rutherford College Town Hall: 280

The second day of early voting flipped the narrative with more registered Republicans than Democrats casting a ballot. Unaffiliated voters, however, still remained the largest contingent.

So far, 3,319 ballots have been cast, which represents 5.46% of registered voters in Burke County. 

SECOND DAY RESULTS

Party Affiliation

• Democrat: 489
• Republican: 515
• Unaffiliated: 557
• Other: 6

By Early Voting Site

• Board of Elections Lobby: 335
• Burke Senior Center: 555
• Glen Alpine Town Hall: 197
• Hildebran Senior Center/Library: 238
• Rutherford College Town Hall: 242

FIRST DAY RESULTS

The 1,752 who voted in Burke County during the first day of early voting showed the typical pattern seen in previous elections. More registered Democrats than Republicans made their choices, and most did so at either the Burke Senior Center or the Burke County Board of Elections lobby.

But Democrats didn't cast the most votes overall. That distinction went to unaffiliated voters. All voters as of Oct. 15 equate to 2.88% of registered voters. 

Kenny Rhyne, director of Burke County Board of Elections, said the first day went smoothly, with the exception of a printer issue that was quickly resolved. 

EARLY VOTING BREAKDOWN: DAY 1

Party Affiliation

• Democrats: 549
• Republicans: 431
• Unaffiliated: 567
• Other: 3

By Early Voting Site

• Burke County Senior Center: 554
• Board of Elections Lobby: 339
• Glen Alpine Town Hall: 203
• Hildebran Library/Senior Center: 232
• Rutherford College Town Hall: 222

EARLY VOTING BASICS

For Burke and Caldwell residents, a trip to the polls can be a stop after work or part of a Saturday’s errands rather than another obligation squeezed into Election Day. Residents can cast their ballots at any early voting location in their county — and eligible residents who missed the regular registration deadline can still register and vote during the same visit.

BURKE COUNTY

Burke County will offer early voting at five locations:

• Burke County Board of Elections: 2128 S. Sterling St., Suite 100, Morganton
• Burke Senior Center: 501 N. Green St., Morganton
• Burke County Library/Senior Center: 101 Old N.C. 10 W., Hildebran
• Glen Alpine Town Hall: 103 Pitts St., Glen Alpine
• Rutherford College Town Hall: 980 Malcolm Blvd., Rutherford College

For information, call the Burke County Board of Elections at 828-764-9010. 

CALDWELL COUNTY

Caldwell County will offer early voting at two locations:

• Caldwell County Resource Center: 120 Hospital Ave. NE, Lenoir
• William B. Shuford Recreation Center: 56 Pinewood Road, Granite Falls

For information, call the Caldwell County Board of Elections at 828-757-1342.

REGISTRATION & PHOTO ID

The regular voter registration deadline passed at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, but eligible residents can still register and vote during the same visit to an early voting site in their county. Same-day registration generally is not available on Election Day.

To register on site, residents must complete a registration application and provide a document showing their name and current residential address. Examples include a current North Carolina driver’s license, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government document. Proof-of-residence documents may be presented on paper or electronically.

Voters also will be asked to show an acceptable photo ID, such as a North Carolina driver’s license or DMV-issued ID, U.S. passport, or county-issued voter photo ID. State-approved student IDs and military or veterans photo IDs also are accepted. The address on the photo ID does not have to match the voter’s registration.

Free voter photo IDs are available from county elections offices during early voting. Voters unable to present acceptable identification can ask an election worker about voting a provisional ballot and completing a Photo ID Exception Form.

ELECTION DAY & OTHER OPTIONS

Election Day polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Unlike early voting, voters must cast their ballots at their designated precinct polling place. Anyone in line at their assigned polling place at 7:30 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

Residents can check their registration, find their Election Day polling place and review a sample ballot through the North Carolina State Board of Elections’ online Voter Search tool at ncsbe.gov.

— AKC