North Carolina
Early voting underway; here’s what you need to know
RALEIGH, N.C. (WITN) – As one-stop voting has begun across North Carolina, state election officials want to make sure voters have all the information they need before doing their civil duty.
The State Board of Elections has shared ten things you should know about early voting. If you need to register to vote, you can do it and then vote through November 2nd, three days ahead of the November 5th Election Day.
- Early voting locations. Eligible voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county. For sites and hours in all 100 counties, use the Early Voting Sites Search tool. Also see Early Voting Sites for the November 5, 2024 General Election (PDF). The busiest days for early voting are often the first day and the last couple of days.
- Candidate info. Sample ballots are available through the Voter Search tool. For information on candidates for the state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, see the State Board’s Judicial Voter Guide: 2024 General Election. The Guide is also being mailed to all NC households. Election officials do not provide information about candidates for other contests, but some media outlets and advocacy groups do. Many candidates also have websites and social media accounts. Being familiar with your ballot choices will help your voting experience go more smoothly.
- Bring Your Photo ID. Voters will be asked to show photo ID when they check in to vote. Most voters will show their driver’s license, but many other forms of photo ID will be accepted. Voters who do not have photo ID can meet the photo ID requirement by either (1) filling out a form explaining why they are unable to show ID, or (2) showing their ID at the county board of elections office by 5 p.m. November 14. More information about the photo ID requirement is available at BringItNC.gov.
- Free Photo IDs. Any registered voter who needs a photo ID can get one for free from their county board of elections office during the early voting period, which ends on November 2. For details, go to Get a Free Voter Photo ID.
- Register to Vote. The regular voter registration deadline was October 11. But any North Carolinian who is eligible to vote may still register and vote during the early voting period. Registrants must provide proof of their residence address, which can be a driver’s license or other government document, paycheck, utility bill, or bank statement. For more information, visit Register in Person During Early Voting.
- Updating Registration. During early voting, registered voters may update their name or address within the same county, if necessary.
- Absentee Ballot Drop-off. Voters who vote by absentee ballot can return it by mail or hand it to an election official at an early voting site in their county. They can also drop it off in person to their county board of elections office. Voters registered in the 25 counties in the Helene disaster area in Western North Carolina may return their absentee ballot to any early voting site in the state during early voting hours. Ballots will be kept secure and delivered to the voter’s county board of elections for processing. For more information on returning absentee-by-mail ballots, see Detailed Instructions to Vote By Mail.
- Voting in Person Instead of Absentee. Voters who requested an absentee ballot but have not yet returned it may choose instead to vote in person during the early voting period or on Election Day, November 5. Voters may discard the absentee ballot and do not need to bring it to a voting site.
- Peace at the Polls. All voters should respect the rights of others to participate in the election. Election officials are trained to quickly address incidents that might interfere with a voter’s ability to cast their ballot. Intimidating any voter is a crime. Voters who feel harassed or intimidated should notify an election official immediately.
- Voters in Need of Assistance. Voters in need of assistance may bring an eligible person to help them enter and exit the polling place or to help them complete their ballot according to the voter’s instructions. Election officials are also available to help voters. Curbside voting is also available for voters unable to enter the voting site. For more information, visit Curbside Voting.
For more information about early voting, visit Vote Early in Person.
Copyright 2024 WITN. All rights reserved.
North Carolina
Key Raleigh real estate figure who helped bring Hurricanes to North Carolina has died
RALEIGH — E. Stephen Stroud, an influential Triangle real estate figure who was a key player in the Carolina Hurricanes’ move from Connecticut to Raleigh, has died.
Stroud was involved in several key developments across Raleigh and Wake County, including the Crossroads development in Cary, Imperial Center office park in Durham, Brier Creek and office parks at Highwoods and around Rex Hospital in Raleigh.
The Centennial Authority announced his death.
“Steve Stroud was a true visionary whose dedication and tireless efforts made the Lenovo Center a reality,” said Philip Isley, current chairman of the Centennial Authority. “Steve’s leadership during the arena’s construction laid the foundation for one of the premier sports venues in the country. We are deeply grateful for his service and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew him.”
Stroud chaired the Centennial Authority, which oversees the arena that is home to the Hurricanes and NC State’s men’s basketball team, in its early years, guiding the planning, financing and construction of the arena. He worked with local and state leaders to help attract the National Hockey League’s Hartford Whalers to Raleigh, helping convince then-owner Peter Karmanos to move to North Carolina.
The Hurricanes have won two Stanley Cup championships since moving to North Carolina in 1997, including in June. Stroud served on the authority until 2002.
His work began in the mid-1980s as NC State sought a new basketball arena, but eventually became the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Raleigh. It is known as Lenovo Center today.
“It has done so much for the city.” Stroud told the News & Observer in 2019 when the arena turned 20. “I personally think the building is why national TV folks refer to us as ‘Raleigh’ instead of ‘Raleigh, North Carolina.’ It has helped us raise the identity of this city. Everyone knows where Raleigh is.”
The road in front of the main entrance to the Lenovo Center is named E. Stephen Stroud Way.
Stroud was raised in Rutherford County before moving to Raleigh in 1961 to attend North Carolina State University. Stroud left NC State during his junior year after getting married and began a real estate career in 1965. He founded Carolantic Reality in 1972 and merged the company, then called NAI Carolantic Realty, with Tri Properties in 2020.
Stroud was named CEO of the year by the Triangle Business Journal in 2016, one of many awards he won in his long career.
North Carolina
UNC shortstop selected in first round of MLB Draft by Red Sox; list of NC players drafted
Four members of the North Carolina baseball team that finished second in the College World Series were selected in the first 100 picks of the Major League Baseball Draft, led by first-round selection Jake Schaffner.
Schaffner, a transfer from North Dakota State who batted .356 in 68 games (all starts) for UNC this season, was picked in the first round by the Boston Red Sox at No. 20 overall. Schaffner had a .467 on-base percentage and a .552 slugging percentage.
Major League Baseball assigns a slot value to each selection, though teams and players can negotiate to sign for more or less than that total. Each team has a bonus pool that it can use for its draft picks. The top pick is valued at more than $11.3 million. The No. 20 pick has a slot value of $4.37 million.
North Carolina reached the College World Series championship series, but lost in the final game of the best-of-three series to Oklahoma.
Outfielder Owen Hull, who transferred to the Tar Heels from George Mason, batted .393 with nine home runs in 69 games (all starts) for UNC, was also selected by the Red Sox at No. 67 overall. Hull slugged .615 and had a .500 on-base percentage during his lone season at UNC. The No. 67 pick has a slot value of $1.32 million.
Pitcher Jason DeCaro starred for three seasons for UNC, going 26-7 with a 3.46 ERA in 53 career starts. DeCaro was 11-3 for UNC this season in 97.1 innings. The Pittsburgh Pirates picked him at No. 80 overall in the third round and the pick has a slot value of $1.04 million.
Pitcher Ryan Lynch went 10-5 with two saves over 46 career appearances for the Tar Heels. The San Diego Padres picked Lynch at No. 97 overall in the third round, which has a slot value of $808,100.
NC State outfielder Ty Head, who had 12 home runs for the Wolfpack as a sophomore in 2026, was selected in the second round (No. 46 overall) by the Baltimore Orioles. Head batted .279 in 110 games (all starts) for NC State. He had 76 career runs batted in. The No. 46 pick has a slot value of $2.18 million.
NC State pitcher Jacob Dudan, who missed the second half of the 2026 season and underwent surgery on his elbow, was picked at No. 83 overall (fourth round) by the Athletics. Dudan went 10-5 with 11 saves over 57 appearances in three seasons for NC State. Dudan started eight games, the first starts of his college career, this season, pitching 50 innings. The No. 83 pick has a slot value of $988,700.
Later picks:
- East Carolina pitcher Ethan Norby selected No. 122 (fourth round) by Cincinnati Reds (slot value: $632,500)
- Wake Forest third baseman Kade Lewis selected No. 123 (fourth round) by Cleveland Guardians (slot value: $626,500)
- UNC-Wilmington third baseman Trevor Lucas selected No. 129 overall (fourth round) by Seattle Mariners (slot value: $591,700)
The North Carolina Forest Service and
area fire departments are responded to a large wildfire on Friday in the Shallotte area, according to
Brunswick County officials.
Smoke
from the fire may impact visibility in the area near Old Georgetown Road and Hale Swamp Road. Officials are asking
drivers to use caution when traveling nearby and to avoid the area if
possible to allow fire personnel and first responders to work safely.
According to the North Carolina Forest Service wildfire viewer, the fire has grown to approximately 300 acres and is 60% contained as of 11:20 p.m. Friday.
-
Los Angeles, Ca30 minutes agoRosemead High School student identified as teen stabbed to death in El Monte
-
Detroit, MI52 minutes agoThree dead in Metro Detroit mall shootings in eight days: What we know
-
San Francisco, CA60 minutes ago
I’m a writer who left LA for an AI startup in San Francisco. It was like stepping into a whole new world.
-
Dallas, TX1 hour agoDallas weather: Widespread thunderstorms bring flash flood risks and brief heat relief
-
Miami, FL1 hour agoWhy I’m Not Worried About Giannis in Miami
-
Boston, MA1 hour agoGallery: Tall ships display their splendor at Sail Boston
-
Seattle, WA1 hour agoSeattle Weather: Cooler Sunday to close out weekend
-
Denver, CO1 hour agoColorado Court of Appeals reverses sanction against Denver DA for pattern of discovery violations
