North Carolina
North Carolina's top election official asks people at the polls to treat each other with respect • NC Newsline
State Elections Director Karen Brinson Bell asked for peace at the polls during a news conference on Election Day eve.
Early voting turnout for this general election set a record, with more than 4.2 million people voting in person during the early voting period that ended Saturday, according to the state Board of Elections.
Tuesday is voters’ last chance to cast a ballot in the general election.
Brinson Bell said more than 1 million people are expected to vote on Election Day.
There were a few “verbal altercations” during early voting between campaigners or people approaching voters in the polling place buffer zone, she said. Electioneering is not allowed within 50 feet of a polling place entrance.
Brinson Bell called polling place hostility this season “very minimal.”
Board of Elections lawyer Paul Cox said they are looking into cases of reported harassment or intimidation.
Voters should be able to enter polling places without interference, Cox said. Electioneers should not assume the mantle of an election official by aggressively questioning a voter’s eligibility. It’s a crime to provide false information about the voting process, by telling someone falsely that they aren’t allowed to vote at a particular location, for example, Cox said.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Friday that it planned to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in 27 states, including North Carolina. Texas was on the list, but told the DOJ monitors not to come.
The DOJ said in a press release that it will have monitors in Alamance, Wake, and Mecklenburg counties on Election Day.
About 98% of North Carolina ballots are expected to be counted by early Wednesday. After Election Day, county boards must still count absentee ballots they received on Tuesday. They also must research and count, when appropriate, tens of thousands of provisional ballots, Cox said.
Republicans have filed several lawsuits over the last few months challenging voter registration, the counting of absentee ballots not returned in the proper sealed envelopes, and overseas voter qualifications.
Republicans have appealed the trial court and Appeals Court rejections of their overseas voter lawsuit to the state Supreme Court.
Cox described the other lawsuits as being “in a holding pattern.”
In a separate news conference, Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause North Carolina, said students waited in line for hours on Saturday at some of the early voting sites near college campuses.
“That’s a good example of just how enthusiastic voters are here in North Carolina,” he said.
The election protection hotline has received more calls this year than in previous elections, but there has been no systemic voter intimidation, Phillips said.
“There is definitely higher tension, more emotion, particularly among the electioneering that goes on outside the precincts,” he said.
This is the first general election where the state’s voter ID law is in effect.
Some poll workers needed reminders on how people are able to vote provisional ballots if they don’t have IDs, Phillips said.
“All in all, it’s been a pretty good early voting period,” he said.
“We’re going to have a historic record turnout in North Carolina, and that’s a very good thing.”.
The Board of Elections offered some tips for voting this year.
- It’s too late to put your mail-in ballot in the mail. Instead, hand deliver it to your county board of elections office by the 7:30 pm Tuesday deadline.
- People who requested absentee ballots but have not used them can vote in person on Election Day. You can throw away your absentee ballot and don’t need to bring it to the polling place.
- Go to your assigned polling place on Election Day. Your polling place can be found on the state Board of Elections’ Voter Search page.
- Bring an acceptable photo ID.
- Voters who don’t have an ID can meet the requirement by filling out a form explaining why they can’t show one, or by showing their ID at the county elections office by 5 pm Nov. 14. In both cases, voters will fill out provisional ballots on Election Day.
For the first time in a long time, you can now enjoy a fire, outside, across most of North Carolina The North Carolina Forest Service says 81 counties, including Durham and Wake, have now dropped the open burn ban.
Posted
MOYOCK, N.C. (WAVY) — In North Carolina, Dominion Energy has filed for a rate hike with the North Carolina Utilities Commission that could result in an average $17 increase a month for residential customers.
“I think it’s horrible — it’s high enough,” said North Carolina resident Gina Connor. “Our Dominion Energy bills are high enough. And raising it right now, when the economy is already going through more increases. I just think they need to keep it safe. How about lowering it?”
Dominion Energy said the proposal reflects the rising cost of critical grid equipment such as utility poles, transformers, wires and cables, and that inflation has increased the cost of generating and delivering electricity.
“I think it’s ridiculous,” said Bill Morse, who lives in North Carolina. “They already overcharge for electricity with all the fees and the extras that they put on the bills. It’s like a never-ending grab.”
Dominion said it did not make the proposal lightly, “and we understand household budgets are feeling the impact of inflation.” It said it was trying to keep costs as low as possible while expanding programs to help customers manage their bills.
“Everything is going up, so your energy costs are going up, your food costs, your fuel costs, everything,” one woman said. “You know, it just snowballs. So yeah, it’s tough. And I don’t see any end in sight. I don’t see it getting better.”
The Commission will review the proposal and host public hearings for the community to voice their opinions.
Connor says lower the bills.
“Leave the prices alone,” Connor said. “Do what you can to decrease the prices and not increase the prices.”
Morse hopes prices will come down.
“It’s continuously increasing,” Morse said. “So there’s never going to be a pullback. They’re never going to reduce it. Once they get it you know they’re going to find a way to keep it.”
Dominion Energy points out that their current residential rate is 25% below the national average. The new rate would go into effect Dec. 1.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — A groundhog has tested positive for rabies in Western North Carolina.
Rutherford County Animal Control Services posted on social media on May 1 that the North Carolina State Lab of Public Health sent Animal Control Services the notification on April 29.
According to the post, the groundhog was in the vicinity of Oak Springs Baptist Church to the Rutherford County Airport of the Gilkey Township area.
There was no reported human exposure with the groundhog, the post said.
REOPENING DATE SET FOR HELENE-DAMAGED POPLAR BOAT LAUNCH
Animal Control Services said it was the first positive test for rabies in Rutherford County for 2026. The last positive rabies test confirmed by the N.C. State Lab of Public Health was July 3, 2025 That animal was also a groundhog from the city limits of Rutherfordton near the intersection of Alt U.S. 74 and U.S. 64 area.
The Rutherford County Health Director and Rutherford County Animal Control Services is advising residents to be sure that their animals are under their direct control. Animals that are allowed to wander or run loose are at a greater risk of coming into contact with rabid animals, the post said.
Residents’ pets with rabies vaccinations not up to date and that are exposed to a rabid animal will have to be euthanized or placed in a strict supervised quarantine at the owner’s expense for up to four months, Animal Control Services said in the post.
If residents’ pets have up-to-date vaccinations, the pets will need a booster vaccine if exposed to rabies.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY RESIDENTS DEMAND CHANGE AMID RISING ANIMAL CRUELTY CLAIMS
During the next six months anyone living in the Gilkey Township area should watch for animals with unusual behavior and be sure all pets have current rabies vaccinations. North Carolina State law requires that all cats and dogs have rabies vaccines at four months of age, a booster 12 months after the initial rabies vaccine and then a booster vaccine every three years.
All local veterinarians offer rabies vaccines. Rutherford County Animal Control Services also offers rabies vaccines., including low cost rabies vaccine clinics, which are available on the first Tuesday every month from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (no appointment needed) for $5 per vaccine.
Anyone seeing an animal displaying abnormal behaviors should call Animal Control Services at 828-980-0016.
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