State Primaries: Highlights and Analysis
Tuesday’s Election Night in North Carolina
By John Doe
Polls close at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time. In the 2022 state primaries, first results were reported 8 minutes later, and the last update of the night was at 12:52 a.m. Eastern time with 99 percent of votes reported. Tuesday’s results could be reported later because of a new law that requires officials to wait until polls close to tabulate early votes.
Voting Eligibility and Options
Voters affiliated with a party were eligible to cast a ballot in that party’s primary, though unaffiliated voters could choose to vote in any party’s election. The state offered an early in-person voting period, and no excuse was required to vote absentee. Voters could return absentee ballots by mail or in person as long as they were received by the close of polls.
An Alternative Wave: Protest Voting
An option to vote “no preference” appeared on the presidential ballot. In last week’s primary in Michigan, more than 13 percent of Democrats voted “uncommitted” as part of a protest of President Biden’s policies toward Israel and the war in Gaza.
Presidential and State Primaries Converge
North Carolina is one of five states on Tuesday holding presidential primaries as well as its state primary, which will include races for state and congressional offices.
For more election coverage and updates, visit our website and stay tuned for detailed results as they unfold.
