Wake County is preparing for the start of early voting for the midterm elections. This Thursday, October 15th. There will be 18 polling stations, 20% more than in the previous election period.
Before a extensive ballotOlivia McCall, director of the Wake County Board of Elections, recommended that voters review their options in advance and come prepared with a plan to cast their ballot.
“The most important thing for this election is for voters to make a plan,” McCall told Enlace Latino NC The official advised consulting the sample ballot and check the voting requirements before going to the polls.
El early voting period It will run until Saturday, October 31. During those dates, registered voters in Wake County can go to any of the available polling places, regardless of where they live within the county.
Where to vote early in Wak e
These are the 18 early voting centers available in the county:
- Abbots Creek Community Center
- Avery Street Recreation Center
- Beech Bluff County Park
- Cary Senior Center
- Herbert C. Young Community Center
- Hilltop Needmore Town Park Clubhouse
- John Chavis Memorial Park Community Center
- John M. Brown Community Center
- Joyner Park Community Center
- Knightdale Recreation Center
- Lake Lynn Community Center
- Laurel Hill Community Center
- NC State University Western Blvd Business Services Center
- Optimist Park Community Center
- WE Hunt Recreation Center
- Wake County Commons Building
- Wake Tech South Campus, Building T
- Wendell Community Center
How to use the map: Click on the markers to see the name and address of each early voting site. You can zoom in or out on the map to explore the locations and select the Google Maps icon for directions.
Note: The map shows the locations of early voting sites in Wake County. Before going, please check the official North Carolina Board of Elections website for voting dates and hours, as they may vary depending on the election.
Things to consider before go to the polls The NC State polling center has changed location. For this election cycle, the center will be located at the Western Boulevard Business Services Center, at 1220 Varsity Drive, instead of the Talley Student Union, where early voting took place in previous years.
How to check real-time wait times
Anticipating high voter turnout, the Electoral Board enabled a digital tool so that voters can consult the timeouts and plan your visit.
The platform also includes a map and a search tool by address. These features allow users to compare wait times at different locations and plan how to get to a center with shorter lines.
“We have 18 locations, so there could be a place with a shorter wait time that you could drive another five miles to get to and not have to wait in line for two hours,” McCall said.
The official highlighted that the tool allows voters to organize themselves according to their schedules and needs.
“It’s an excellent tool for voters to understand how to make a plan, how to streamline the process, and how to organize themselves in a way that fits their lives,” he added.
Two differences between early voting and election day
Early voting offers two important options for voters: the possibility of voting at any of the designated centers in Wake and the Opportunity to register and vote on the same dayprovided they meet the corresponding requirements.
1. More flexibility to choose where to vote
During the early voting period, registered voters in the county can go to any of the 18 available centers, no matter where in Wake County they live.
On the day of the general elections, however, they must appear at the center assigned to their electoral precinct.
“Anyone can vote at any early voting center, which is different from Election Day, when you have to vote at the precinct center assigned to your residential address,” McCall explained.
2. It is possible to register and vote on the same day
Those who have not registered before the deadline may still have the opportunity to register and cast their vote during early voting, provided they meet the established requirements.
This option is not available on election day. Voters can consult the portal. readytovote.com to know the registration requirements the same day and the documents they must present.
“If you missed the registration deadline, you have the opportunity to register and vote at any of our 18 early voting centers,” McCall said.
Related: What is early voting and how does it differ from election day?
They do not anticipate the presence of immigration agents, but they have contingency plans.
Given concerns about a possible presence of immigration agents or other federal officials at polling placesWake County election officials said they have contingency plans in place coordinated with federal, state, and local partners.
“We in Wake County have already worked with federal, state, county, and local partners to ensure we have an adequate plan in place should something like that happen,” McCall said, adding that while “that is hypothetical… it is critical to make sure we have a plan in place.”
McCall noted that the state legislation It establishes restrictions on who can be inside polling places. The law allows authorized voters and observers to be present, but prohibits campaigning, distributing propaganda, or interfering with voters within a restricted area of up to 50 feet.
“The laws are very clear. Therefore, we would treat anyone, even if it is a federal law enforcement officer, if they are not supposed to be at the polling place, within the restricted area, or within the election precinct, exactly the same as anyone else who is not allowed to be at that polling place,” he stated.
The official urged voters to report any possible acts of intimidation during the electoral process.
Related: Early voting in Mecklenburg: Where to vote and key races to watch
Where to report possible acts of electoral intimidation
McCall identified three ways to submit reports or request assistance:
- North Carolina State Board of Elections: Voters may file a formal complaint to have the incident investigated. Reports can be made by calling 919-404-4040 or emailing voter@wake.gov
- Local police: you can contact the authorities to request immediate intervention if the situation requires it.
- Chief judge of the box: they can report directly to the official the person in charge of the polling station to refer the case to the electoral board.
“Any report of voter intimidation can be filed with the State Board of Elections or local law enforcement so they can properly investigate and follow those protocols,” McCall concluded.
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