Cabarrus County voters cast 9,795 ballots, including absentee, in the first three days of early voting for the Nov. 3 general election, WBTV reported, citing the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

The Cabarrus total is part of a statewide increase. Across North Carolina, 501,321 ballots had been cast as of Sunday, Oct. 18, compared with 362,643 at the same point in the 2022 general election, according to WBTV. Of the statewide total, 461,048 came from in-person early voting.

In Cabarrus, the Afton Ridge Active Living Center and Library in Kannapolis drew the most ballots each of the first three days. It logged 1,185 on Thursday, Oct. 15, then 1,289 on Friday, Oct. 16, and 1,028 on Saturday, Oct. 17, according to the Cabarrus County Board of Elections. The Cabarrus EMS HQ Station 9 on Cabarrus Avenue West in Concord was the second-busiest site on opening day with 918 ballots.

Bond questions and amendments

Cabarrus voters face two bond questions and three proposed state constitutional amendments alongside candidate races.

The first bond question asks whether the county should issue up to $340 million in general obligation bonds for Cabarrus County Schools and Kannapolis City Schools. The county estimates the tax impact at $42.50 per year for every $100,000 of assessed property value. A second question covers up to $60 million for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, estimated at $7.50 per year per $100,000 of value. Voters can approve or reject each question independently, according to InformCabarrus.

The three constitutional amendments address voter photo ID requirements, a cap on the state income tax rate at 3.5% and limits on local property tax increases, according to WBTV. Republican state lawmakers placed all three on the ballot. Each requires a simple majority to pass.

How to vote early

Four sites are open across the county:

  • Cabarrus EMS HQ Station 9 — 793 Cabarrus Ave. W., Concord
  • Afton Ridge Active Living Center and Library — 6095 Glen Afton Blvd., Kannapolis
  • Cabarrus Arena and Events Center — 4751 N.C. Highway 49, Concord
  • Rowan-Cabarrus Community College at NC Research Campus — 399 Biotechnology Ln., Kannapolis

Hours run 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, except the final day, Saturday, Oct. 31, when polls close at 3 p.m. The Board of Elections office on Church Street in Concord is not an early voting site.

Voters can cast a ballot at any of the four locations during early voting. Same-day registration is available for unregistered voters who bring proof of their current address. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 5 p.m.

The county offers a wait-time tracker showing current lines and directions for each site, according to the Board of Elections. On Election Day, Nov. 3, voters must go to their assigned precinct.