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Burke County Elections Director Kenny Rhyne said people were waiting in the parking lot when he arrived at the Burke County Board of Elections office at 6:45 a.m. He said since the doors were opened at 8 a.m., the lines to vote had not shortened.

By the end of the day, around 3,278 had cast a ballot in Burke County. In the 2020 election, 2,822 people voted on the first day, Rhyne said.

Many of those waiting in lines Thursday were older or retired, but there also were younger people joining in to vote on the first day.

Elizabeth Crawford, 24, was excited to vote in her first election, so she wanted to vote on the first day. She and her friend, Maria Juan, decided to cast their ballots at the board of elections.

“I lived in different states during other elections, and just have been late to the absentee ballot. So this is my first one,� Crawford said. “I’m excited.�

Juan, 24, said it’s her second election and she’s excited to be part of some change. The line of people waiting to vote didn’t surprise her and it didn’t put her off. She said the first day of early voting just happened to fit with her and Crawford’s schedules.

Amanda Harris decided to vote on the first day because she had the day off from work. She wasn’t surprised by the long line at the board of elections.

“I think that with the situation in western North Carolina, people were ready to vote, one way the other, for whoever,� Harris said.

She said all of her family live in the mountains, including a sister in Burnsville, a brother in Banner Elk, and her mother and aunt in Newland.

Harris said she didn’t mind waiting in line to vote.

“I figure we’re gonna have long lines the whole time,� she said.

Republican voter Debbie Hefner said she wanted to vote on the first day to make sure her vote is counted.

“In case something happens to me, I know I voted,� Hefner said. “We want to make sure it’s counted.�

She hopes this is an election where people feel a patriotic duty to get out and vote.

Norman Russell said people aren’t guaranteed another day, so he wanted to vote on the first day to make sure his vote is in.

Michale Durney echoed Russell’s sentiment when he said, “You never know what’ll happen between now and then. Look at the poor people in western North Carolina. Who knows what’s in store for us. So I just want to make sure my vote got in there while I still have two good legs.�

Pat and Ransom Beaver are retired and voted on Thursday.

“If you’re able to come out early, just come on,� Pat Beaver said. “Come on and get it done.�

Tamika Garrison voted the first day because she doesn’t like to procrastinate and typically votes early during the first week.

“I want to make sure I get it, just in case,� she said. “I always vote early.�

Garrison said the first time she voted was in 2001 on Election Day. She said the lines were long, so she wants to make sure she doesn’t have to vote on Election Day this year.

“I just want to go ahead and exercise my right and then know that I’ve done it and I don’t have to stress about (it),� Garrison said.

Jim and Elizabeth Furr were waiting in line to vote at the Rutherford College Town Hall early voting site. Jim said he typically votes early.

“I just like to do it to get it over with,� Jim Furr said. “And it’s more of a kind of a signal that it’s important and everybody ought to get out, whether you’re Democratic or Republican.�

Elizabeth Furr said, “It’s the one thing we can do that affects our country. I mean, voting is it. There’s very little other stuff you can do.�

Early voting

Early voting ends on Nov. 2. Weekday hours for early voting in Burke County are from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday hours are from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be three Saturdays during the early voting period.

Early voting sites are:

• Burke County Elections Office, located at 2128 S Sterling St., Â鶹´«Ã½.
• Glen Alpine Town Hall, located at 103 Pitt St., Glen Alpine.
• Burke County Senior Center, located at 501 N Green St., Â鶹´«Ã½.
• Rutherford College Town Hall, located at 980 Malcolm Blvd., Connelly Springs
• East Burke Senior Center Library, located at 101 Main Avenue W., Hildebran.

All voters must bring an acceptable form of photo ID to cast a ballot.

For more information about voting in this year’s election, call the Burke County Board of Elections at 828-764-9010.