In Brunswick County, elections officials reported a steady stream of voters with no lines in most locations.
Renee Sanders-Lawson, voting at Belville Elementary, says she would like to see everyone speak up.
"Today is the time for everyone to know you have a voice. Either you make that decision to speak up or you be silent and live with the consequences. This is not the day to do that."
In New Hanover County, Sarah Barnett voted at JC Roe. GenX, she says, is, hands down, her number one issue.
"...Because I don’t want us to end up like Flint, MI… not that it’s anywhere near what they’re going through but I just feel like they’ve been kind of irresponsible with our water quality."
Kim Perry also voted at JC Roe. She says she always votes, but this year, there seems to be more at stake.
"I don’t believe in any of the amendments and I voted against each one of them. I think a lot of those are already in place and they don’t need to be rewritten."
Perry says she is a registered Democrat, but she votes by candidate and not by party -- evidenced, she says, by her school board vote.
"Cavanaugh and Hayes. I voted for them, and I want to make sure they remain in place."
Greg Terlicky voted at Belville Elementary this afternoon, and while the reason he leads with is civic duty, some prodding reveals another concern:
"The data clearly shows there’s human involvement in climate change and I think we can stop it. We can make the earth great again... I think scientific literacy is definitely a way that everyone can be more informed."
While he explains all this with a big smile on his face, he's serious.
"I mean, I want kids. And I want those kids to have beautiful sunny days and not wear gas masks and become mole people…"
At the Leland Cultural Arts Center, which includes two different precincts, poll officials reported by 1:30 Tuesday afternoon, 604 people had voted at the two locations.
The biggest issue, say election officials, is location – people showing up thinking they can vote at any polling place in their county of residence. Unlike early voting, which ended Saturday, on Election Day citizens must head to their precinct’s correct polling location.
Polls are open across the state until 7:30 this evening. Elections officials also encourage voters to use the provisional ballot – if it’s offered. Once those ballots are verified, they are counted.
