By Nathan Ham
Through the first week of early voting in Watauga County, a total of 12,471 registered voters have already made their ballots official for the upcoming 2020 Presidential Election.
Mail-in absentee voting has remained a popular source for voting as well. Watauga County has reported 3,873 ballots have been returned through the mail, bringing the total number of ballots cast in the count to 16,341.
As of October 17th, Watauga County had 44,913 registered voters on the rolls. With 16,341 votes already cast, voter turnout stands right now at 36%. Voter turnout in the 2016 presidential race in Watauga County was 65%. Hillary Clinton received 14,138 votes, Donald Trump received 13,697 in that race in Watauga.
At the statewide level, 36.88 percent of all registered voters have already cast their ballots. One-stop early voting ballots in North Carolina are just under 2 million at 1,970,270 and mail-in ballots are 727,631.
Watauga County early voting totals by location
Appalachian State Student Union – 3,450
Watauga County Administration Building – 2,968
Deep Gap – 2,177
Western Watauga Community Center – 1,552
Blowing Rock – 1,464
Foscoe – 860
Early voting in North Carolina will continue through October 31.
Watauga County has six early-voting locations:
Watauga County Administration Building, Commissioners’ Board Room
814 W. King Street, Boone
Appalachian State University, Plemmons Student Union – Blue Ridge Ballroom
263 Locust Street, Boone
Blowing Rock Town Hall
1036 Main Street, Blowing Rock
Deep Gap Fire Department
6583 Old 421 South, Deep Gap
High Country Vacation Homes (Foscoe)
520 Church Road, Boone
Western Watauga Community Center
1081 Old U.S. Highway 421, Sugar Grove
Watauga County early voting hours:
October 15-30: 8 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.
October 17 and October 24: 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.
October 31: 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.