A few new numbers from today's NC State Board of Elections data file on absentee by mail-in ballots from the state:
NC mail-in ballot requests are nearing 160,000, with over 41,000 returned and accepted as votes for November 8th's general election. Of the requested ballots, 40 percent are from registered Republicans, 31 percent from registered Democrats, 28 percent from registered unaffiliated voters, and less than one percent from registered Libertarians.
In comparing this year's requested (based on ballots sent date) ballots to four years ago, the total numbers are comparable to 2012's numbers, however there are significant differences among party registration:
Currently, registered Republican requested ballots are 78 percent of where they were on the same day in 2012, while registered Democrats are 114 percent of where they were and registered unaffiliated voters are 133 percent of where they were four years ago.
Among accepted ballots:
Currently, 39 percent are from registered Republicans, 36 percent from registered Democrats, and 25 percent from registered unaffiliated voters. The acceptance rate so far is 30 percent for Democrats, 25 percent for Republicans, and 23 percent for unaffiliated voters.
The current total of accepted ballots is 80 percent of where they were in 2012 on this same day, with Republicans at 57 percent of their same-day totals from 2012, Democrats at 104 percent, and unaffiliated at 109 percent.
The outstanding requested ballots by party registration is:
The racial composition of the requested ballots so far is:
Whites make up 84 percent of the requested ballots, as well as of the returned and accepted ballots, with black voters being 9 percent of both as well.
Finally, the 2012 voting methods and participation of this year's mail-in ballot requested voters in North Carolina is: