NC early voting trending older, whiter than in previous elections

As of Thursday night, only 7.6 percent of registered voters had cast early ballots statewide, but some early voting sites in Wake County had people waiting in line on Friday.

In the 2016 primary, about 10.5 percent of voters took part in early voting, and the period was a week shorter than this year.

Durham County is far ahead of the statewide pace, with 11.5 percent of voters there casting early ballots as of Thursday, while Wake County lags behind at 6.7 percent.

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Ren Pridgeon, who has worked as a volunteer, county elections worker, chief judge and now campaigner in southeast Raleigh elections for 42 years, said he hopes for a record turnout this year.

"I always say that a 'no' vote is a vote for that which you oppose," Pridgeon said. "So, if you really want to be heard, I know it's one vote at a time, but one vote adds up to be another vote, and next thing you know, you've got a million votes."

He said he's see plenty of changes in elections since 1978, but the most important one has been in black voter turnout, starting in 2008.

"When [former President Barack] Obama came out, I saw a total increase, but I think that just got things started, because now, they're more motivated to come out and vote for change," he said.

Democratic presidential candidates have talked a lot this year about winning the black vote. It's never really been simple, but Pridgeon said there's a clear generational divide in this election.

"Mama's ideas are not their ideas anymore. Daddy's ideas are not their ideas. So, yeah, [younger voters are] definitely looking for something different," he said. "Where we're looking to secure our Social Security or our Medicare, they're looking to make sure [those programs] are still around when they get there."

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"It's a lot of people at the voting sites telling you who to vote for, trying to get you to vote for this person or this person, but you need to know for yourself," West said.

Early voting ends at 3 p.m. Saturday. Anyone in line at that point will be allowed to vote.