Republicans lead in early voter turnout in North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina voters have cast a record over 4 million ballots during early voting. While the number of ballots cast is higher than years past, so is the turnout by Republicans during early voting.

The state's latest numbers showed 10% more women voted than men. Female voters made up a little more than half of voters as of Friday morning. Among the over 2 million women who voted early was Alexandra Lyon, who waited in a long line in Wake County as the end to early voting approached Friday.

Lyon is also among the more than 1.3 million Republicans who've cast an early vote, the largest voting group in the state so far. It's a change from previous years when Democrats have shown out to early voting in larger numbers.

"Just trying and get past anything that could go wrong on Election Day," Lyon said. "You never know with all the lines. I have my grandmother here and grandfather here."

"I'm a single mom," she continued. "With trying to buy a house and just the way the economy's gone the last four years, I'm really hoping Trump gets reelected."

Democrats currently sit at about 50,000 fewer ballots, but they could be helped with more Hispanic voters, who could play a crucial part this election . Nearly 100,000 Hispanic voters have cast their ballot in this election. Among them is Freddy Roman, who said he has been hurt by some political rhetoric.

"I'm very upset about what's going on," he said. "They've been using me for political reasons. I'm probably voting Democrat. I can wait [to vote] for hours if I have to."

But it is unaffiliated voters, the largest voting block in the state, could be the deciders of an election already expected to have narrow margins. Unaffiliated voters have the second-largest turnout behind Republicans, so far. There is also a younger voting group, another demographic critical to win the election.

Early voting ends Saturday at 3 p.m.