It’s Election Day! Precincts open until 7:30 p.m.; live Outer Banks returns on News Talk 92.3

Voters lined-up before dawn outside Nags Head Elementary School. The precinct was moved from Town Hall to allow more social distancing. [Sam Walker photo]

The campaigning is over, all the flyers have been mailed, all the commercials have aired, all the phone calls made and text messages sent. Now its time for the voters to decide the 2020 elections.

While record numbers of North Carolina voters have already cast their ballot by mail or during early voting, more are expected to head to the polls today between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, The OBX Today team will be on News Talk 92.3 WZPR and the OBX Today Facebook page covering all the local and statewide races, plus ABC News with updates on what’s happening across the country.

You can also hear live updates at the top and bottom of the hour starting at 8 p.m. on Beach 104, Big 94.5 and 99.1 The Sound. And we’ll have a rundown of the election night returns here at OBX Today.

“Dare County voters can expect unofficial voting totals for this county to be available on Election Day night or in the wee hours of the morning,” said Dare County Board of Elections Chairman Sandy Semans Ross.

Due to a substantial increase in early voting and voting by mail this year, Dare County elections officials asked voters and the media on Monday to be patient regarding the timeline of announcing election results.

Election officials advise that delayed results do not indicate a problem or compromise accuracy. To see a rough timeline of the expected reporting of unofficial results, visit https://www.ncsbe.gov/results-data/election-results/election-night-reporting-timeline.

Preserving the integrity and security of elections is a top priority for county officials, and Dare County said in a news release Monday they are complying with local, state and federal election guidance, laws and regulations.

America’s counties work tirelessly to ensure the security and integrity of the election process. Counties defend against cyber attacks and traditional security threats. After the election, counties secure vote tallies, audit the election and safeguard voter information.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to many changes to where voters cast their ballots on Election Day, with a number of precincts moving to larger spaces to allow for social distancing.

More than 140 poll workers at 16 polling locations have been trained to ensure they are well-equipped to assist voters and protect against fraud and potential security threats, the county said.

Dare County has moved and/or consolidated seven polling places: (Click here for sample ballot):

Avon – Avon Fire Station, 40159 Harbor Road, Avon
Buxton – Cape Hatteras Secondary School Auditorium, 48576 NC Hwy. 12, Buxton
Chicamacomico – Rodanthe/Waves/Salvo Community Building, 23646 NC Hwy 12,Rodanthe
Colington – First Flight Middle School Gym, 109 Veterans Dr. Kill Devil Hills
Duck – Town Hall, 1200 Duck Road, Duck
East Lake – Community Building, 16674 US Highway 64, East Lake
Frisco – Cape Hatteras Secondary School, Auditorium, 48576 NC Highway 12, Buxton
Hatteras – Hatteras Civic Center, 56658 NC Highway 12, Hatteras
Kill Devil Hills – First Flight Middle School Gym, 109 Veterans Drive, Kill Devil Hills
Kitty Hawk – Town Hall, 101 Veterans Memorial Drive, Kitty Hawk
Manteo – Manteo High School, 829 Wingina Ave., Manteo
Manns Harbor – Community Building, 6657 US Highway 64/264, Manns Harbor
Nags Head – Nags Head Elementary School, 3100 S. Wrightsville Ave., Nags Head
Southern Shores – Kitty Hawk Elementary School, 16 S. Dogwood Trl., Kitty Hawk
Stumpy Point – Community Building, 251 Bayview Drive, Stumpy Point
Wanchese – Community Building, 295 Old Schoolhouse Road, Wanchese

Currituck County polling sites: (Click here for sample ballot)

Moyock – Moyock Elementary School, 255 Shingle Landing Road, Moyock
Gibbs Woods – Richardson Community Building, 332 East Gibbs Road
Knotts Island – Knotts Island Senior Citizens/Ruritan Building, 126 Brumley Road, Knotts Island
Carova Beach – Carova Beach Fire Station, 2169 Ocean Pearl Road
Indian Ridge – Shawboro Elementary School, 370 Shawboro Road, Shawboro
Courthouse – J.P. Knapp Early College, 2966 Caratoke Highway, Currituck
Church’s Island – Waterlily Fire Station, 424 Waterlily Road, Coinjock
Coinjock – Currituck County Library, 4261 Caratoke Highway, Barco
Whalehead – Corolla Library, 1123 Ocean Trail, Corolla
Poplar Branch – Griggs Elementary School, 261 Poplar Branch Road, Poplar Branch
Powells Point – Powells Point Christian Church, 197 Church Road, Harbinger

To find your polling place, click here to use the N.C. State Board of Elections search tool.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections has provided the following tips for Election Day voters:

On Election Day, polls across North Carolina are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters in line at 7:30 p.m. will be able to cast a ballot. Lines tend to be longer before and after normal business hours.
Find your Election Day polling place through the Voter Search or the Polling Place Search.
Sample ballots are available through the Voter Search tool. Information about N.C. Supreme Court and N.C. Court of Appeals candidates is available in the 2020 Judicial Voter Guide.
To protect voters and election workers, masks and hand sanitizer will be available to all voters. Social distancing will be enforced at voting sites. Read more at the Voting and Coronavirus page.
If you are voting by mail and have not returned your ballot, you may not return your ballot to a polling site on Election Day. You may mail your ballot back or return your ballot sealed inside the completed envelope to your county board of elections by 5 p.m. on Election Day. Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day. Mailed ballots that are postmarked on or before Election Day must be received by November 12. If you mail your ballot on or before Election Day, you may not vote again in person.
Same-day registration is not available on Election Day. If you are not registered to vote by Election Day, you will not be able to vote in the general election.
Voters are not required to show photo ID to vote in the 2020 general election.
Voters who need assistance at the polls must request that assistance. Curbside voting is available for voters who are unable to enter the voting place without assistance due to age or disability. Once inside the polling place, voters who experience difficulties should request help from an election worker. For more information, see the Help for Voters with Disabilities page.
The State Board asks that all voters respect the right of others to participate in the election. Intimidating any voter is a crime. Voters who feel harassed or intimidated should notify an election official immediately.
If you present to vote and your name is not on the voter list, you may request a provisional ballot. About 10 days after an election, voters who cast a provisional ballot can check the status of their ballot with the Provisional Search tool.