MATTHEWS, N.C. — More than two million people in North Carolina have voted in the last week since early voting started. That means a quarter of the registered voters in the state have already voted. WCCB Charlotte’s Zane Cina learned why so many have chosen to get their vote out of the way early. With only 12 days until election day, North Carolina’s polls are buzzing with early voters. Greg Arnold cast his ballot. Arnold votes early every election and has never seen the polls so busy. “This is probably the longest I’ve ever waited in line. It’s about 40 minutes,” Arnold said when asked about how long it took him to vote. Volunteers who worked the Matthews Library polling location said they’ve had waits up to two hours long. UNC Charlotte Polictical Science professor Eric Heberlig believes the large interest in early voting is a good indicator for voter turnout come election day. Heberlig said high levels of early voting turnout point to higher levels of voting through the entire election cycle. North Carolina’s Board of Elections announced more than two million ballots have been cast in the state already. That number is up 6.6-percent from the 2020 presidential election. Heberlig estimates republican campaigning may be a factor behind the rise in votes. “Republicans are doing more to push early voting this time than they have previously,”Heberlig said. “Build that upon traditional Democratic turnout [and] you’re going to get higher turnout Overall.” Voters feel a lot is at stake with the 2024 election. Arnold believes it is one of the most important votes he’s cast in his life. He urges others to get out and vote. “If you’ve never voted before, this is the year to get out. Make your point known,” Arnold said. In-person early voting runs through Saturday, November 2nd.