MORGANTON, N.C. — “It’s been phenomenal,” says Burke County Board of Elections Director Kenny Rhyne, referring to record-breaking early voting turnout. Nearly 60% of all registered voters in the county have already cast their ballot ahead of Election Day – a staggering number when you consider what happened here just six weeks ago. The board of elections tells WCCB Charlotte despite all of the damage Helene brought to Burke County, only one precinct is operating differently – that’s at the Smyrna Baptist Church on Brown Mountain Beach Road. FEMA has worked with the board to set up a makeshift polling tent, ensuring the people of northern Burke County can vote safely on Election Day. Rhyne is proud of the federal and local response after the storm. “I think they’ve received excellent care from FEMA, from the emergency county management, everything,” the director adds. The explosive turnout is turning heads on both sides of the aisle here. “We feel great. Our numbers are great,” says Tracy Stamey with the Burke County Republican Party. Stamey is confident her home county will remain ruby red. She says the economy was strong under former President Trump, but has faltered since the Biden-Harris administration took the reins. “Families were already hit hard with inflation, gas prices, grocery prices, cost of living,” Stamey laments. “Their failed policies have really highlighted the success that the Republican Party has to offer average everyday Americans.” Morganton resident Hunter Riles agrees – he’s already voted for Trump. “The economy was way better. Gas prices were down,” says Riles, “They brought jobs around everywhere – more jobs. I just feel like he’s better – he’s the lesser of two evils.” But Alyson Callaway says local Democrats are energized and motivated now that Kamala Harris is at the top of the ticket. “Hope came back to the Democratic Party and we’re like, ‘Hallelujah,’ we can do this,” beams Callaway. Burke County hasn’t voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1976, but Callaway believes issues like abortion, Medicare, and climate change will bring on the blue. “Vote and get the numbers up. Take your grandma, take your sister, take your dad. Take everybody to the polls with you.” North Carolina polls open at 6:30 am on Tuesday and close at 7:30 pm. South Carolina polls open and close at 7 am and 7 pm, respectively. If you are in line before polls close, your vote will count – no matter how long the line is.