This year, more North Carolina voters cast their ballots than they did in 2020 on the first early voting day. Residents of the western mountains of the state were still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Helene.

The State Board of Elections announced Friday that preliminary data showed a record number of 353,166 voters cast ballots in more than 400 early-voting sites across the state on Thursday. This compares to 348 599 on October 2020’s first day.

According to data from the board, North Carolina’s population is growing and so are voter registrations. The total for Thursday as a percent of the number of voters registered in the state, was lower than the percentage four years ago. The board reported that the number of registered voters on Thursday was 4.54%, compared to the 7.78 million total in the state.

As county election boards continue uploading data, Pat Gannon, spokesperson for the board, said that it is expected that the number of votes cast and registered voters will increase.

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On Thursday, voting stations in Piedmont counties (a region with a high population) and the mountains where flooding from three weeks ago caused damage to homes, roads and bridges as well as power and water systems were crowded. The board reported Friday that it had not received any reports of voting issues or significant issues.

In a press release, Karen Brinson Bell, Executive Director of the State Board, said that Thursday’s voting “is a sign that North Carolinians are excited about this election and trust in the electoral process.” She also added that even a hurricane would not prevent them from exercising their rights to vote. Election officials believe that the clear, sunny weather of Thursday contributed to the high turnout.

Helene, the most deadly hurricane to strike the U.S. mainland in the past decade, devastated remote Appalachian towns and killed at least 246, with slightly more than half of those deaths occurring in North Carolina.

While the electricity is almost fully restored in Western North Carolina, there are still tens and thousands of people who do not have access to running water. All but four of 80 early voting locations initially planned for 25 counties in western North Carolina hardest hit by Hurricane Florence were open Thursday.

Bill Whalen, 75 of Asheville said that “anything this cataclysmic is going to disrupt lives.” But “at least in the neighborhood I live in, people understand how important this election is and why it’s so important to vote.”

North Carolina’s early voting period, which runs through November 2 in all of its 100 counties, has a huge following. Early voting for the 2020 general elections saw more than 3.6 millions ballots cast, which is 65% of the total ballots. During the 17-day period, voters can register to vote as well as cast their ballot.

The traditional absentee voting began a few days before Helene arrived in the state. The board reported that more than 75,000 ballots had been received by in-state, overseas and military voters up until Thursday.

North Carolina’s ballot includes not only the presidential race, but also races for Governor, Attorney General, and other positions at state level. Reelection is also possible for all seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and General Assembly.