More than 15,000 ballots have been cast during early voting for the 2026 General Election in Catawba County. According to the Catawba County Board of Elections, through Wednesday (October 21) 15,112 total ballots had been submitted at the five early voting locations in Catawba County.

The five voting sites are Highland Recreation Center in Hickory, the Newton Main Library, Conover Station, Southwest Library in Mountain View, and the Sherrills Ford-Terrell Library. Thus far the location receiving the most ballots cast is Highland Recreation at 4,982. The Newton Library is second with 3,389, followed by Conover Station with 2,332, Southwest Library with 2,230, then Sherrills Ford-Terrell with 2,179 ballots submitted.

The party breakdown is as follows, Republican voters have cast the most ballots at 5,691, followed by Unafilliated voters at 5,573, Democrats at 3,813, Libertarian at 30, and the Green Party at five ballots. Thus far 12.59% of Catawba County’s 120,001 eligible voters have gone to the polls. Early voting runs through Saturday, October 31, Election Day is November 3. WHKY will have complete coverage of the returns that night on radio, TV and our website.