Starting this week, North Carolina voters get their say.

Election Day is Nov. 4, but early voting begins across the state Thursday. Registered voters – and even eligible residents who still haven't registered – will have more than two weeks to cast ballots during the early voting period. Early voting ends Nov. 1.

Elections officials are prepared for record turnout and are encouraging voters to vote early or mail in an absentee ballot to avoid long lines Nov. 4. But voting early may not be a quick experience.

“If everybody shows up at one time, there are going to be lines,” said Johnnie McLean, a deputy director of the State Board of Elections. “We try very hard to keep the lines to a minimum, but it's going to be very difficult for this election with the interest that people have.”

Early voting in Mecklenburg

Early voting starts Thursday and ends Nov. 1. There is no early voting at the Board of Elections office.

Extending weekday hours: CPCC – central campus facilities building, 1325 E. 7th St., Charlotte. Hours: 8 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays Thursday-Oct. 31; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 25; 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 26; and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 1

Additional locations

Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday-Oct. 31 (weekdays); 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 25; 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 26; and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 1

Beatties Ford Road Library, 2412 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

CPCC – North Campus, 11930 Verhoeff Drive, Huntersville

Cornelius Library, 21105 Catawba Ave., Cornelius

Freedom Regional Library, 1230 Alleghany St., Charlotte

Hayes Building (Ballantyne), 11405 N. Community House Road, Charlotte

Independence Regional Library, 6015 Conference Drive, Charlotte

Main Library, 310 N. Tryon St., Charlotte

Marion Diehl Recreation Center, 2219 Tyvola Road, Charlotte

Matthews Branch Library, 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews

Morrison Regional Library, 7015 Morrison Blvd., Charlotte

Mountain Island Library, 4420 Hoyt Galvin Way, Charlotte

North County Regional Library, 16500 Holly Crest Lane, Huntersville

Plaza Midwood Branch Library, 1623 Central Ave., Charlotte

South County Regional Library, 5801 Rea Road, Charlotte

Steele Creek Library, 13620 Steele Creek Road, Charlotte

Sugar Creek Library, 4045 N. Tryon St., Charlotte

UNC Charlotte/Cone Center, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte

University City Regional Library, 301 E. W.T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte

West Boulevard Library, 2157 West Blvd., Charlotte

Absentee. It's not just for the absent

Absentee ballots do not require an excuse. That means anyone who doesn't want to face lines can vote by mail. (Some counties use special return envelopes for ballots that will cost 83 cents to mail.)

To request an absentee ballot by mail, send a written request including your name, the address on file with the county board of elections. Include your date of birth and signature. Ballots must be received in the county elections board by 5 p.m. on the day before the election to be counted.