After all the campaigning, television ads and anticipation, the North Carolina primary is here.

Thousands of voters across the Twin Counties are expected to turn out in droves today to cast ballots for a presidential candidate and the many other state and county offices up for grabs.

Polling places across the state will open today at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.

Many local residents already have cast a ballot for the primary during early voting.

More than 460,000 North Carolinians utilized no-excuse, one-stop voting in this year's primary election, according to the N.C. State Board of Elections.

In the Twin Counties, there are an estimated 96,879 registered voters.

With record turnouts expected, elections officials were busy Monday making last minute preparations. Throughout the Twin Counties, voting machines and supplies were being transported to polling places in Nash and Edgecombe counties.

Nash County Elections Director Whitney Davis said because of the anticipated voter turnout, she is

urging voters to remain patient at the polls.

"We're asking them to be patient," Davis said. "We're expecting long lines."

She said that 6,355 Nash County residents voted early for the primary.

"They say that one-stop voting accounts for one-fifth of voter turnout," Davis said.

Using that formula, she said that an estimated 31,775 voters are expected to hit the polls in Nash County.

This is about half of the 61,115 registered voters in the county.

"If one-stop is any indication, we're looking at a 50 percent turnout," Davis said. "Twenty or 30 percent would have been huge."

In Edgecombe County, more than 3,800 residents cast early voting ballots, according to elections staff.

For residents looking to track the results online, the N.C. State Board of Elections has introduced a new method of reporting the primary tallies county by county.

Davis said information on national, state and local results will be available and updated as the ballots are processed.

Results of the sales tax referendums in Nash and Edgecombe counties also will be available.

"This will be the quickest way for folks to see what's going on nationally as well as locally," Davis said.

The primary election results can be viewed by accessing the Nash County Board of Elections Web site at www.elections.co.nash.nc.us.

A list of links to all of the state's counties are available under the 'Election Night Results/County Web Page Scrolling Links.'

The same information for all counties also can be viewed at the N.C. State Board of Elections Web site at www.sboe.state.nc.us.

A call bank also will be set up in Nash County to assist precinct workers with troubleshooting or voter registration issues, she said.

"The county has given me eight extra phones and computers," Davis said. "The county manager's office has gone above and beyond by giving us extra support."

Visit the Telegram's Web site tonight after the polls close for more primary coverage at www.rockymounttelegram.com.