Voter file loaded June 3, 2026 · figures are from that file, held as a fixed record
Clay County, North Carolina has 8,954 active registered voters — 51.4% Republican, 12.2% Democratic, and 36.0% with no party affiliation, as of July 2026.
Party registration
Most reliable-voting precincts
| # | Precinct | Active voters | Supervoters | Supervoter % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HAYC | 414 | 247 | 59.66% |
| 2 | WARN | 771 | 443 | 57.46% |
| 3 | HAY1 | 1,166 | 668 | 57.29% |
| 4 | BRAS | 832 | 456 | 54.81% |
| 5 | TUSQ | 688 | 376 | 54.65% |
| 6 | SHCR | 1,280 | 698 | 54.53% |
| 7 | SWEE | 754 | 406 | 53.85% |
| 8 | HAY2 | 1,536 | 809 | 52.67% |
| 9 | HIAW | 1,513 | 782 | 51.69% |
Supervoters are active registered voters who cast a ballot in at least 3 of the last 4 November general elections (2018–2024). Percentages are precinct totals from the official state voter file — no individual voter information is shown. Precincts with fewer than 400 active voters are excluded.
How Clay County voted for president
Election results are public records.
Clay County at a glance.
Clay County had an estimated 12,042 residents in July 2024, the 92nd most populous of North Carolina's 100 counties, up 8.6% since the 2020 census. Of those, 10,267 are 18 or older, the voting-age population, and 35.2% are 65 or older. Its 8,954 active registered voters equal about 87.2% of that voting-age population.
It covers 215 square miles of land (56 people per square mile), and 96.0% of residents live outside any incorporated city or town. Its one incorporated place is Hayesville (481 residents). The American Community Survey (2020-2024) puts it at a median age of 55.0, a median household income of $56,971, 31.8% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 81.2% of occupied homes owned by the people living in them.
In 2024, 7,708 votes were cast for president, about 75.1% of the voting-age population; the Democratic ticket took 24.6% and the Republican ticket 74.7%. The two-party margin moved from R+35.6 in 2008 to R+50.1 in 2024.
- Population (2024 estimate)
- 12,042
- Population (2020 census base)
- 11,087
- Voting-age population (18+)
- 10,267
- Active voters per 100 adults
- 87.2
- Residents 65 and older
- 35.2%
- People per square mile
- 56
- Living outside incorporated places
- 96.0%
- Land area
- 215 sq mi
- Median age
- 55.0
- Median household income
- $56,971
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 31.8%
- Owner-occupied homes
- 81.2%
Presidential vote, 2008–2024
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Margin | Votes cast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24.6% | 74.7% | R+50.1 | 7,708 |
| 2020 | 24.6% | 74.2% | R+49.6 | 6,893 |
| 2016 | 23.0% | 74.7% | R+51.7 | 5,885 |
| 2012 | 28.1% | 70.7% | R+42.6 | 5,592 |
| 2008 | 31.3% | 66.9% | R+35.6 | 5,543 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates and 2024 Gazetteer; American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; certified county presidential returns. Growth, density and turnout are simple arithmetic on those figures.
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