Throughout most of 1980, North Carolina appeared to be safely in President Carter's column. The first evidence of slippage came after Labor Day, as the support for Republican candidates increased across the board. The state was considered to be leaning to Carter on election day. The improved Republican absentee campaign and get-out-the-vote effort pulled Reagan over the top and helped elect John East to the U.S. Senate. The Republicans gained two U.S. House seats and several legislative seats.

North Carolina's electoral votes were cast by (A) Thomas I. Benton; (A) William H. Westphal Jr.; (1) Kenneth H. Roberson; (2) Barry L. Gardner; (3) Corbett L. Quinn; (4) Russell N. Barringer Jr.; (5) Dean F. Hodges; (6) Ruby W. Collins; (7) J.T. Clemmons; (8) James E. Nance; (9) Mary Simpson; (10) Thomas Dlugos, replacing J. Reid Poovey; and (11) Walter L. Carriker.

When Poovey was unable to serve, the remaining Electors took a ballot for a replacement Elector. On the first ballot, Dlugos tied with Jackson F. Lee with five votes each. Lee withdrew, and Dlugos won unanimously on the second ballot.