11th District voter turnout in Asheville, WNC among highest: US House election data

A chart showing the 11th U.S. District House District has some of the highest turnout in the state among North Carolina’s 14 congressional districts. Chris Cooper, Western Carolina University

By Joel Burgess, Asheville Citizen Times, November 7th, 2022

Early voting turnout in Western North Carolina’s congressional district is among the highest in the state, despite the 11th District race between Democrat Jasmine Beach-Ferrara and Republican Chuck Edwards predicted to be less competitive than other U.S. House contests.

Through Nov. 3, a total of 28.6% of registered voters in the 11th District’s 15 counties had ballots accepted through mail-in and early in-person voting, according to state data analyzed by Western Carolina University political science professor Chris Cooper.

That was second only to 28.8% in the Fourth District, which includes Durham and features a race between Democrat Valerie Foushee and Republican Courtney Geels. Like the 11th District, that contest has no incumbent.

At first, reports had shown early voting numbers lagging statewide. But that had changed as of Nov. 4, with mail-in and early in-person voting surpassing this same time in 2018, the last midterm election, state officials said.

“It says that NC-11 voters are engaged, particularly in early voting,” Cooper said Nov. 4.

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