Get Out the Vote: Officials encourage voter participation ahead of NC primary election day

Jan. 23, 2024 – Local election officials are encouraging voter participation ahead of North Carolina’s March 5 Primary Election Day. (Photo credit: WLOS Staff)

By Kimberly King, Tuesday, January 23, 2024

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — This year, the presidential election will be drawing more folks to the polls, as presidential election years historically have a higher voter turnout than midterms.

On Tuesday, amid the highly publicized New Hampshire Republican primary face-off between former President Donald Trump and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, hundreds of miles away the director of Buncombe County Election Services was spreading the word about important dates to keep in mind for North Carolina’s upcoming March 5 primary.

“I’m Corinne Duncan. I’m the director of elections for Buncombe County,” said Duncan looking toward a small camera as she went live on the county’s Facebook page.

“Voting for the 2024 presidential primary has already started.” Duncan is making a push for registered voters to participate in the March primaries that decide what candidates for multiple elections in each party will be on the November ballot.

Duncan encourages voters to check their registration information is accurate. If voters visit the NC State Board of Elections “Voter Tools” website, they can check their information as well as print out a sample ballot for Democrat and Republican candidates. There’s also a sample ballot for unaffiliated candidates, but the only candidates running in the area as unaffiliated are running for Asheville City Council. Those who are registered to vote as unaffiliated can choose to vote in the Democrat or Republican primary.

“This is your voice,” said Doug Brown, Buncombe County Republican party chairman. “If you don’t vote you’re basically endorsing the other candidates.”

“Even though, typically, primaries attract party activists. In this case, I think people realize there’s so much at stake,” said Kathie Kline, Buncombe County Democratic party chairwoman.

“We’re going to see somewhere between 40 to 45% of registered voters show-up for the primary elections,” estimated Chris Cooper, chair of Western Carolina University’s political science department.

Buncombe County staff have already mailed nearly 800 packets to those asking to vote by mail, Duncan said on Tuesday. Starting Feb.15, there are 11 sites in the county where people can vote early in the primaries. Currently in Buncombe County with a population of about 273,000, there are 72,830 registered Democrats, 44,532 registered Republicans, and 86,547 registered Unaffiliated.

Read the WLOS news story here.