North Carolina voter turnout: record low
The AP's Mike Baker reports:
"N.C. voters set a record low for turnout, with fewer than a third of eligible voters going to the polls Tuesday for a midterm election dampened by rain and a lack of marquee races.
"State elections director Gary Bartlett estimated Wednesday that 31 percent of voters cast a ballot, although an official count won't be ready for more than a week. North Carolina's previous low for turnout in a general election was 42 percent in 1994."
This despite the option of early voting, which wasn't available in 1994.
Voter turnout nationally was 40 percent.
North Carolina's 1994 election was similar to this years, without races for top political offices like president, governor or U.S. senator. Why such a drop in turnout this time?
My two theories:
1. Less competitive races on the ballot at all levels. Generally safe districts for incumbents discourage tough challenges. Most state legislative races were uncontested. So were two of the five Guilford County commissioners races and all but one school board race. Why should voters turn out when, in so many cases, the outcome is a foregone conclusion?
2. The large increase in voter registration. In November 1994, the state counted 3,635,875 registered voters. Now there are 5,568,960. The increase exceeds population growth. It means that voting advocates have done a great job of registering new voters and making registration much easier. "Motor Voter" registration at DMV offices (which began in 1995) is an example. Trouble is, we may be registering people who have very little real interest in voting. Inflating the registration rolls with people who are, for all practical purposes, nonvoters depresses the turnout rate.
More people voted Tuesday than in 1994 -- approximately 1.7 million compared to 1.5 million -- but it was a much smaller percentage of registered voters.
There are no excuses for not voting. People who register to vote should participate in elections. But there would be more reason to vote if our political system allowed more real competition.
Comments (2)
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You need look no further than last night's schoolboard covert action to make Grier superintendant for life to wonder why people have just given up voting. Obviously, the Guilford Co. imperial powers have spoken. How dare people, parents, teachers think that they can have any say in education or anything else for that matter in this county. A statement had to be made and it was made-if citizen's for one minute in this county think they can pull that democracy crap and even begin to imagine they can get rid of an Bryan Foundation-annointed power figure, they have another thing coming.
Posted on November 10, 2006 12:03 PM
Last night's schoolboard mtg. is a fine example of the caliber of some of the people on the board, their real midnight agenda that would not bear the light of day, and their pervading fear of the democratic process as it threatens the agenda as illustrated by the mtg re: minority contractors on Wed., of continuing to subvert education in lieu of continuing to make sure the right people continue to get paid.
The confidence of the people in Grier's ability to lead and inspire the people of this county to improve education in this county is at the lowest ebb imaginable. The only thing the mtg last night was for is to get him paid, end of story.
Godspeed Garth, in your intrepid voyage into this particular Heart of Darkness. When you find yourself needing to get into bed with some of the members of this crew, remember to follow mom's advice-WEAR PROTECTION.
Posted on November 10, 2006 2:51 PM