NOTE FROM PAM: Early voting in NC has been a roaring success, with long lines of people eager to cast their ballots, but it's all for naught if people are not aware that in the Tar Heel State "straight ticket" votes don't count for Presidential candidates or judges. There are signs but new voters are particularly vulnerable to missing this key information. If in doubt, voters can learn more at the N.C. Center for Voter Education. Below the fold is a sample NC ballot.
| In a classic example of confusing ballot design, a "straight party" vote in North Carolina does not include the presidential contest. If you want to vote for a president, you need to make an additional mark in the presidential contest even if you've chosen a straight party vote. (See detailed instructions in the first comment.) This policy has been in place for over 40 years (added by Dixiecrats in 1967), and historically has resulted in at least a 1% "undervote" -- people not choosing a presidential candidate. With huge numbers of new voters this year, there's a lot of concerns that it could be even higher. While there are signs up in polling places, and many (most?) poll workers give instructions as they give the ballots out, there are already many reports of people mis-voting.
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This is exactly the kind of situation where we hope the Voter Suppression Wiki can add a lot of value, supplementing the other educational efforts. So let's give it a try, and help get the word out! |
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