Read this week's edition of Locke Notes...
Dear Friend,
The race to the White House is heating up as the pivotal Iowa Caucus looms less than a week away.
Historically, the Iowa Caucus has been a crucial barometer for gauging the viability of presidential candidates, often propelling winners into the national spotlight and significantly influencing primaries in other early primary states like New Hampshire and Nevada.
Though North Carolina is set to cast our primary votes in March, the electoral process is already underway. Starting on January 19th, county election boards will start sending out absentee ballots to those who have requested them.
Dr. Andy Jackson of Locke’s Civitas Center for Public Integrity recently analyzed voter registration trends in an insightful article ([link removed]) . His findings indicate a notable decline in Democrat Party registrations, suggesting that Republicans will surpass them by 2027.
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This year, there are twenty-two offices on the ballot in North Carolina. The latest data ([link removed]) from the North Carolina State Board of Elections (SBE) reveals an increase in total voter registrations from 7,195,641 to 7,393,190 in the last two years.
A key aspect to observe is the significant rise in unaffiliated voter registrations. Dr. Jackson highlights this trend in his article, noting an increase of 872,274 in the past decade, surpassing Republicans in 2017 and Democrats in 2022.
This heightened interest in the electoral process among North Carolinians is a positive sign. It suggests a populace that is not only more informed but also more eager to participate in the democratic process.
Although unaffiliated voters typically have lower turnout rates ([link removed]) compared to major party affiliates, the rise in their numbers brings hope for increased voter participation in the upcoming elections.
As the focus shifts to Iowa and other early primary states, the evolving voter demographics here in North Carolina will undoubtedly attract national attention.
As we look towards the primary in March, North Carolinians are actively requesting absentee ballots.
For those who are new to North Carolina, as I am, the deadline to register for the March primary is February 9th, just a month away. You can click here ([link removed]) to learn more.
I also encourage you to take a moment to verify ([link removed]) your voter registration status to ensure it's current and that you are eligible to vote on March 5th.
The electoral process stands as both a cherished privilege and a fundamental civic duty, pivotal in upholding a government that genuinely mirrors the will and voice of the American people.
Best,
-Bethany
** The Countdown is on to Carolina Liberty Conference 2024!
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We are just weeks away from the Carolina Liberty Conference! Tickets are going fast, so be sure to grab yours today ([link removed]) to secure your spot at North Carolina's largest center-right gathering!
GET YOUR TICKET! ([link removed])
** More from Locke
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** Seeing Past the Spin on Learning Loss
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In the last few days North Carolinians have received quite a bit of news regarding how our students are doing in recovering from learning loss.
Keep Reading ([link removed])
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** Duke’s Worrisome Text
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Late afternoon on Thursday, January 4, customers of Duke Energy received a text message alerting them to expected high energy demand the next day and requesting they “take steps to minimize power use from 6:00 to 9:00 am to keep energy demand low.”
Keep Reading ([link removed])
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** Two Years of Changes in North Carolina Voter Registrations
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As of December 30, there are 2,414,165 Democrats, 2,220,460 Republicans, and 2,701,124 unaffiliated voters in North Carolina. As seen in the first chart, that represents a decline of 81,395 Democrats, an increase of 37,285 Republicans, and an increase of 232,212 unaffiliated voter registrations over the past two years.
Keep Reading ([link removed])
** Defining Digit
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