Early results show disproportionately high rates of early voting in N.C. among young people, African Americans and registered Democrats, according to Chris Ellis, assistant professor of political science.
“Compared to 2000 and 2004, this early voting is more heavily Democratic by a long shot,” Ellis said.
The United States Elections Project, a Web site which gives statistics on early voting compiled from State Board of Elections data by Michael McDonald of George Mason University’s Department of Public and International Affairs, stated that 56.3 percent of those who voted in North Carolina as of Oct. 22 were registered Democrats, while only about 27 percent were Republican Party members.
This represents a 10 point drop in Republican early voters from 2004’s totals.
“The biggest thing you can take from this is the huge difference in enthusiasm between what democrats are feeling over what republicans are feeling right now,” Ellis said. “It really speaks volumes about how much more energized democrats are.”
Nearly 29 percent of those who have voted are African American, and 11 percent are between the ages of 18 and 29, according to the Elections Project. Ellis said that these numbers also tend to favor Democratic candidates.
“The groups that are turning out are good news for the Democrats,” he said.
McDonald’s statistics indicate that those age 45 and older represent over 70 percent of those who have voted thus far, but Ellis believes that youth voters will be a larger factor this year than in other recent elections.
“The early voting numbers are high but I think the youth voter turnout in general is going to be higher this year than we’ve seen in past years,” he said. “Young people are enthusiastic about Obama in general but also more enthusiastic about the election than we’ve seen in some time – which is good news for democracy, of course, but it’s especially good news for the democrats.”
Scott Boone, a senior in mathematics, said that he is voting early so that he can volunteer on Election Day.
“I think it’s good that people can go and vote as they please rather than have to go on a Tuesday,” he said. “It keeps them from being disenfranchised.”
Students also want to make sure they have a chance to vote. Mariem Masmoudi, a sophomore in political science, said she doesn’t want to take the chance of not being able to vote on Election Day.
“I want to make sure that I can get to the polls just in case anything happens,” Masmoudi said. “You never know what could happen. I could get really busy with school or something could happen that I have to take care of. By voting early, I can still cast my vote.”
While early voters tend to be strong partisans that would likely vote on Election Day anyway, Ellis said, N.C.’s voting laws allow most people who are interested to take part in the process.
“You’re running low on excuses for not getting involved because they try to give you as many opportunities early as they possibly can,” he said.
The numbers thus far appear to reflect a shift in gender among early voters this year as well. In 2004, men represented over 56 percent of those who voted early, and women just under 43 percent. Those totals have reversed among those who have voted so far, according to the Elections Project.
