A note on North Carolina’s youth vote: About one-fourth of the state’s citizens ages 18 to 25 are still not registered to vote, according to a recent report by the nonprofit campaign-reform group Democracy North Carolina. And although Bob Hall, the group’s executive director, stresses that 90,000 more young people are registered now than in January—a 16 percent gain—that still leaves some 200,000 young citizens unregistered.
“Research shows that if a young adult doesn’t vote before they reach age 30, they will likely never vote in their lives,” Hall noted in a press release. “This is the year to help North Carolina turn the corner and prevent another generation from becoming civic dropouts.”
Any 17-year-old citizen who will be 18 before or on Nov. 4 is eligible to register to vote at local boards of elections or through community registration drives. If the state’s normal registration deadline (Oct. 10) is missed, individuals can still go to a One-Stop Early Voting center between Oct. 16 and Nov. 1 and—with proper ID—both register and vote there prior to the Nov. 4 election. This includes college students, Hall points out, who may need to request help from the school to provide a document with their local address for ID purposes. For information about Early Voting sites or for other voter registration information, call the Buncombe County Board of Elections, 250-4200.
Wednesday, Sept. 10: Commission candidates John Carroll and Mike Fryar speak at the Buncombe County Republican Women’s Club meeting at the Corner Stone Restaurant, 102 Tunnel Road in Asheville, 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, Sept. 13: Barnardsville Meet and Greet with Republican candidates Carl Mumpower (Congress), R.L. Clark (N.C. Senate), and the candidates for Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, starting at 2 p.m. RSVP at kathielack@tds.net.
Tuesday, Sept. 16: Candidates forum for the Madison County Board of Commissioners, sponsored by the Spring Creek Community Center, 7 to 9 p.m. in the Dean Justice Community Room at the center, located on Highway 209 (next to the Spring Creek Fire Department).
Tuesday, Sept. 16: The Eastwood Diner, 230 Charlotte Highway, hosts a nonpartisan “Meet the Candidates Night,” 6 to 9 p.m. Political candidates from all parties have been invited to meet and discuss issues and ideas with area voters and concerned citizens.
Friday, Sept. 19: Meet and Greet in Black Mountain with David Gantt, candidate for chairman of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. RSVP at www.ganttforbuncombe.org or 442-9252.
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Candidate Forum for the N.C. House Districts 115 and 116 and Senate District 49, sponsored by the Asheville Civitan Club, starting at noon, Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Asheville. RSVP if you would like lunch ($7.50) to webmaster@ashevillecivitan.org.
Monday, Sept. 29: Meet and Greet in South Asheville with David Gantt, candidate for chairman of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. RSVP at www.ganttforbuncombe.org or 442-9252.
Monday, Oct. 20: Candidates forum for the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and board chair, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County, 7 p.m. at the Randolph Learning Center, 90 Montford Ave., Asheville.
Monday, Oct. 27: Candidates forum for N.C. Senate District 49 and House Districts 114, 115 and 116, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County, 7 p.m. at the Randolph Learning Center, 90 Montford Ave., Asheville.
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