North Carolina is considered a purple state, so every vote counts. And the state's young voters could become a powerful voting demographic in November.
“I think young voters, especially in North Carolina, are the most powerful voters in 2024,” said Sloan Duvall, president of Young Democrats and president of Students for Stein at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. .
He said the competitive nature of the race in the state is encouraging for college voters and should send a strong message to candidates running in the state.
“And these candidates know they can't win in North Carolina without young people supporting them,” Duvall said.
As of Super Tuesday, North Carolina had 953,592 registered young voters between the ages of 18 and 25. Of these, 73,560 people voted in the primary election. Young people accounted for about 4% of those who voted in the presidential primary.
587,340 young people voted in the 2020 presidential election, potentially influencing the outcome. In the same election, Donald Trump defeated Joe Biden in the Tar Heel State by about 74,500 votes (1.34%).
Duvall said college students have the numbers to win this election.
Similarly, North Carolina Young Republicans Chairwoman Emily Stack said this election will have a lasting impact on young voters.
“What happens in this election is going to affect us not just now, but clearly in the long term of all age groups,” Stack said.
The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement's Youth Election Importance Index ranks North Carolina as one of the 10 states where youth voting is most likely to influence presidential elections.
Courting young voters
It's not just presidential elections that could feel the influence of young voters. Others are taking notice and targeting this voting bloc.
For example, Democratic gubernatorial candidate and current Attorney General Josh Stein launched Students for Stein. He travels to universities and community colleges around the state to speak to students.
In an interview, Stein said some commonalities emerged.
“Issues that young people care about will be on the ballot this November,” Stein said. “Reproductive freedom is on the ballot. The right to vote is on the ballot. Protection from gun violence is on the ballot. Public education is on the ballot. Economic prosperity is on the ballot. This is on the ballot and I want to create a future where North Carolina’s young people can succeed.”
He said the state could be set back if North Carolina elects Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson.
“That would do great damage to North Carolina's future prospects,” Stein said.
Robinson's campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment about how he is reaching young voters.
Cody Miller, a third-year student at Appalachian State University and president of the North Carolina University Republican Federation, said the opinion was positive for Robinson.
“Young conservatives are really passionate about Mark Robinson,” Miller said. “He inspires a similar fire and passion in young conservatives that seems to me only similar to someone like Donald Trump on stage.”
Robinson hasn't visited Miller's campus this campaign, but Miller still thinks young Republicans are excited about Robinson.
“We completely understand that the university system, most universities are predominantly Democratic or liberal,” Miller said. “And it’s not like there’s a huge base out there.”
Difficult to access voting blocks
Despite the potential power of this voting bloc, young voters have historically had the lowest registration rates. In 2020, the North Carolina State Board of Elections reported that 13% of young voters were registered. In contrast, 40% of people aged 41 to 65 had registered.
Voter turnout in this age group is also lower than in older age groups. In 2020, 60% of registered young voters cast a ballot, compared to 84% of voters 66 and older.
College students may face unique barriers when registering and voting. For example, out-of-state students must choose whether to register in North Carolina or their home state. If you are in the university community and plan to remain in North Carolina after graduation, you can register here, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections. However, if students plan to return home after graduation, they must remain registered in their home state.
Additionally, students who move to another county for college may need to pay special attention to their polling places, said Jake Smith, a University of North Carolina Wilmington junior and UNCW Democratic representative.
“That's why we're working so hard to get people to vote and register to vote in New Hanover County and in Wilmington, where I go to school,” Smith said.
Issues young voters are most concerned about
According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement's 2024 Pre-Election Youth Survey, young voters surveyed are most concerned about the economy.
According to the study, “young people's views and actions on social issues such as abortion and gun violence often receive the most attention and remain highly salient, but young people are not clear that their primary concern is the economy.” “It's sending a message.” “53% chose cost of living/inflation as their top three issue, followed by jobs that pay a living wage (28%), addressing climate change, and gun violence prevention (both 26%). Ta.”
Smith said UNCW students are concerned about increasing the minimum wage and housing affordability.
Stack echoed this concern from a Republican perspective, saying college students are especially concerned about finding a job after graduation.
“People are graduating from college, what am I going to do?” Stack said. “The job market is tough. Where are you going to work? Plus, the prices of everything are going up.”
Young voters are also concerned about social issues. Miller said there is a misconception that Republicans only care about money and the economy, but through his role he has found that social issues actually energize young Republicans.
“They think economic problems are bad, of course, but they also believe that if we don't completely reshape the culture of this country long before the economy collapses, we will lose it much sooner,” Miller said. he said.
Reproductive rights are a big issue for Democratic voters at UNC-Chapel Hill, Duvall said. Duvall said Robinson's stance on the abortion ban has sparked debate about his plans after graduation, adding that he doesn't know if Robinson will remain in the state after graduation if he wins.
Recent polls show an extremely close race between gubernatorial candidates Robinson and Stein. According to a Marist poll conducted in March, the difference between Stein and Robinson is just 2 percentage points.
