As the primary elections approach in Jackson County election officials say voter registration activity is in full swing.
The director of the Jackson County Board of Elections, Amanda Allen shared in an email data showing that the voter activity so far has largely been influenced by changes in party affiliation.
In an email, Allen explains affiliation changes have shown an increase since the last primary in 2024, with 74 changes in total.
“We currently have 30,594 registered voters. We have registered 289 people since Jan. 1, 2026; 172 of which are unaffiliated,” Allen wrote.
Both democratic and republican representatives show an eagerness to register voters in Jackson County, frequently stopping by the JCBOE office to grab supplies for voter registration.
Allen says the JCBOE has sent out nearly 70 absentee ballots, but has only received 2 returned ballots that will be looked over in their board meeting on Feb. 3, and mail-in ballots can be requested through Feb. 17.
“We encourage anyone who thinks they might need a mail-in ballot to go ahead and make a request, Allen said. “If you request an absentee ballot, but are then able to vote in-person instead, we’ll spoil your by-mail ballot, and you’re welcome to vote at your local site.”
The Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, together with the Student Democracy Coalition is still doing voter registrations on WCU’s campus every day this week up to Friday, Feb. 6. CCESL assistant director Jenna Kubiak says that voter turnout on campus is usually lower in midterms like 2026 compared to the presidential election years.
“We have registered over 200+ voters since the start of the academic year,” Kubiak said in an email.
To find your voter registration status, find polling locations, and see sample ballots, visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections voter search tool.
Matthias Morgan contributed to the story.
