In the weeks following Nov. 8, Americans all across the U.S. could take solace in the fact that election season was finally over. Unfortunately for North Carolinians, the most tumultuous and divisive election season in recent memory refused to leave The Old North State. Democratic challenger Roy Cooper appeared to have won the governor’s seat […]
Just when you thought it was over… Gubernatorial recount in Durham County and Election ’17
December 2, 2016 by
No lines on election day in Cullowhee
November 8, 2016 by
Jackson County residents are going to the polls on Election Day following a strong early voting turnout. According to the North Carolina Board of Elections, 46 percent of the nearly 29,000 Jackson County registered voters have already cast their ballots. The tally of early votes cast adds up to about 13,000. That is only about […]
North Carolina’s districting problem
October 14, 2016 by
The North Carolina General Assembly may soon redraw the state’s congressional districts again for 2018. But will that have an impact on elections? Todd Collins, Director of Public Policy Institute at Western Carolina University, says it depends on voter turnout. A panel of federal judges ruled North Carolina’s congressional districts unconstitutional in February 2016, forcing […]
Debate for NC House District 119 highlights
October 14, 2016 by
This story was co-written with Charles Hadley. North Carolina State Rep. Joe Sam Queen (D-Haywood) and challenger Mike Clampitt (R-Swain) engaged in a substantive debate Wednesday night, Oct.12, on the campus of Western Carolina University. About 60 people attended the debate between Clampitt and Queen in the Health and Human Sciences building at WCU. The […]
Negativity, not positivity, influences 2016 voter turnout
October 4, 2016 by
Remember 2008? That year, a young Democrat was elected president after galvanizing voters around the positive ideas of “hope” and “change.” Negativity will be the main factor driving American voters to the polls this November. According to the analysis from website FiveThirtyEight, both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have the two lowest favorability ratings of […]
Super Twos-day: Both front-runners extend leads
March 3, 2016 by
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump extended their leads over rivals in the presidential primary race on Super Tuesday, the first multi-state primary of the year. “Last night I don’t think there were too many big surprises,” said Dr. Todd Collins, Public Policy Institute Director at Western Carolina University. “Trump was ahead in most of the […]
