Whee Life Extra: Chris Cooper on the elections and what to expect

For the Oct. 30 Whee Life episode, WCU political science professor Chris Cooper gave us insight to what this midterm election may look like based on his analysis in his Substack channel “Anatomy of a Purple State.” In a recent analysis, Cooper mentioned three possible outcomes for the 2026 midterm elections in North Carolina. A […]

Heading to the polls: An Election Day checklist

Election Day for the 2026 midterm election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, and voters have one final opportunity to cast their ballots. For Cullowhee voters, the Election Day polling site will be Western Carolina University’s Health and Human Sciences Building. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Jackson County Board of Elections Director […]

WCU early voting site ranks second statewide in turnout increase

Western Carolina University’s new early voting site at the Health and Human Sciences Building has the second highest percentage increase in voter turnout of any early voting site in North Carolina during the 2026 midterm election, according to a new analysis by political science professor Chris Cooper. The site recorded 2,579 voters during the early […]

WCU early voting turnout increases in first week

In the first seven days of early voting, the new voting site at Western Carolina University’s Health and Human Sciences Building has seen a 168% increase in turnout compared with the last midterm election in 2022. According to the State Board of Elections, there are 1,484,828 votes in person and 59,845 absentee ballots casted as […]

Voter fatigue: What to know before you vote

What happens when a ballot feels like too much? For Jackson County voters, the November midterm election will bring a long list of races and candidates to choose from.  A ballot with more choices means more decisions for voters to make. For some voters, seeing a long list of races and candidates may feel overwhelming. Jackson County will have over 20 […]

Whee Life: What you need to know about the early voting, security of your vote and research the candidates

Podcast co-produced with Vanessa Lewis Learn more about the new polling site in Jackson County, what voters need to know before heading to the polls, the safety of our elections, voter fatigue and deadlines to keep in mind. If you plan to vote in Cullowhee, there’s a change you’ll want to keep in mind about […]