As this municipality election season kicks off, a recent North Carolina Senate bill may impact some voters. NC SB 382 covers a wide range of topics, from Hurricane Helene disaster relief to various law changes. Section 3A outlines several administrative changes to Board of Elections processes, including shortening the deadline to cure ballots. When a ballot […]
Local election season kicks off with candidate forum
August 29, 2025 by
A version of this story originally published in The Sylva Herald, Aug. 27 edition.Story produced with Halle Stanley Indivisible Common Ground-WNC hosted a forum for candidates in the upcoming local elections to introduce themselves and answer common questions. Brooklyn Brownie, Joseph Waldrum, Dwight McMahan, Taylor Armstrong, Samuel McGuire and Calvin Autrey are running for town […]
That’s Politics: Unaffiliated Voters and Polarization
March 31, 2025 by
The largest voting block in North Carolina are the unaffiliated voters. They are one of the reasons why political science professor and expert on the North Carolina politics, Dr. Chris Cooper, says NC is a purple state even though in has been almost fully controlled by the Republican party. Listen to what Cooper says about […]
SMN: Edwards dodges questions on Medicare, Franklin Social Security office closing
March 16, 2025 by
Story from Smoky Mountain News politics editor Cory Vaillancourt, re-published with permission In what could very well be a sneak preview of his in-person town hall in Asheville later today, Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson) abruptly walked away from a podium in Canton’s Sorrells Street Park and refused to answer questions about federal cuts to programs […]
That’s Politics: Contested N.C. Supreme Court ballots
February 21, 2025 by
No the elections are not over in North Carolina. At least not for the 6th Associate Justice seat in the N.C. Supreme Court. The republican candidate Jefferson Griffin is contesting the legitimacy of roughly 60,000 ballots in his race against incumbent Associate Justice Allison Riggs. Listen to the podcast to learn more about the contested […]
Swain County passes alcohol referendum
December 11, 2024 by
On Nov. 6, 2024, Swain County voted to allow the on-premises sale of wine and malt beverages. Prior to the 2024 election, businesses inside of Bryson City city limits were allowed to sell alcohol. This decision has shown Swain County residents’ trust in business owners to safely and responsibly sell alcohol. This trust has given […]
