Voter Turnout Up Slightly in Election

Voting statistics for the election are not final, but Carolyn Thomas, director of the Orange County Board of Elections, said turnout for the county appears to be 10 percent higher than in previous years.

But so far, statewide turnout numbers are average, though they are up from the 21 percent achieved in the Sept. 10 primaries, said Gary Bartlett, director of the N.C. Board of Elections.

Bartlett said that at 46 percent, this year's voter turnout falls in the exact middle of the historic range. Average turnout in non-presidential election years usually falls between 42 percent and 50 percent.

Though voters didn't make a historic showing at the polls this year, turnout was up from about 42 percent in 1998 -- the last non-presidential election year.

"It's clear the turnout went up from 1998, but it's still below presidential (election) standards," said Ferrel Guillory, director of UNC's Program on Southern Politics, Media and Public Life. "It's not good; it's not bad."

President Bush might have been a contributing factor in voter turnout this year, as he campaigned heavily for Republicans, Guillory said.

Preliminary data indicated that the increased voter turnout can be attributed largely to a strong Republican showing. Despite talk of high turnout improving the chances of Democratic candidates, N.C. voter growth seems to have favored Republicans such as Sen.-elect Elizabeth Dole, Guillory said.

Dole's principal challenger, Democrat Erskine Bowles, lost Tuesday's elections with about 1 million votes, a number almost identical to the amount cast for Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., who won his seat in 1998.

That data indicate that the nearly 300,000 extra people who showed up at the polls voted for Dole, Guillory said.

Along with a hefty Republican turnout, Bowles' and Dole's experience as national leaders also affected the elections. North Carolinians saw the two candidates more as professional politicians than as average citizens, and consequently, they were more inclined to take the race seriously, Guillory said.

He added that the heated race between the candidates also was a key factor in increased voter turnout.

"The competition was more intense, so (voters) wanted more of a role in who would win," Guillory said.

Thad Beyle, UNC political science professor, said this election was particularly interesting to voters because of rigorous campaigning by both candidates. He said voters were interested by the numerous smear campaign commercials, not turned off as many experts have indicated.

Guillory also indicated that the intrigue of mudslinging commercials might have caused increased voter participation.

"People say they don't like them, but it makes them think (the election) is more important."

The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu.