Nia Robinson
News Writer
It’s 2024, which means it’s a presidential election year. People everywhere are taking steps to participate and be heard in government. While presidential elections occur every four years, state and local elections take place nearly every year. In primary elections, voters help political parties decide who will be their candidates in November’s general election. Of course, the presidential race is this year’s focus. UNCG students voted in the 2020 election at a rate of 74%, which was higher than the national student voting rate of 66%.
In a UNCG news post, Lauren Segers from University Communications writes, “The University is excited to see a strong sense of civic participation continue this year during the upcoming 2024 election season.” In the article, Segers also shares more statistics and voter resources for UNCG students.
North Carolina’s primary election is on March 5 this year. The early voting period for the primary started Thursday, Feb. 15, and ends Saturday, March 2, right before UNCG’s spring break. All individuals eligible to register in Guilford County can vote at UNCG’s early voting site at the Kaplan Center. The early voting site is particularly important for those who still need to register. As Lauren Segers explains, “The North Carolina voter registration deadline for the March primary was February 9. Anyone who misses this deadline can still register or update voter registration at the early voting site, during the early voting period.” For the primary voting period and the general election on Nov. 5, North Carolina voters will be asked to show photo ID when voting. The SpartanCard is an approved form of Voter ID in North Carolina.
The Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement (OLCE) on UNCG’s campus is an organization that prepares students to serve as change-makers. Their mission is to “develop, promote, and advance civic engagement, leadership development, and meaningful service to create positive social change.” The organization hosted a Walk to the Polls event on Monday, Feb. 19.
Students were encouraged to participate in the event, which started at the Minerva Statue, if they were interested in the organization’s leadership and celebrating early voting. The OLCE will also host Voting 101 workshops throughout the election season. For more information, questions, and concerns, you can contact them by emailing lead@uncg.edu. You can also visit their homepage.
According to the N.C. State Board of Elections, a North Carolina voter must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, registered in the county where they have resided for at least 30 days, and not be serving a felony sentence, including any period of probation, post-release supervision, or parole.
You can still register and vote during the general election if you miss the primary voting period. The voter registration deadline for the general election is Oct. 11. Make sure you meet all the requirements, visit an early voting location or register online, and make your voice heard. More information about registering to vote in North Carolina is available from the State Board of Elections.
While the general election is months away, students, faculty, and community members are encouraged to participate in the primary process to help determine this year’s candidates.
THE CAROLINIAN 