Early voting is underway in Mecklenburg County, and this past weekend, several organizations hosted an early voting party to encourage Charlotte residents to vote. The party happened on Beatties Ford Road across from Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library, an early voting site in which participants marched to after hearing speakers.
The Mecklenburg Coalition Early Voting Kickoff featured organizations such as Unite Here, Men 4 Choice, Progress NC, and Planned Parenthood. Participants also enjoyed food trucks, community, and storytelling opportunities with 134 fellow voters.
Since early voting began, turnout has been high as more than 70,000 Mecklenburg voters have already cast ballots. Additionally, more than 900,000 early votes have been cast statewide. To keep up to date with turnout numbers, check out Carolina Forward’s turnout tracker here.
“I can’t overstate how important it is to drive people out to early vote. All of these things that we’re dealing with are policy choices, right. The fact that so many people have to work two and three jobs and are just making it by the end of the month, that is a policy choice. The fact that people have to choose between going to work to put food on the table and buying medicine or going to the doctor, that is a policy choice. It’s a policy choice that folks do not have things like paid medical leave or paid medical leave across this state. Folks, it is a policy choice, and these policy choices are determined at the ballot box,” said Braxton Winston, President of NC AFL-CIO and former Charlotte City Council member.
Voting early all the way down the ballot is crucial to making change in our state. Check your voter status, register or re-register to vote (same-day, in-person registration is available during the early voting period).
Find your early voting site, review your sample ballot (available on Voter Search), and make a plan to vote with five of your friends.
“The center for the fight for democracy is right here in North Carolina, and in Charlotte, this is where the fight is happening,” said Willy Gonzalez, Unite Here leader.
North Carolina is in the spotlight this midterm season, and it is imperative that we do our civic duty by voting for elected leaders who will improve the lives of all North Carolinians.
Vote early and spread the word!
