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Updated as of Nov. 5 at 6:22 p.m.
RALEIGH - With polls closing at 7:30 p.m., Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson campaign spokesperson Matt Hurley met with press for a pre-event press conference ahead of Robinson’s election watch party.
Despite Republican governor candidate Robinson polling 15% behind Democratic candidate Josh Stein, according to a Nov. 4 poll published by Eastern Carolina University, Hurley told the press that this will be a much closer race than polling data suggests.
“I don't think anybody actually thinks this is a 20 point race,” Hurley said. “North Carolina is one of the hardest states in the nation to poll. It's always been that way historically. The polls have historically been wrong in this race.”
Robinson campaign staffer Matt Hurley speaks to media outlets at City Club in Raleigh on Nov. 5 in a press conferece before Robinson's election watch party.
Hurley also praised Robinson’s character and his resiliency in the governor race.
“I think Mark Robinson is the most misunderstood individual in American politics,” Hurley said. “This is not a guy who got a degree in political science, you know, ran for student body government, worked for his local Republican group in college. He came literally out of nowhere.”
When asked about Robinson’s plans to sue CNN for defamation in regards to a report published on Sept. 19, which alleged that Robinson made offensive remarks on a pornography website’s message board between 2008 and 2012, Hurley said Robinson still plans to pursue legal action.
Hurley finished the press conference saying that Robinson and the rest of the campaign feel optimistic about the result of the gubernatorial race and the presidential election.
— Nia Bedard
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 6:10 p.m.
RALEIGH - Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor Rachel Hunt is attending the North Carolina Democratic Watch Party in anticipation of her race results. If elected alongside gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein, the two would work in tandem. She said she would like to work together on a number of issues such as education, women’s reproductive rights and the climate situation.
“We’re going to go out to make North Carolina the best place to live, work and raise a family,” Hunt said. “If both of us are elected, I can take over while Josh is out of the country or out of the state, which Roy Cooper could never do with Mark Robinson in office.”
Hunt said she has been targeting young voters in her campaign because they have the most at stake.
“You all have your whole lives in front of you, and we’ve got to make sure the state and this country is a place you want to live in,” Hunt said.
— Miles Hayford
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 5:36 p.m.
RALEIGH - In preparation for election results, particularly the results of the gubernatorial race, the North Carolina Democratic Party is hosting a watch party in Raleigh at the Marriott City Center. Attorney General Josh Stein and several key North Carolinian Democrats are expected to appear. The event will start at 7:30 p.m.
The North Carolina Democratic Party hosts a watch party in Raleigh at the Marriott City Center. Several key North Carolinian Democrats are expected to appear, including gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein.
— Miles Hayford
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 5:10 p.m.
AP News reported at 4:54 p.m. that two precincts in North Carolina have pushed back closing time till 8 p.m. due to technical problems this morning: one precinct in Burke County and one in Wilson County.
Voters at the Wilson County precinct were unable to cast ballots for almost an hour and a half because a print needed to generate voter authorization malfunctioned. Burke County experienced a 30 to 40-minute computer problem with an official poll book laptop.
The state board will not publish unofficial results from Burke and Wilson counties until voting ends. Results from North Carolina’s other 98 counties, including Alamance, can be reported at the normal closing time.
— Ryan Kupperman
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 4:49 p.m.
Town of Elon Mayor Emily Sharpe said Elon University students should pay attention to North Carolina politics — regardless of if they’re from North Carolina — because of how it impacts the general culture of the state. She said she wants first-time voters to know what issues matter most to them and which candidates align with their values.
Sharpe also recognized the anxiety many people can get on Election Day and thinks it is important for people to step away and take a break from the results.
“I just think that it is important that people do protect their mental health. It's okay to be disconnected a little bit if you need that for your own mental health,” Sharpe said. “Half of the country, essentially, is not going to be happy.”
Elon Town Council member Michael Woods said this election is the most consequential one America has ever had. He urged voters to make their voices heard and participate in the process by casting their votes.
“Make your voice matter, vote, because this is probably the most consequential election that we've ever had,” Woods said. “It's about democracy. It's about the rule of law. It's about treating people right.”
Woods said he hopes a consequential election like this will cause people to get involved in politics and be part of the civil discourse.
“Make your voice known. Make your voice count,” Woods said. “Get involved with local politics. Get involved with state politics, get involved with national politics.”
Mayor Pro Tem Monti Allison echoed Woods' statements. He said he hopes that voters educated themselves and found candidates which reflect their values before they cast their vote.
Allison said the turnout during early voting was an encouraging sight and believes the aggressive push by candidates to early vote caused the high turnout.
Sharpe also said it was important for young people to pay attention to politics in order for the country to progress and flourish.
“It's so important that you know younger generations to continue to be involved and energized and not be pushed away by politics,” Sharpe said. “Yes, politics can be ugly, they can be divisive, but there's so many opportunities for politics to change things for the better as well.”
— Trista Panagakos
Andrew Carroll. COURTESY OF ANDREW CARROLL.
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 4:12 p.m.
Andrew Carroll, candidate for Alamance County soil and water conservation district supervisor, said he is feeling nervous and excited about his race today and said that it’s “more tangible now that it’s Election Day.”
He is a high school teacher at Southern Alamance High School, so he said while the students had the day off, he was still in the office for a teacher workday. He has never run for public office before but felt compelled to as this is his area of expertise.
“Soil and water are just two things I really am passionate about. I teach this sort of stuff at school, so I feel like I have a good background,” Carroll said.
David Spruill, the other candidate running for the Alamance County soil and water conservation district supervisor, held the role previously for eight years beginning in 2012.
He said he spent the day working at the polls handing out his information to voters and said the polls today were quiet, with a couple of people showing up at a time.
— Avery Sloan
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 3:56 p.m.
Republican candidate for Alamance County’s Board of Commissioners Ed Priola is working at the Mebane Arts and Community Center polling station while votes are cast. He said he plans to attend a Republican watch party tonight as results come in.
Ed Priola
Priola, endorsed by Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson, has focused his campaign around cutting property taxes, supporting law enforcement, improving education and growing the local economy.
“You've got to have safe communities all across Alamance County, or you don't have a community,” Priola said. “Safety comes first. Students have to know that when they're walking to school that they're going to be safe and comfortable in their surroundings.”
One of the highlights of Priola’s campaign has also been talking and collaborating with people on both sides of the political aisle.
“There's been a lot of good interaction with folks from all different parties and all different campaigns,” Priola said. “I had some really pleasant times with folks from both sides of the aisle, and I just like that. I like the civility that we've seen from both sides.”
Anthony Pierce, Democratic candidate for Alamance County’s Board of Commissioners, said he has spent his Election Day visiting different polling locations. While he spends the majority of time in his precinct, his team has also focused on expanding their reach this election cycle.
“Strategically, we're going to some of those precincts that we may have not performed well in prior elections, just to have them meet me as a person, and then also see if we can erode some of those margins,” Pierce said.
Pierce is a former paramedic supervisor and has previously run and lost the race for county commissioner in 2022.
One of the biggest challenges of his campaign has been uniting voters across party lines, but Pierce said he feels he has connected and related to the “masses of voters.”
“People don't have to change parties to vote for me,” Pierce said. “They just simply have to go out and vote. Vote for that person they believe in, that's going to fight for what they are looking for, that’s going to fight for our kids, fight for our teachers, fight for our first responders.”
According to Pierce, all elections are important and voters should use their vote to advocate for what they’re passionate about.
“There's a lot of reasons that people look for not to vote, but there's so many more reasons to vote,” Pierce said. “You just got to take that to heart and just go out and vote your conscience.”
— Kate Gray
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 2:58 p.m.
Democrat Doug Green, candidate for District 17 court judge seat 3, said he wants students to be prepared to vote.
“Do your research and then just vote,” Green said. “That's the most important weapon that each American has, is their power to — their right to vote.”
Green also said he believes that his knowledge of the community can help him if elected to the position.
“The district court here in Alamance and all other counties is the court that touches the community the most because we handle misdemeanors, family law matters, custody matters and we handle Department of Social Services matters,” Green said.
“I just feel as though I'm the right person for this job because this is my community. I grew up here, and I want nothing but the best for this community and for this community to grow positively.”
Green spent Election Day talking to people in line at the polls and noted the nice energy from the people in line, regardless of party affiliation.
“I've been out here polling all day, and the people have been nice. They've been pleasant like people from Alamance County should be, and like they have been in the past — whether they're Republican or Democrats,” Green said.
Throughout Election Day, Green said he is choosing to stay calm and letting the results come in as they do.
“I know the other stuff is going on, the national races and the governorship races and so forth,” Green said. “For right now, it's just getting to the finish line and getting home at a good hour to where I can just relax and pull out a victory.”
— Kathan Gandhi
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 2:41 p.m.
State superintendent of public instruction Republican candidate Michele Morrow said she has positioned herself as a “political outsider” throughout much of her campaign. She has not worked in education or government, but has homeschooled her children and worked in parent-led micro-schools where she taught multiple subjects.
Morrow highlighted her work over the past three years, when she spoke and worked with parents to address multiple issues which have emerged, such as school safety and girl’s rights in sports. Now as she runs for superintendent, she aims to interact with and listen to constituents about their concerns.
“In our campaign, we focused on solutions, on listening to the people of the state and what they need — whether that's parents, students or teachers,” Morrow said. “We have got to make students be the center of every decision we make, and the department of public instruction — of which I will be in charge — their main role should be to support the 150 districts and to support the individual schools to ensure that they have everything they need to give our students an excellent education and see them be successful.”
The main pillars of her campaign have focused on minimizing government intervention within schools and making smarter decisions with school funds.
Morrow said she wants public schools to represent North Carolina values instead of the mandates that come from Washington, D.C.
“What I see coming down in the mandates from the District of Columbia, it does not have the best interests of our children or our families in mind,” Morrow said. “We're going to determine the curriculum that we use and what is going to best serve our students and allow us to get over this learning loss that we are really struggling with here in our state.”
On the issue of public education funding, Morrow breaks from her opponent, Democrat Mo Green. She said she believes North Carolina’s funding is not the issue, but where the money is being spent is. If these problems were addressed, then other problems within the public school system would be reduced too.
“I think it's not a matter of how much money is spent. It's a matter of how the money is spent. And that's the difference we need to make,” Morrow said. “The classroom, the students, the people that are with our students every single day need to be the focus — not the administrators, not the bureaucracy, not those special interest groups.”
Morrow said she feels encouraged by the interest many new voters have had in the election, and in doing their civic duty of voting.
— Trista Panagakos
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 2:24 p.m.
Republican incumbent for Alamance County Commissioner Pamela Tyler Thompson cast her vote this morning and said she is going about her day as usual while she waits for results.
“I'm a Christian, and I do not sit around and worry because I don't have control over this,” Thompson said. “I just pray it works out the best for who needs to be in office and we have great leaders that come out of this election.”
Before being elected as county commissioner, Thompson served on the Alamance-Burlington Board of Education from 2012-20. Public education, children’s safety, veteran’s rights and drug addiction are top issues in her campaign.
“Working with drug addiction, I know that is a terrible crisis in our county right now,” Thompson said. “We've got to really face that for what it is, get people in treatment, and just work as hard as we can.”
For first-time voters, and Elon students specifically, Thompson urged them to get out and vote.
“I just hope young people will take the opportunity to get involved in the electoral process and just always stay with it,” Thompson said. “They're the future, and they need to know who's going to be leading this country, the state and this county.”
County commissioner candidates John Paisley Jr., Ed Priola, Anthony Pierce and Chris Smith did not respond to Elon News Network’s immediate request for comment. Carissa Graves spoke to ENN earlier in the day at the First Baptist Church of Elon polling location.
— Kate Gray
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 2:12 p.m.
Democrat Bryan Norris, candidate for District 17 court judge seat 1, said he wants voters to remember that there is more than one race on the ballot.
“Don't just vote for president. There's a lot more on the ballot than the big ticket races, and even if you're at Elon for four years, or eight years for a graduate degree — whatever. You're part of this community. Your professors are part of this community,” Norris said. “That's all of those down ballot candidates. county commissioner, board of education, judges like myself — that's where your impact is really most felt.”
He said voters should know that he is running for reelection to keep helping people in his community.
“I've been presiding in every district court courtroom in the county, it's an honor to serve.”
Norris also noted that the enthusiasm in Alamance is much higher than previous elections and said running in his race has been a good experience.
Judge Norris plans to visit polling sites in Alamance county until they close at 7:30 p.m. and will watch the election results at home with his family.
Republican Bryan Ray, candidate for District 17 court judge seat 1, encouraged first-time voters to vote based on candidate — not on party.
“Make your own mind up,” Ray said. “There's pressure from both sides right now to pull a straight ticket or to pick a team, and that's the only team you pull for. But I would say that very rarely do.”
Ray has also noticed that there is a decrease in Election Day turnout due to the amount of early voting that has occurred in North Carolina.
“With Trump now pushing early voting, it has made the whole dynamic way different,” Ray said. “You're probably going to see somewhere north of two thirds of people vote before Election Day. It's pretty dead out here. I think we're probably seeing maybe two voters every five minutes.”
Regardless of the outcome of the election, Ray said he hopes that the end result will be civil.
“My kids and the guy I'm running against’s kids are all the same classes in school,” Ray said. “So we're going to try to be cordial and just ready for tonight.”
Natalie Jones. Photo courtesy of Natalie Jones.
Democrat Natalie Jones, candidate for District 17 Court Judge Seat 5, said this year's election has a lot of historic candidates. Jones hopes that her experience as a candidate speaks for itself in her race against Republican Meredith Tuck Edwards.
“If they would look at my experience and my partner's experience, I think that they would see a vast difference in the two candidates,” Jones said. “I would just ask that they look at that carefully and get as much information as they could making sound decisions.”
Jones said speaking to voters and listening to their thoughts and concerns has been top of mind during this election.
District 17 court judge candidates Larry Brown Jr., Craig Turner, Katharyn Overby, Meredith Tuck Edwards did not respond to Elon News Network’s immediate request for comment.
— Kathan Gandhi
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 1:32 p.m.
While many are following the close presidential election, the state superintendent of public instruction race between Democrat Mo Green and Republican Michele Morrow has become one to watch.
Mo Green spoke with Elon News Network on Election Day about his views on the 2024 election season, and his plans to revitalize the public education system in North Carolina if elected.
Morrow did not respond to Elon News Network’s immediate request for comment.
He also heavily emphasized the contrast between himself and his opponent. Morrow notably beat incumbent Catherine Truitt in the Republican primary and has received national attention for running to be in charge of North Carolina’s public schools — since she chose to homeschool her own children.
“I have nothing against folks who homeschool their children. However, you're talking about the person who will be the chief administrative officer for public schools for the state of North Carolina, will be guiding and overseeing 2,500 plus schools, 1.3 to 1.4 plus million students, administering a budget of $11 billion annually,” Green said. “The experience that I have has prepared me exceedingly well to take on something like that.”
During his time as superintendent of Guilford County Schools, Green began a campaign called “Mo Wants to Know,” where the community and parents were able to give feedback on how to shape the public schools. Green said he wants to continue that initiative if elected superintendent.
“Folks can put in information about what they'd like to see for our school system across the state, what's good about it, what needs work and we'll ultimately develop a comprehensive strategic plan as a result of that,” Green said.
Green hopes this initiative will give constituents the ability to have their voices heard, and for his position as state superintendent to take on a chief advocacy officer role for public schools.
To submit feedback to “Mo Wants to Know” North Carolinians can find a form on Mo Greens’ website.
School vouchers have become a main issue that candidates such as Josh Stein and Mo Green have campaigned on. Green said if people were educated on what school vouchers are and how they affect public schools, more voters would be aware of some of the drawbacks to vouchers.
“Part of what we think we are going to do is try to be sure that folks understand the nature of this voucher program,” Green said. “Also be clear that these are dollars that we could be utilizing to do exactly what we need to be doing to do things like fund and pay our educators higher compensation.”
Green encouraged people to go out and vote and to pay attention to down ballot races such as his because of the impact many of those state races will have on the future of the state.
— Trista Panagakos
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 12:57 p.m.
Elon professor of strategic communications Shanetta Pendleton joined Elon University’s faculty last year after teaching at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and Ball State University. She has trained as an instructor in diversity, equity and inclusion topics. Elon News Network spoke with Pendleton ahead of Election Day about how she navigates the election in her classroom.
Q: Have students as a group or individually responded in a particularly positive or negative way to talking about the election in class?
A: I would say they've responded pretty positively, actually. I feel like I have a group of students who are embracing this journey that they're on right now as adults. For a lot of them, it's the first time voting in a presidential election and really learning themselves in terms of engaging in political dialogue and really figuring out who they are outside of their families or their backgrounds or what they've been ingrained into.
I think it's been a welcoming journey for a lot of those students. A lot of those students are OK with having uncomfortable conversations because it's a part of their development and growth. I've been super surprised with how my students have been all in with these conversations and asking tough questions that I didn't even prepare for. Just seeing students embrace that development process and just growing as young adults and as leaders, it's been a great experience on both sides.
Q: Have you found that you're expressing your own political views or leaning toward a certain side in the way that you are talking about certain issues?
A: I will say that earlier on in the semester, when we were focusing on the structured messages, a lot of students assumed what my vote would be based on the advice I was giving as a strategic communicator for one of the candidates to improve on their messaging. I think later on in the semester, when we started talking about the effects of this campaign, and also really opening up to some of the fears that I had, being vulnerable to my students, it really helped them kind of identify where I leaned. I don't think I really strayed away from stating where I leaned, my political affiliation. I just didn't feel a need early on to just outright say it out loud, because that wasn't what it was about. It was about communicating across differences, understanding people as multifaceted individuals, and understanding that there are layers to everyone. Being able to focus on the issues and not necessarily on a candidate. But it’s so hard.
It's so hard, especially when this election has been so polarizing, and a lot of people who are from marginalized backgrounds and a lot of minority individuals have been so hurt by some of the things that have transpired during this election season. It's hard to separate that part of my identity, and also mirror the idea of bringing my full self to work so that my students can also bring their full selves to the classroom. I have to be vulnerable in that way, and it is not comfortable for me, because we're also dealing with a situation where I'm a tenure-track faculty member, and so I have to be careful with what I say and not offend anyone. Walking the line between objectivity and making it an open space for everyone.
Q: What are you planning to have as the structure of class on the day after the election?
A: I want to make sure that I allow them to be in a space where they feel comfortable, so they will have options. The university did send out this “living room conversations” guide on post-election, so that's going to be one of the options. Talking about your personal feelings, how you feel about the election, and what do you think this means moving forward, but also some introspection as well. We could talk about what did you learn as you grow into an adult who has to engage in civic discourse among their peers and their professionals and also among their family members.
They will also have the option to just move on. A lot of people will still be processing those thoughts and won't be ready to talk about it the day after. We can still have our regular class session and go on business as normal. That may be healing for a lot of people, or that may give them a sense of normalcy, because that's what a lot of people want, in terms of feeling safe again. I don't like the term safe spaces, but like feeling safe and secure knowing that, OK, I'm gonna go to this class, and I'm already emotionally drained trying to figure out how I'm going to process my life from now for the next four years, and how I'm going to interpret these interactions that I've had with people these entire election season that may have been uncomfortable for me and may have been eye opening for me. So now I'm going to go into this class, and at least now we're going to talk about strategic communications tactics. We're going to talk about campaigns that aren't political.
— Katharyn Macdonald
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 12:08 p.m.
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson stopped at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Alamance County to greet voters and poll workers on Election Day.
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson shakes hands with poll workers at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Alamance County on Nov. 5.
Robinson said he wanted to visit polling locations across the state to thank voters and poll workers for being a part of the voting process regardless of which candidates they vote for.
“It takes both sides to get this done,” Robinson told Elon News Network. “Of course, we want to win on our side, but we also want to shake hands with those on the other side and all. Because at the end of the day, whoever wins, we're all going to have to work together to make things as good as possible for everybody, and so coming out here is more of a thing of just meeting the voters and telling them thank you for being a process.”
Robinson said he is feeling good about Republican voter turnout and exit polling.
“We feel great.” Robinson said. “Exit polling is strong. Republican registrations are strong. Republican turnout during early voting is strong, and typically, Republicans show up in big numbers on election day. And so we're counting on those votes as well to go our way.”
Robinson said he will continue to visit polling locations across North Carolina in Orange, Durham and Wake County throughout the afternoon.
— Nia Bedard
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 11:35 a.m.
Elon Votes has organized a shuttle system on Election Day to help Elon Students get to the polls. The shuttles will run from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. transporting students from the Center of the Arts to two polling locations — Elon Elementary School and the First Baptist Church of Elon.
Elon Votes is a nonpartisan campus organization dedicated to educating and helping Elon students register to vote and stay informed on how to cast their ballots. Elon Votes has held multiple voter registration drives, as well as events through the Active Citizen Series and Alumni Voices. Active Citizen Series and Alumni Voices aimed to inform students on different issues affecting politics and the 2024 election. Some of their past events include “Tracking Money in U.S. Politics and its Effect on Elections and Public Policy” and “Conversations with Political Insiders”. Their office is located in the Kernodle Center for Civic Life in Moseley Student Center.
Co-adviser of Elon Votes Andrew Moffa told Elon News Network the main reason for the shuttle system is to make sure students who do not have access to a car could not be deprived of their right to vote.
“Having shuttles on Election Day that take members of the Elon University community to their polling place is a way to ensure that transportation is not a barrier,” Moffa said. “We want to ensure everyone who would like to vote is able to do so.”
Elon Express is available to student voters on Nov. 5, running from the Center for the Arts to local polling locations between 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Elon Votes worked with the Elon Transportation office to set up the shuttles. Moffa said he hopes that with the barrier of transportation removed, students will be more encouraged to vote on Election Day.
Students who are interested in taking the shuttles will find Elon Votes volunteers and staff within the Center of the Arts who will direct and answer questions they may have.
“Our volunteers will be at a table right inside the Center for the Arts,” Moffa said. “People who would like to take the shuttle will come to the table, and the volunteers will check the person's registration status and confirm which polling place they need to go to.”
At 10 a.m. Tuesday morning, only a few students were utilizing the shuttles to get to polling locations. There were two reasons why many students chose to use the shuttles: ease and accessibility.
Junior Sara Magnuson said the shuttles organized by Elon Votes provided her with the easiest way to get to the polls.
“I don’t have a car, I wanted to vote. I didn’t get to do early voting, so I heard about the shuttle,” Magnuson said. “I figured it’d be the easiest way to get down there.”
Senior Sarah Tyner said she believes Elon has done a good job at keeping students aware of initiatives such as the shuttles and other election day information.
“Elon is doing a pretty good job sending out emails so people are aware of where to go and how to do everything. I feel like they're pretty organized,” Tyner said.
— Trista Panagakos
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 11:05 a.m.
Board of Education candidate Corrie Shepherd said she is excited to see the voter turnout as she visits polling locations Nov. 5.
“We had a great turnout for early voting, and it’s still pretty steady today,” Shepherd said. “I'm excited to see so many people come out to vote, no matter how they vote.”
Shepherd, who has helped other candidates campaign in past elections, said she is excited to see younger people voting. She said she remembers voting as soon as she could once she turned 18.
“I've never seen a turn out like this. I think they’re very motivated to let their voice be heard,” Shepherd said. “I think that they're not really happy with the way things are going, especially about the division. I think they're ready to put this division behind us and move forward.”
So far, Shepherd has spent her day at two polling locations: Mt. Zion Baptist Church and St. Mark’s Community Church. As a Board of Education candidate, Shepherd said she wants the board to not just take the superintendent’s word about the budget or other issues.
“I think the Board of Education has let the people of Alamance County down with the mold issue, the budget issues and then I think too, that they do not use discernment or ask a lot of questions,” Shepherd said. “They don't ask specific questions about what we're spending our money on.”
Shepherd said once she picks her 11-year-old son up from school, they will visit more polls before heading home to watch the results.
— Sarah T. Moore
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 10:47 a.m.
Board of Education candidate Seneca Rogers started off the morning of Nov. 5 at the polling location of Mayco Bigelow Community Center in Burlington. He plans to visit multiple polling sites throughout the day.
Rogers said he wants to keep Alamance County’s kids and educators at the core of his campaign.
“What's important for my race is that we need to vote for people who are true champions for public education,” Rogers said. “Our school board is a board for our traditional public schools here in Alamance County, and over the past couple of years, some people have tried to make it more about politics instead of our kids and our educators.”
Remembering what it’s like to be a first-time voter, Rogers encouraged Elon students and community members alike to get involved in the democratic process if they haven’t already.
“Elon students and first-time voters, come out. Make your voice be heard. Get into your civic engagement. It is very important, but also I'm very excited for you to be a first-time voter,” Rogers said. “Understanding the importance of that, and just the excitement that comes along with it to then come out and say, ‘Hey, I actually voted in this election. I was a part of this process.’”
According to Rogers, what stands out most to him about the 2024 election cycle is how engaged younger voters have been — especially at the state and local levels.
“What stands out for this is actually our young people,” Rogers said. “I'm seeing excitement, but also I'm seeing joy in the process. We know that there's a lot of things nationally that is catching people's attention, but I feel like a lot of folks — and even our young people — are getting really focused in on what's happening at the state levels and even local. And that gets me excited, because nationally is going to always catch those big headlines. But our state and local races are so important to our every day.”
Board of Education candidate Peter Morcombe said he wants to emphasize the importance of improving the school system’s performance.
“I'm running for a school board which, in my opinion, is over funded, whereas the people on the board at the moment think it's underfunded,” Morcombe said. “I just think that if they manage the system better, we'd have plenty of money. But we've got some very stupid things. We had a multi-million dollar mold problem, which should never have happened, and we're running some very questionable programs, which I think we could eliminate.”
Morcombe also said this election cycle in particular has been confusing.
“I've been completely baffled by this one,” Morcombe said. “It's still remaining very, very close and and the polls didn't shift as much in Trump's direction as they did in 2020 and 2016.”
Morcombe was born in Wales as part of the United Kingdom and came to the U.S. because it was better managed politically. However, “that was 1982 and things have gone downhill since then.”
Morcombe further expressed concerns about the country if election results do not go how he hopes.
“Where can I emigrate to? Because you find my own country is in worse shape than the United States, so I really don't have too many places I can go,” Morcombe said.
Board of Education candidates Avery Wagoner, Sandy-Ellington Graves, Tameka Harvey, Tara Raggett, Corrie Shepherd and Donna Westbrooks did not respond to Elon News Network’s immediate request for comment.
— Nia Bedard
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 10:15 a.m.
The First Baptist Church of Elon is one of hundreds of polling locations across North Carolina for the 2024 general election. Elon senior and president of the school’s College Democrats club Ryan Elad said his desire to make his voice heard motivated him to vote.
“I’m doing my civic duty,” Elad said. “I really do think that elections are sort of like a celebration of democracy.”
Lindsay, who didn’t want to provide her last name, also came to vote at 8 a.m.
“I didn't make it for early voting, and I was like, ‘I cannot miss this,’” she said. “My vote counts for sure. So I got up, rolled out of bed and I'm here.”
Lindsay said the economy was a major motivator for her this election, a sentiment shared by voter Catherine Edwards. Edwards was also inspired by her grandson, who she brought with her to show the importance of voting.
“I promised my grandson, because we'd been talking a lot about voting and how important it is,” Edwards said. “He can see and experience how voting actually works, and you can actually watch it on the TV, and see the states fill in.”
Quinn Ray, Elon Town Council member and a member of the Alamance County Democrat Party, said he came to the polling location to inform voters of candidates endorsed by the Democratic Party and answer general questions about how to vote.
“I think a lot of people come ready to pull that trigger for the president, but they don't realize that you have a bunch of other down ballot races that are just as seemingly important,” Ray said.
Elad also stressed the importance of local elections.
“On some levels, I'd say the local elections are even more important than the national ones,” Elad said. “Because the national ones, while they set grand policy goals and grand policy ideas, often times take a lot longer to come into effect. Local elections directly affect you, and they affect you in a much faster, much more direct way than national elections do.”
Democratic candidate for Alamance County Commissioner Carissa Graves is spending Election Day polling and checking on her endorsers. While she hopes to win, she said she ultimately wants people to make informed decisions that feel right to them.
“I just want the people to get out and vote,” Graves said. “I want them to use their best decision. I want the vote, but I want you to support what you feel is important to you. Because at the end of the day, you can't complain if you did not voice your opinion.”
— Kate Gray
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 8:34 a.m.
Ahead of Nov. 5, students have been getting to the polls, voting absentee or making plans to vote on Election Day. This is also the first presidential election in which most Elon students are eligible to vote.
Freshman Sebastian Frank spoke about their Hispanic heritage and how their culture and background influence their vote on the ballot.
“I’m 50% Hispanic, and so immigration is super important to me,” Frank said. “I would like to see — not necessarily a resolution to that because I know it's not that simple — but improved policies on that, that just make it safe for people who live here and also the people in Mexico trying to get over.”
Frank also said the economy is an important item on the ballot, especially as an economics major.
“We're learning a lot about economics and just how important it is that America has a stable economy,” Frank said. “I hope that continues to be the case, whoever is president.”
Freshman Stephanie Diaz said she cares most about human rights issues this election, which have influenced a large part of her voting decision-making process.
“The things that are most important to me are the humanitarian rights, so my right as a woman and the right to abortion or to choose, and the rhetoric around people of color,” Diaz said. “Some candidates are more vocal about it and are trying to create a country of hate, which I don't really appreciate. I just want to have a country where we all love each other and respect each other.”
But Diaz also said she is anxious for this election cycle because of how partisan and extreme the issues have become.
“I'm pretty nervous. There's a lot of things that are high-stakes right now,” Diaz said. “I just want to ensure that the next four years, I'll have my rights and live comfortably as an American.”
Sophomore Jane Smith also said the division of this election has been at the front of her mind, and said she believes people should be able to have productive conversations when discussing voting.
“There's people on both sides that are like, ‘I'm literally going to move countries if the other person wins,’” Smith said. “There's a lot of people that are very firmly on one side or the other and that can make conversations that are productive pretty difficult.”
Political division has caused people to lose friends, according to Smith — who said she believes people should stay friends regardless of who they support.
“I just really want people to be able to separate politics from personality and just be able to move forward, because otherwise nothing's going to get done,” Smith said. “Just be willing to listen — whichever side you're on.”
Students looking to vote can access voting locations via shuttles sponsored by Elon Votes.
— Alexa Citrin
Updated as of Nov. 5 at 7:27 a.m.
Polls opened at 6:30 a.m. today for one of the most historic general elections in U.S. history.
If elected, former President Donald Trump would be the second president in history to win his bid after losing a first attempt at reelection — and will have done so after being the first former president to be convicted of a crime.
Republican support for Trump has also been mixed this election following the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection on the Capitol.
If Vice President Kamala Harris — the first Black and South Asian woman to be vice president — is elected, she will be the first woman to serve as U.S. president.
Her unconventional bid for president also came after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in late July. Though he announced his reelection bid in April 2023 and won the Democratic primaries, Biden resigned and endorsed Harris after the Democratic Party raised concerns over his age.
Harris officially accepted the nomination in late August at the end of the Democratic National Convention.
Vice President Kamala Harris smiles as she accepts the Democratic Party's Presidential nomination on Aug. 22. In her remarks Harris took aim at former President Donald Trump and laid out her key policy proposals.
Two days before the Republican National Convention in July, Trump once again made recent history when someone took an attempt to take his life at one of his campaign rallies in Pennsylvania.
North Carolina plays a pivotal role in this election as one of seven crucial battleground states — hosting multiple appearances from Harris, Trump, Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz and Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance just days before Election Day.
The Tar Heel state is also home to some of the most heated races in the country — most prominently the gubernatorial race between Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein. The two have campaigned on contrasting platforms for nearly every issue on the ballot; Robinson is staunchly in the Trump camp, while Stein is firmly in Harris’.
Robinson has been associated with heavy controversy for his extreme positions on abortion, gay marriage and other cultural topics. He most recently denied allegations that he made remarks on a pornography website’s message board between 2008 and 2012. In which, Robinson allegedly expressed support for reinstating slavery, disparaged Martin Luther King Jr., referred to himself as a “black NAZI!” and made many sexually offensive comments.
Three separate Elon Polls have also predicted Stein ahead of Robinson in the polls, according to survey results from registered state voters. North Carolina’s redrawn 2024 congressional maps, however, may allow for as much as a 10-4 Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
With 7,822,024 registered voters in North Carolina as of Nov. 2, just over 4.2 million casted their ballots during the state’s early voting period between Oct. 17 and Nov. 2.
This number shattered North Carolina’s previous early voter record set during the 2020 elections at roughly 3.6 million. Alamance County hosted six early voting sites, including Elon’s South Gym.
Alamance County Democratic Party poll greeter Patty Temples worked the first two days of early voting at Elon’s South Gym and said she has never seen a turnout like this year’s.
“When we got here, it was like a one-hour wait, and now it’s up to an hour and a half,” Temples said on the second day of early voting. “Yesterday it was two hours, so it was a madhouse.”
One of the factors that encouraged this turnout, Temple said, is the perceived stakes of this year’s elections.
“I think people understand the gravity of the situation, and they’re willing to do whatever part they can do to save our democracy,” Temple said.
Local resident Rianon Benesch cast her ballot as soon as early voting opened. Though she has been eligible to vote for years, this year marked only her second presidential vote.
Benesch was inspired to vote early so she could be a part of something big and so resources such as emails and door-knockers could be spared for undecided voters.
“I saw where Georgia’s first day of early voting broke records and I was like, ‘I want to be part of that,’” Benesch said. “I want to be a part of history.”
Polls will close at 7:30 p.m.
— Ryan Kupperman and Abby Gravely
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