(CORRECTED 3/12/15)
RALEIGH, N.C. — The State Board of Elections today released demographic statistics for the 2014 General Election. Results showed a 16% increase in participation by African Americans and and 18% higher participation among voters aged 18-25 statewide compared to 2010, the last midterm election cycle.
This was the first general election held under a compacted 10-day one-stop early voting schedule and new requirements that registrants vote in their proper precinct, among other changes.
“We are encouraged that more North Carolinians participated in this election than in any prior midterm,” said Executive Director Kim Westbrook Strach of the State Board of Elections. “We will continue our efforts to educate the public and increase the efficiency of statewide voting procedures.”
Voters who self-identified as multiracial, Asian, or American Indian/Alaska Native participated at a rate 47% higher than in 2010.
Turnout as a proportion of registered voters increased among Democrats, Republicans, and Unaffiliated voters. Overall turnout increased by 1% over 2010, with more than 2.9 million voters participating statewide.
One-stop early voting remained a popular option, as more North Carolinians voted early and within fewer days than in any prior midterm election.
[Graphs are available online].
*CORRECTION* A previous version of this release indicated a 37% increase in participation among voters aged 18-25. State Board of Elections administrators became aware of a flaw in the algorithm responsible for extrapolating age-related data for the 2010 General Election, which improperly calculated age as of the date the file was generated in 2011 (not as of Election Day 2010). All affected "HistoryStats" files are now revised and publicly available here.