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Friday, January 3, 2014
News Unaffiliated voters on the rise in North Carolina
Posted By Ana McKenzie on Fri, Jan 3, 2014 at 10:39 AM
As both political parties continue to lose members in North Carolina - since 2008, Democrats have lost 102,800, Republicans 12,400 - unaffiliated voters are on the rise. An estimated 306,500 have been added since 2008, and they now outnumber either Republicans and Democrats in 44 of the state's 100 counties, according to analysis from Democracy North Carolina.
"The rapid growth of Unaffiliated voters indicates people are not attracted to either major party," said Bob Hall of Democracy North Carolina. "More North Carolinians, especially new residents and young voters, are refusing to embrace or perhaps even understand a party's philosophy."
Unaffiliated voters now comprise 26 percent of all registered voters in the state, up from 8 percent in 1993. Additionally, the number of white voters has declined - by 1,300 - in the past five years, while African-American registered voters have increased by 99,200. Though they comprise just 2 percent of the electorate, Hispanics have nearly doubled their numbers over five years to about 116,500.
Women outnumber men voters by about 500,000. "If women consolidated around a message or messenger, they'd dominate state politics," Hall said.
Of its more than 650,000 registered voters, Mecklenburg County has seen a net increase of 14,700 Democrats and 26,100 black voters and a loss of 13,900 Republicans and 11,800 white voters since 2008.
For Democratic North Carolina's full reports, click here.
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