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According to research from the Brennan Center, if the voter participation gap had not existed in 2020, 9 million more ballots would have been cast. (Adobe Stock)

Southern groups mobilize to empower voters, protect democracy

Southern groups are mobilizing to protect democracy and empower voters to address the issues that impact their communities, including in North …

The Inclusive Democracy Act of 2023 would restore voting rights to all Americans with criminal convictions, eliminate state-level barriers for incarcerated individuals to vote in federal elections, and prohibit prosecution for incomplete ballots. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Bill aims to restore voting rights for incarcerated people in NC, US

More than 83,000 people in North Carolina are unable to vote, due to a past or present felony conviction and at least some are watching new …

During the early-voting period, voters may cast a ballot at any early-voting site in their county. This is different than Election Day, when registered voters must vote at their assigned polling place. (Adobe Stock)

North Carolina one-stop early voting starts Thursday

The early voting period for the November municipal elections in North Carolina will begin on Thursday and run until Nov. 4. The League of Women …

Some 43% of young voters say they are more motivated to vote by candidates who represent their values, not by voting against candidates who do not represent their values (27%). (Adobe Stock)

Looking to NC voters 'under 45' to change state politics

The youngest North Carolina voters could end up shifting the political landscape of the state in the not-too-distant future. New data from the …

Ballots cast by young people made up 12% of all votes in the 2022 election, nearly matching the 13% youth share of the vote from the 2014 and 2018 midterms, according to National Election Pool surveys. (Adobe Stock)

NC Group Joins Effort to Mobilize Young Voters

The League of Women Voters in North Carolina said its members are working diligently to reach out to young people, especially today. The goal is to …

According to the MAP report, only seven states have a statewide Voting Rights Act. It finds stronger federal election legislation, like the Freedom to Vote Act, could ensure a stronger democracy nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

A Call for Urgent Action to Thwart Election Denial Risks in NC

A new report shows North Carolina and other states are susceptible to election denialism, which could have implications for future elections…

In the 2022 legislative session, state lawmakers around the country introduced at least 43 bills that would allow or require problematic voter purges. So far in 2023, states are considering at least 28 additional bills. (Adobe Stock)

Report Shows Some NC Policies Negatively Affect Eligible Voters

A recent report by the nonpartisan public-policy organization Demos uncovers disturbing findings regarding the impact of voter-registration purges in …

A schematic of a planned shopping district by F7 International Development, whose CEO was recently awarded the

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NC Business Owners Recognized for Their Social Impact

An increasing number of North Carolina businesses are shifting toward social impact and sustainable business practices. James Montague, president …

Eight in ten registered voters say the economy is very important when making their decision about for whom they will vote in the 2022 midterm election, according to a recent Pew survey. (Adobe Stock)<br />

'Faithful Voter Reflection Guide' Weighs Moral Issues for NC Voters

Progressive faith leaders across the state say they're encouraging congregations to educate themselves on candidates and issues. They are sharing an …

La investigaci�n ha demostrado que los mensajes en redes sociales de aplicaciones como WhatsApp, de fuentes confiables, pueden aumentar la propagaci�n de la desinformaci�n. (Adobe Stock)

Aplicaciones de mensajería aumentan desinformación entre votantes latinos

Encuestas recientes muestran que más del 60 % de los votantes latinos reportan exposición a información falsa o no verificada sobre pol…

Forty-six states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands offer early in-person voting. (Adobe Stock)

In-Person Early Voting Continues in NC Until Nov. 5

According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, more than 135,000 voters cast their ballots on the first day of early voting last Thursday…

Across the nation, church groups and congregations often play a center role in working to increase voter engagement. (Adobe Stock)

NC Faith Groups Raise Awareness on Election Integrity

As redistricting processes wrap up across the country, faith groups in North Carolina are working to raise awareness and educate residents on issues …

Research from 2016 found that when police were equipped with cameras during a test period, use of force incidents and citizen complaints shrank by 50% and 90%. (Adobe Stock)">

Critics: NC Courts Have “Wide Discretion” on BodyCam Footage Release

Under a 2016 law, footage from cameras worn by North Carolina police officers can only be released through court order. But critics say the process …

According to the North Carolina Business Council, fair elections are a top concern among its members. (Adobe Stock)

Small Businesses Want Fair Representation in New NC Voting Maps

A big deadline is coming up this week for North Carolina legislators, who have yet to spell out the process for redrawing new electoral maps…

The North Carolina Supreme Court hears oral arguments today over the state's 2022 redistricting maps. (Adobe Stock)

North Carolina Supreme Court to Hear Gerrymandering Case

The state's highest court takes up a challenge today of new election maps that heavily favor Republicans. The maps, drawn by a GOP-led Legislature…

Research shows that while low-severity fires restore natural resilience in forests, more severe fires change the makeup of the forests. according to The Nature Conservancy. (Adobe Stock)

NC Forests Need Prescribed Fire for Regrowth, Restoration

A new year is a time for restoration, and two free downloadable publications from The Nature Conservancy shed light on the role that controlled fire …

Newly-drawn congressional and legislative districts in North Carolina now face a slew of legal challenges. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NC Court Reopens Candidate Filing; Poll Finds Voters Want Fair Election Maps

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Political candidates across the state can start filing again to run for the 2022 U.S. House and state legislative seats, after the …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both …

More than three million North Carolinians are now fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Experts Urge Vaccinations Before Summer Travel

RALEIGH, N.C. - As the weather warms up, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced people who are fully vaccinated can go out and …

More than 77% of North Carolinians identify as Christian, according to data from The Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

NC Faith Voters to Convene on Guns, Voting Rights, Healthcare

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The North Carolina Council of Churches will host a series of virtual workshops next week, focused on major legislative issues in the …

Legislative maps of areas such as Charlotte are changing because of a surge in population growth. (Adobe Stock)

Census Delay Could Pose Problems for Fair NC Redistricting

RALEIGH, N.C. - Every ten years, states use the census to redraw congressional and state legislative districts, but delays in the release of 2020 …

Some evangelical Christians have fueled pro-Trump rhetoric that has taken on a life of its own, even as Donald Trump leaves office. (Fibonacci Blue/Wikimedia Commons)

Faith Communities Reflect on a Post-Trump Future

RALEIGH, N.C. -- As a new administration began its work, faith leaders said there is opportunity for religious communities to tamper down on …

The North Carolina Department for Health and Human Services says its goal is to decrease the percentage of children living in food insecure homes from 20.9% to 17.5% by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

NC Food Orgs Work to Share Local Produce for Holiday Season

DURHAM, N.C. - Thanksgiving gatherings may be smaller this year, but North Carolinians need access to food more than ever, as the pandemic's economic …

President Donald Trump led Joe Biden by a slim margin in North Carolina as of late Wednesday, and more than 100,000 absentee ballots have yet to be counted. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NC Final Vote Count Will Take Another Week; Officials Urge Patience

RALEIGH, N.C. -- In North Carolina, yet-to-be-counted absentee and provisional ballots have left presidential election results in limbo. Alissa …

North Carolina voters stand in line to cast their ballots on the first day of early voting. (Adobe Stock)

NC Churches Team Up to Provide Transportation to Polls

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Faith leaders are ramping up efforts to help voters cast their ballots before the polls close, and hundreds will be serving as …

Across the country, healthcare providers are helping patients register to vote or request mail-in ballots. (Adobe Stock)

NC Doctors Help Patients Register to Vote, Request Mail-in Ballots

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Some medical schools, clinics and community health centers in North Carolina are now giving patients the option to register to vote…

Around 77% of North Carolina residents identify as Christian. (Adobe Stock)

Religious Voters Look for Moral Leadership in Veep Debate

RALEIGH, N.C. -- As Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Republican incumbent Mike Pence gear up for their first debate tonight…

Compared to voters who were registered prior to the 2016 general election, newly registered North Carolina voters are more likely to identify as Hispanic or Asian, according to data from the North Carolina Demography Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Youth Voter Registration a Concern Amid Pandemic

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The deadline to register to vote in North Carolina is Friday, October 9, and advocacy groups are racing to get the word out with six …

Of all the potential North Carolina voters who were disenfranchised in 2016 because of a felony conviction, more than half were on community supervision. (Adobe Stock)

More Reform Urged after NC Ruling on Voting Rights for Some on Probation, Parole

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Some North Carolinians who currently are on probation, parole or post-release supervision for a felony conviction are now allowed to …

According to a nationwide Rutgers University study, around 14 million people with disabilities reported voting in 2018. (Adobe Stock)

NC’s Absentee Ballot 'Inaccessible' to Some Voters with Disabilities

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Some people living with disabilities can't fill out an absentee ballot without assistance, and disability-rights experts say that's …

The deadline for North Carolinians to request a ballot by mail for the 2020 presidential election is Tuesday, Oct. 27. (Adobe Stock)

In Politically Fraught Landscape, NC Voters Seek Moral Guidance

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A month-long virtual series organized by the North Carolina Council of Churches aims to inform voters who might feel overwhelmed in …

North Carolina is nearly twice as rural as the national average, according to Census data. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: NC’s Rural Voters Concerned About COVID-19 Response

RALEIGH, N.C. - Three out of four rural voters in North Carolina and six other swing states are concerned about the country's handling of the novel …

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the media spotlight on police brutality, some North Carolina congregations are speaking out against racism. (Adobe Stock)

NC Faith Communities Speak Out Against Systemic Racism

RALEIGH, N.C. -- National incidents involving police violence have prompted more faith-based organizations to speak out about where they stand on …

North Carolina and other states are bracing for a surge of absentee voters in the Nov. 3 presidential election. (Adobe Stock)

Witness Requirement Creates Barriers for Mail-In Voters, Critics Say

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Civil rights groups says a new election-reform law doesn't go far enough to ensure the absentee ballot voting process is accessible …

States with the highest voter turnout numbers have enacted same-day registration and easier vote-by-mail policies. (Adobe Stock)

Grassroots Groups Launch VoteNC.org

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Grassroots advocacy groups across the state have launched VoteNC.org, a get-out-the-vote campaign aimed at increasing voter turnout …

Crowdsourcing could play a key role in contact tracing as the novel coronavirus continues to spread. (Adobe Stock)

Coronavirus Spurs New Interest in Citizen Science Projects

RALEIGH, N.C. -- More people are showing interest in citizen science projects to help shed light on the novel coronavirus and the ways it spreads …

Police conduct against people of color has outraged the nation and sparked weeks-long protests.(Adobe Stock)

Activists Call Voting Key to Police Reform

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Knowing where local elected leaders stand on police use of force and using the power of your vote are key to implementing …

Early studies from researchers at Harvard University found that a small increase in long-term exposure to air pollution leads to a large increase in the COVID-19 death rate. (Adobe Stock)

Communities of Color Called Most At Risk from EPA’s Air Stance

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Environmental Protection Agency says it plans to leave current limits on air pollution unchanged, but critics say the particle …

The United States remains the only country among industrialized nations that does not have health coverage for all citizens. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Digital Town Hall: A Voice for North Carolinians’ Healthcare Struggles

RALEIGH, N.C. - In an online town-hall event yesterday, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein and Rep. Alma Adams, D-Charlotte, spoke about the …

More than 6 million people voted in the 2016 North Carolina presidential primary elections. (Adobe Stock)

Blocked ID Law May Still Influence NC Primary Turnout

RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolinians will not have to show photo identification to vote in the upcoming primary election. A federal judge in Greensboro …

Supreme Court, court of appeals and district court judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. (Adobe Stock)

Fast-Tracked Confirmations Reshaping Federal Judiciary

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Over the past few years, the U.S. Senate has confirmed 185 of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees, the majority of whom have …

The North Carolina state House of Representatives chamber is shown in a recent photo. Last month a state court said congressional maps drawn by North Carolina Republicans violated the state constitution. (Adobe stock)

State Court OKs Newly Redrawn Congressional Maps

RALEIGH, N.C. - Some good-government advocates say new congressional maps redrawn by state legislators still are partisan, despite the fact a state …

Some North Carolina Republican lawmakers were accused of gerrymandering in a case that made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. (Adobe Stock)

Eyes on NC State Court After SCOTUS Gerrymandering Decision

RALEIGH, N.C. — The fight for fair congressional maps continues at the state level, despite the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision that it …

Robert M. Pennoyer, now and at age 19, on the U.S.S. Pensacola at Iwo Jima in 1944 (Courtesy: Robert M. Pennoyer)

WWII Veteran: Ignorance, Indifference Greatest Threats to America

NEW YORK – Seventy-four years after he saw the flag raised on Iwo Jima, a World War II veteran has an Independence Day message for America: The …

About 70 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in homes, according to the American Heart Association.(Adobe Stock)

North Carolinians Learn Life-Saving Hands-Only CPR at Ballgame

DURHAM, N.C. – Hundreds of people at a Durham Bulls minor-league baseball game last week acquired an extra skill – learning hands-only …

In the eight counties along North Carolina's seacoast, more than 33,000 people were employed in the tourism industry, generating more than $295 million in state and local revenue, according to the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce. (Outerbanksfishing.org)

Bernhardt Confirmation Raises Concerns Over Offshore Drilling

CAPE HATTERAS, N.C. — The Senate vote set this week on the confirmation of David Bernhardt as Interior Secretary is making waves in North …

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality heard from thousands of residents across the state since a major spill at a Duke Energy plant in February 2014 dumped thousands of pounds of coal ash into the Dan River. (Sam Kepple/Appalachian Voices)

Public Sentiment Prevails in Fight for NC Coal-Ash Cleanup

RALEIGH, N.C. - The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality ruled this week that Duke Energy must excavate its last coal impoundments in …

This NBA All-Star weekend includes a Saturday evening event in Charlotte aimed at boosting young people's life and career aspirations, on or off the court. (Rushay Booysen/Twenty20)

Kids to Score Business Skills on NBA All-Star Weekend

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – As more than 150,000 people gather in Charlotte for the NBA All-Star Game, organizers of a different but related event want …

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NC: Civic Engagement & Voting