Posted on October 19, 2010

White GOP Men Stand Out in Early Voting

Rob Christensen and Jane Stancill, News & Observer (Raleigh), October 19, 2010

The largest group of early voters in North Carolina is made up of white Republican men, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Democracy North Carolina, a campaign watchdog group.

During the 2008 Democratic sweep, black Democratic women led all groups during the 17 days of early voting. But during the first three days of early voting this year, it is white Republican men.

“Early voting doesn’t favor one party or another, but reveals who’s most organized and enthusiastic about making their voices heard,” said Bob Hall, director of Democracy North Carolina.

So far early voting has been especially heavy for a midterm election. In the first three days of voting, 72,173 people across the state have cast early ballots.

That’s more than the 70,645 votes that had been cast at this point in the 2004 presidential elections. At the same point in 2006, 35,728 votes had been cast. By comparison 266,649 votes were cast during the first three days of 2008.

So far this year, registered Democrats are edging out Republicans, 31,910 to 27,623.

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