Black voter turnout in North Carolina lower than 2020 election with 3 days left in early voting: ‘Encouraging’ – ABC11 Raleigh-Durham

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — Black early voter turnout is lower for the 2024 election than it was four years ago. There are questions about whether black voters will surpass early voter turnout numbers from the 2020 election.

“Early voting. I feel excited that it’s over,” Ryan Staggers said.

It’s rare for 28-year-old Ryan Staggers to vote early, but during the last election he learned his lesson.

“It was hectic. Trying to juggle that with work. I want to do better,” he said.

ABC11 met Staggers and another voter, Phyllis Breeden, outside the Durham County Main Library moments after they cast their ballots. Breeden smiled as he paraded around his new sticker.

“I am,” Breeden said. “I voted and you should too. Come down.”

They are among a group of African-American voters who decided to vote early.

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According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, while 1.5 million African Americans registered to vote, nearly 600,000 voted early.

Data from the 2020 election shows that about 750,000 black voters voted early.

“I am hopeful. That means we still have work to do,” said Lonis Sills, president of the Durham branch of The Links, Incorporated.

With three days left in early voting, voters like her believe the black vote will top the 2020 election total.

“Our organization’s mission is to transform our communities, and you can’t transform our communities if you don’t exercise your right to vote,” she said.

On Friday, the Durham Chapter of The Links partnered with several other historically black organizations to host a party at the Polls event. It will be held on the North Carolina Central University campus outside the Leroy Walker Center from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. The event will be a final push to get out the black vote.

“I am inspired by the number of young people who have expressed their interest in this election. Young people are the ones we hope will come out,” Sills said.