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For immediate release.
May 15, 2007
Contact: Bryan Warner, N.C. Center for Voter Education,
919.839.1200

A Late Presidential Primary Means N.C. Left Out

RALEIGH – Once again, North Carolina voters are left watching on the sideline as the Republican field of presidential contenders land just across the border for a nationally televised debate tonight in South Carolina.

Last month, the Democratic candidates descended upon South Carolina to square off. All of the contenders for the White House are sure to return many more times to the Palmetto State in hopes of making a mark in its early primary.

Will the presidential candidates stop in the Tar Heel State after stumping in South Carolina?  Perhaps only to refuel on their way to the 43 other states whose presidential primaries or majority party caucuses come before North Carolina’s vote.

But Senate Bill 168, introduced by state Sen. Andrew Brock (R-Davie), would move the state’s presidential primary from May to February, elevating North Carolina’s role in choosing the next commander in chief.

"By the time North Carolina votes in these primaries, the nominees are almost always already selected, and that's troubling because these early states get their issues on the national agenda, while we do not," says Chris Heagarty, executive director of the N.C. Center for Voter Education. “Moving our presidential primary forward will give our state a greater voice in choosing the next president.”

Some have been critical of the cost of holding a separate presidential primary election, as was done in 1988. However, an earlier presidential primary could also have a positive economic impact on North Carolina, with campaign staffers and national media touring the state as they follow the candidates.  In 2000, New Hampshire’s primary generated an economic impact of over $264 million for that state, and Iowa saw an estimated $60 million windfall from its caucus. There are other ways in which an earlier primary could have a positive economic impact on the state.

“Consider the $1.2 trillion in federal money at stake in the president’s discretionary budget,” says Heagarty. “For years, North Carolina has gotten back far less from Washington than what our taxpayers send. We shouldn’t always be last in line and left out, neither when it comes to casting our vote, nor when the President considers the importance of our state in the budget.”

The N.C. Center for Voter Education is a Raleigh-based nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, dedicated to improving elections in North Carolina.

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