Resize Text

For immediate release.
Oct. 22, 2008
Contact: Bryan Warner, N.C. Center for Voter Education, 877-258-6837 (toll free)

Online Guide Gives Voters Facts on Down-Ballot Races

RALEIGH - With a blockbuster ballot featuring tight races for the White House, governor’s mansion and U.S. Senate, North Carolina will likely see a record number of voters go to the polls this year.

But after they make their pick for the presidency, will voters recognize the names and races at the bottom of the ballot?

Research by the nonpartisan N.C. Center for Voter Education has shown that North Carolina voters often know little about the candidates for such races as the Council of State, N.C. Supreme Court and N.C. Court of Appeals.

To empower voters with facts on these down-ballot races, the N.C. Center for Voter Education has partnered with UNC-TV statewide public television to create www.NCVoterGuide.org, an online voter guide providing candidate profiles and in-depth interviews with the nominees, along with information on voting in North Carolina.

The N.C. Center for Voter Education will also join UNC-TV in presenting a series of televised forums featuring candidates for the N.C. Supreme Court and N.C. Court of Appeals, along with contenders for state auditor, commissioner of insurance and state superintendent of public instruction. The series kicks off on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m., statewide on UNC-TV.

“It is wonderful to see the excitement surrounding this year’s elections, but it is vital that voters are well prepared when they go to the polls,” said John Thompson, executive director of the N.C. Center for Voter Education. “We have designed our online voter guide and televised candidate forums with UNC-TV to empower voters with the facts they need to cast a complete ballot.”

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

###

Online: http://www.ncvoterguide.org

Editor’s note:

UNC-TV will air a series of candidate forums statewide on Sunday, Oct. 26. The broadcast schedule is as follows:

“Judges for N.C. Court of Appeals” -- 1 p.m.

“Justices for N.C. Supreme Court” -- 2 p.m.

“Council of State Forum: State Auditor, Commissioner of Insurance and State Superintendent of Public Instruction” -- 2:30 p.m.