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The North Carolina GOP Is Pretty Happy About The State’s Lower Black Voter Turnout

Fewer African-Americans are turning out for early voting compared to 2012.
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Politics Intern, The Huffington Post

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North Carolina’s Republican Party boasted about the state’s early voting statistics in a press release on Monday, highlighting the decrease in African-American voters and increase in white voters as indicators that the “Obama coalition [is] crumbling.”

“The Republican ground game is showing that motivated statewide volunteers and extensive ground game are better indicators of electoral success than the number of candidate-specific offices one has,” Robin Hayes, the state party chairman, said. “Further, the connected weaknesses of Hillary Clinton, Deborah Ross, and Roy Cooper when combined with the clear Democrat voter apathy, shows the once dynamic Obama Coalition crumbling and tired.”

Early voting numbers among African-Americans are down by 8.5 percent from 2012, while early voting by white voters is up 22.5 percent, the North Carolina GOP says in the statement. The group seems to think this is an opportunity for its party to regain footing in the state.

North Carolina could go either way in the presidential race, and it also faces competitive Senate and gubernatorial races this year.

Early voter turnout among African-Americans nationally has been lower this year than in previous elections, which could ultimately hurt Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s chance of securing the presidency. 

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Voters cast their ballots during early voting in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Oct. 20, 2016. Turnout is down among African-American voters this year.
CHRIS KEANE/Reuters

African-Americans may have been more enthusiastic to cast a vote for President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, but the low turnout in North Carolina stems from more than that: Members of the state’s Republican Party have actively tried to reduce early voting opportunities, particularly those popular among black voters, in an effort to hurt Democrats in the election.  

A memo from the state GOP urging “party line changes to early voting” was sent out in August, which led to 23 county election boards reducing early voting hours. Nine boards completely cut out Sunday voting.

And, last week, the North Carolina NAACP sued the state after election officials in Beaufort, Moore and Cumberland counties cancelled voter registrations because campaign mailers sent to voter addresses were returned as undeliverable. The NAACP argues that the purge was an attempt by the North Carolina GOP to suppress the black vote. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Loretta Biggs ordered the county election boards to restore the registrations.

At least 3,500 voters had their registrations removed from the rolls in the past 90 days, according to Penda Hair, an attorney for the NAACP, which is a violation of the National Voter Registration Act.

HUFFPOST READERS: What’s happening in your state or district? The Huffington Post wants to know about all the campaign ads, mailers, robocalls, candidate appearances and other interesting campaign news happening by you. Email any tips, videos, audio files or photos to scoops@huffingtonpost.com.

 

Related Coverage:

Federal Judge Says North Carolina Must Restore Voter Registrations Of Those Removed From Rolls

North Carolina NAACP Sues State Over Voter Suppression

Federal Judge Calls North Carolina Voter Cancellation Process ‘Insane’

Black Voter Turnout So Far Is Not Good For Hillary Clinton

Today’s ‘Voter Fraud’ Efforts Recall Infamous 1990 Attempt To Deter Black Vote

North Carolina State Board Of Election Investigated A Voter Fraud Claim And Found Nothing

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Before You Go

14 Worst Anti-Gay Statements By GOP Presidential Candidates
Jeb Bush(01 of14)
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“To imagine how we are going to succeed in our country unless we have committed family life, a child-centered family system is hard to imagine. So, irrespective of the Supreme Court ruling [on marriage equality]… because they are going to decide whatever they decide, I don’t know what they are going to do, we need to be stalwart supporters of traditional marriage.” (credit:SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
Ben Carson(02 of14)
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"Because a lot of people who go into prison go into prison straight -- and when they come out, they're gay. So, did something happen while they were in there? Ask yourself that question."

"If you look at a lot of the writings of the neo-Marxists when they talk about the New World Order, they say there's only one stick-in-the-mud, the United States. How do you get them out of the way or how do you change them? And they said there were two fundamental things: the Judeo-Christian faith and their strong families. I liken the gay marriage crowd to a new group of mathematicians who say, 'Two plus two is five. And the new ones insist that it is five." (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
Chris Christie(03 of14)
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"If a same-sex marriage bill comes to the desk of Governor Christie, it will be returned to the legislature with a big red veto across it. Because, one, I believe that and I made it very clear to people during the entire campaign that that was my position and so there will be no surprise for the 1.2 million people who voted for me that that was and that is my position." (credit:SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
Ted Cruz(04 of14)
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"We look at the jihad that is being waged right now, in Indiana, and in Arkansas, going after people of faith who respect the biblical teaching that marriage is the union of one man and one woman."

"The reason that so many Americans love Duck Dynasty is because it represents the America usually ignored or mocked by liberal elites: a family that loves and cares for each other, believes in God, and speaks openly about their faith. If you believe in free speech or religious liberty, you should be deeply dismayed over the treatment of Phil Robertson. Phil expressed his personal views and his own religious faith; for that, he was suspended from his job. In a free society, anyone is free to disagree with him -- but the mainstream media should not behave as the thought police censoring the views with which they disagree.” (credit:SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images))
Carly Fiorina(05 of14)
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“And I think when we get into trouble on this debate when we assume that people who support gay marriage are open and compassionate and people who don't are not. It's why I believe the right way to solve these very personal issues is to let people vote on them, don't have judges decide it, don't even have representative government decide it, let people vote on it in the states. I think people of both points of view, accept the democratic process. What they don't always accept is a bunch of self-important, self-appointed judges saying this is culturally the new norm.” (credit:SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
Jim Gilmore(06 of14)
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"I’m not interested in sending a message of anger or hatred to anybody in this race — anyone. But I don’t support gay marriage. I think that the traditional marriage values that we’ve had over generations in America is the appropriate thing. The extent that people can find some way to build some kind of contractual relationship between themselves, fine, but I don’t think it should rise to a civil union which is really a substitute for the concept of marriage, and I don’t support that either." (credit:Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Donald Trump(07 of14)
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"I am a traditionalist. I have so many fabulous friends who happen to be gay, but I am a traditionalist.”

"I live in New York. New York is a place with lots of gays and I think it’s great, but I’m not in favor of gay marriage." (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
Lindsey Graham(08 of14)
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"I believe in the traditional definition of marriage. South Carolinians have repeatedly said that is the definition they support as well. I have been a strong supporter of the Defense of Marriage Act. I voted for it as a member of the House of Representatives, and as a Senator wrote a brief to the Supreme Court to uphold this important law. I was disappointed with today's outcome, but respect the Court's decision. One key point, today's Supreme Court ruling will not change South Carolina law and I will continue to fight for and defend the traditional definition of marriage." (credit:Steve Pope via Getty Images)
Mike Huckabee(09 of14)
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"[Gay marriage] is not just a political issue, it's a biblical issue. It's like asking somebody who's Jewish to start serving bacon-wrapped shrimp in their deli."

“If we’re determined to change the definition of marriage to accommodate how people feel and what they wish to do because of their mutual consent, then we should immediately release those incarcerated for practicing polygamy or bigamy. And, frankly, let’s make all consensual adult behaviors legal, whether prostitution, assisted suicide, or even drinking 16 ounce sodas in New York City.” (credit:SAUL LOEB via Getty Images)
Rick Santorum(10 of14)
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"Marriage is no longer about kids, it's simply about adults."

“There are people who are alive today who identified themselves as gay and lesbian and who no longer are. That’s true. I do know, I’ve met people in that case ... But I suspect that there’s all sorts of reasons that people end up the way they are. And I’ll sort of leave it at that. I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about these things, to be honest.” (credit:Alex Wong via Getty Images)
Rand Paul(11 of14)
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“I don’t think I’ve ever used the word 'gay rights,' because I don’t really believe in rights based on your behavior.”

[On LGBT discrimination laws] "I don't know if we need to keep adding to different classifications to say government needs to be involved in the hiring and firing. I think society is rapidly changing and if you are gay, there are plenty of places that will hire you." (credit:Joe Raedle via Getty Images)
Marco Rubio(12 of14)
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“We are at the water’s edge of the argument that mainstream Christian teaching is hate speech because today we’ve reached the point in our society where if you do not support same-sex marriage, you are labeled a homophobe and a hater. So what’s the next step after that? After they’re done going after individuals, the next step is to argue that the teachings of mainstream Christianity, the catechism of the Catholic Church, is hate speech. That’s a real and present danger.” (credit:SAUL LOEB via Getty Images)
George Pataki(13 of14)
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“Personally, I think marriage is between a man and a woman, but I accept the fact that the court has ruled and that is the law of the land." (credit:CNBC via Getty Images)
John Kasich(14 of14)
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"I'm an old fashioned person and I happen to believe in traditional marriage." (credit:DON EMMERT via Getty Images)
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