President's Voice

2024 is a potentially pivotal moment in our democracy as an election year. As a result, for the League of Women Voters, and, indeed, the League of Women Voters of Charlotte Mecklenburg (LWVCM), we are focusing on two foundational principles of our nonpartisan organization: protecting democracy and empowering the vote as central to participating in our democracy.

For those of us who believe in those values, there are plenty of signs this will be a tremendous challenge. Issues aside, we must reverse the trend of voter apathy. Nationally, for example, the Pew Research Center has reported that many Americans continue to tune out of political news, party affiliation and elections. Among their findings, which we see validated in public discourse every day – “there is too much fighting and not enough progress being made on issues that are important to everyday people.” They would like to see less negativity and more progress on important issues. In the fall of 2020, NC voter turnout was at a record high, with 75% of registered voters casting their ballots. Despite this historic voting level of participation, 25% of registered voters did not vote, representing 1.8 million of our citizens whose voices were not heard. As we know, many elections are won and lost by slim margins. For example, the race for Chief Justice of the NC Supreme Court was won by a mere 401 votes, a figure representing only 4 voters in each of our 100 counties. YOUR VOTE COUNTS!

We know one of those segments with low participation is young people, who are the foundations of our future, and, in North Carolina, we have an extraordinary amount of work to do to reactivate the youth vote. In the 2022 elections in NC, according to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, just 23.1% of all voting-eligible youth (ages 18-29) in North Carolina cast a ballot in 2022. While sadly, that’s about the national average, that’s down 2.7% from 2020. What’s more, according to the report, registration matters – the top 3 states among 2022 youth turnout also had double-digit increases in registration.

More recently, in the March 2024 primary in Mecklenburg County, only 18.77% of eligible voters cast a ballot. We must improve this significantly!

Our LWVCM is tackling these critical issues through our ongoing activities to register voters and educate them about the importance of voting. We are also calling their attention to the League’s Vote411.org tool, where they can learn about the candidates in their own district, research candidate stances on key issues and explore a sample ballot customized to their district. 

On the Voter Services page of this website, you can learn more about the new photo ID requirements and other pertinent details you need to be a voter.

Throughout this website, you can read more about what we do in the LWVCM and valuable opportunities where you can become involved and make a difference. Personally I am heartened by the signs of civic engagement by increasing members of our LWVCM. New members are stepping up to act, along with longtime members who are re-engaged.

There are many ways you can TAKE ACTION in your democracy this year. What’s most vital, above all, is that you PARTICIPATE!