Democrats push for early voting precinct on UNCW campus | News

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - When it comes to early voting in New Hanover County, college students have not had the highest voter turnout in recent years, but now, there's a push from one political party to make voting easier.

Some people in the Democratic Party say that since UNCW is one of the largest voting precincts in New Hanover County, it's time for the Board of Elections to put an early voting precinct on campus.

Marvin McFadyen, the Supervisor of Elections in New Hanover County says that the idea has been discussed for a while.

UNCW's Warwick Center on campus will be used as a precinct on Election Day, and since the campus is so active with extracurricular activities taking place, it's difficult for election officials to use that building just for the day.

McFadyen says that it would have almost been impossible to turn a building on campus into an early voting precinct, since they would need the building for weeks.

But some people say, since not all college students have transportation, and the voting turnout on campus is low, it's time they find a place.

McFadyen says just last week, he reached out to administrators on campus about the idea and was told they also do not believe there's a facility that could serve as an early voting precinct.

However, a group of Democrats plans to bring the idea back up with the board of elections next week.

According to McFadyen, since board of election members have voted on precincts and the deadline has passed, unless there's some type of appeal, there's a small chance that UNCW will get an early voting precinct.

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