NC primary 2024 in Asheville-area recap: See what voters had to say
The polls are now closed for Super Tuesday for the North Carolina primary elections. The Citizen Times has been bringing readers live updates throughout the day with reporters out at the polls in Asheville, Buncombe County, Henderson County, Madison County and elsewhere in Western North Carolina talking to voters as they choose who will be running in the November general elections. Polls closed at 7:30 p.m. After that, we'll have the latest results as they come in.
Here are some things to know:
Here's a Super Tuesday overview by reporter Mitch Black.
All of our coverage in one place by reporter Sarah Honosky.
Reporter Joel Burgess looks at the District 11 congressional races.
Honosky looks at Asheville City Council candidates.
Black reports on Buncombe County commission candidates.
Also from Black, a look at Buncombe clerk of court.
N.C. State Reporter Sarah Gleason writes about the North Carolina governor candidates.
Gleason also looks at candidates running for the state lieutenant governor seat.
10:00 p.m. Horton leads Kern in Buncombe commissioners race
Preliminary election results show clear frontrunners in primaries to challenge for the first district of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners.
Democrat long-term care facility owner and longtime health care professional Jenifer Horton leads Sierra Club-endorsed Matt Kern, who owns a residential building company, by 680 votes with all 80 precincts reporting March 5.
Read more here:
More: Jenifer Horton, Paul Benjamin win Buncombe County Commission 1st district primaries
9:40 p.m. Asheville City Council primary races called with unofficial
Six City Council candidates will move forward from a 7-way nonpartisan primary, with incumbents Kim Roney and Sage Turner leading the way with 20.24% and 18.80% of the vote, respectively.
Just behind is downtown business owner Kevan Frazier, with 16.61%, and Bo Hess, with 14.01% of the vote, according to preliminary election results.
Also in the running is Tod Leaven and CJ Domingo.
These six candidates will move on to the November general election to vie for the three open seats. Results are unofficial until certified on March 15. See full story here:
City Council race: Asheville council primary: Incumbents Roney and Turner win night, Frazier close behind
9:00 p.m. Amanda Edwards speaks at Democratic watch party
At the Buncombe County Democrats election watch party at Hi-Wire in Biltmore Village.
Congressional candidate and state Rep. Caleb Rudow said he woke up at 4:45 a.m. to visit each of the 16 counties in NC-11.
He and then Buncombe County Commissioner and candidate for NC Court of Appeals relayed two main messages: health care and education.
Rudow focused on quality of care, in particular for HCA patients, and teacher pay.
8:30 p.m. County Board of Elections projects 48,000 to cast their votes in Buncombe County
The polls have closed across North Carolina and in Buncombe County. According to a news release from Buncombe County Board of Elections, preliminary numbers project that nearly 48,000 people will have cast their votes in the Primary Election, a turnout very similar to the 2022 Primary, but lagging behind 2020 results.
These numbers will continue to change, as boards of elections had to wait until 7:30 p.m. to “close the polls.” As a result of recent changes in state law, county boards must wait until 7:30 p.m. to begin the process of counting and reporting results of ballots cast during the early voting period. This process takes an estimated 30 to 60 minutes – and possibly longer in some counties – before unofficial early voting results can be posted publicly on the State Board of Elections’ Election Results Dashboard.
A final update on unofficial results will be provided at 10 p.m.
Election night marks the beginning of the statutorily required vote-counting and auditing processes after every election called “canvass.” Canvass is the entire process of ensuring votes have been counted correctly and required audits have been completed, culminating in the certification of results during meetings of every county board of elections. By law, these canvass meetings will be held by each county board of elections at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 15.
Board of Elections meetings are open to the public and streamed live on engage.buncombecounty.org/boardofelections.
8 p.m.: Races in NC called by media outlets
The Associated Press has declared President Joe Biden as the North Carolina primary winner in the Democratic presidential race. It also declared Donald Trump as the Republican primary winner.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press declared Mark Robinson as the Republican winner in the N.C. gubernatorial primary and Josh Stein as the Democratic winner.
7:30 p.m.: The polls in North Carolina are closed
That's a wrap on voting in the N.C. primary on Super Tuesday. Now comes the wait. Unlike previous years when the state Board of Elections posted early voting results just minutes after polls closed, election rules in place this year require that early votes not be counted until the polls close today. That will result in a delay of results reporting. How long of a delay? Elections officials are speculating at least 30 minutes. But no one knows for sure.
Stay with the Citizen Times tonight as we report on our local races as well as key state races.
7:15 p.m.: More women, minorities in government
Carl Woermann, 53, had voted earlier at the Woodfin Community Center, but he was in a lawn chair alongside a pamphlet-burdened table, volunteering with the Buncombe County Democratic Party, by the evening.
The main issue bringing him out to the polls, he said, was a desire to see women and minorities voted into open seats, "to give them a chance so there is more balance in government."
He was excited about Joe Biden, he said. "He's smart. I'm excited about him, he's doing great." Of gubernatorial, he said Josh Stein is a "solid candidate."
— Sarah Honosky
7 p.m.: Anti-abortion issues tops for Woodfin voter
Catherine Hamilton was at the Woodfin Community Center with her 17-month-old twins in tow.
She cares about anti-abortion issues.
"I believe that every life is valuable, and every mother is valuable and should be supported," she said.
For governor, she was interested in Mark Robinson, and found his speeches "very inspiring."
— Sarah Honosky
6:50 p.m.: Vote of confidence for Biden
Deanna Zenn, a 60-year-old teacher voting in the Democratic primary said she came to the Wesley Grant Center in the Southside United neighborhood to give what she called a vote of confidence to President Joe Biden.
“He is doing an amazing job, given all the issues we are facing right now. So, I thought it was really important that I come out and make my voice heard, saying I support him 100%.”
Zenn also voted for Josh Stein for governor, saying he would do a great job continuing the policies of the state’s current democratic governor, Roy Cooper. “And I'm just really gratified to see that down ballot here in our area that there are so many women on the ballot and I came out to support them.”
— Joel Burgess
6:38 p.m.: 'Get away from Trump'
Alice Silver said she came out to the polls because "it's my right to vote, and I think it's important," she said at the Woodfin Community Center.
Her support is behind Biden.
"If you don't vote for Biden, you're hurting our chance to get away from Trump," Silver said. "I think he's been doing a good job."
— Sarah Honosky
6:30 p.m.: Housing, hotels brings voter to the Wesley Grant Center
The parking lot at the Wesley Grant Center in the Southside United neighborhood began to fill up after 5 p.m. with voters stopping to talk to chat with friends and poll workers making last-minute plugs.
Trina Griffin, 57, had grown up in the neighborhood and said she was concerned with an apathy she had witnessed among Black voters.
“A lot of people, especially, African Americans, don't vote for whatever reason, especially the younger generation. But it's really, really important to have your say,” Griffin said.
She declined to name the candidates she was supporting but said noted local issues that drew her to the polls and were at play in the City Council race, a nonpartisan contest.
“There’s too much high-priced housing. How many more hotels can you get downtown,” she said. “It’s about focusing on community needs.”
— Joel Burgess
6:10 p.m.: Presidential race is key
Gregory Schneider said he came to Mountain View Baptist Church in Henderson County mainly to cast his vote for former president Donald Trump.
"The presidential election was the main reason I came. I think we need change, and I think we were better off under him," he said.
— Dean Hensley
5:55 p.m.: Affordable housing not affordable
Outside the Friendship Community Center in the Shiloh neighborhood, Teresa Sims emerged from the polling location with housing on her mind.
Sims, 67, said she is retired from the military Coast Guard. She lives in Shiloh and thinks that homeownership has become too expensive.
“People talk about affordable housing, but not everyone can afford them. It’s not a racial equality thing,” she said, later explaining, “It’s not for Blacks in other words.”
She nodded in agreement as her friend, who did not want to be named, shared concerns that future generations will struggle with homeownership. Sims said that affordable childcare also needs to be a priority.
As birds chirped in the background, and people played baseball on the field across the street, Sims looked to the road and voiced her frustration about what some say is government’s fundamental job. “Where’s the money being spent for the potholes?” she asked.
— Mitchell Black
5:48 p.m.: Support for Biden in Henderson County
Charles Myers said he came to cast his vote for President Joe Biden once again.
"I wanted to show my support for him," he said at Mountain View Baptist Church in Henderson County.
Another Democratic candidate he came to support was Rachel Hunt, who was elected to the North Carolina state Senate in 2022.
"I have met her father, and I particularly wanted to come out and support her," he said.
— Dean Hensley
5:40 p.m.: Importance of local elections
Naomi Friedman, 59, at Jones Elementary, said "local elections are the most important elections. People don't realize it."
The issue of most concern to her, Friedman said, was "rising antisemitism." Of local candidates she was excited by, Friedman pointed to City Council hopeful Tod Leaven. She was concerned about bridging the achievement gap in area schools and downtown safety.
— Sarah Honosky
5:35 p.m.: Immigration top issue for naturalized citizen
Martha Lozano, 73, who also lives in the Emma area volunteered with the Republican Party.
A naturalized citizen who came to the U.S. from Colombia at the age of 12 with her five other siblings and then newly-divorced mother, Lozano said that illegal immigration motivated her to pick candidates such as Donald Trump for president and Robinson for governor.
“The illegals coming through the backdoor are one of the issues,” she said. “I believe we should come – and all of us want to come because this is one of the best countries to live in – through the legal process, the way I came with my Mom and siblings.” With the U.S. House GOP primary, Lozano said she was actually looking for new blood and picked Christian Reagan, a candidate from Clay County who has never served in elected office – as opposed to incumbent Rep. Chuck Edwards who is in his first congressional term but served three in the state Senate.
— Joel Burgess
5:30 p.m.: Don't 'end up like New Jersey'
Brian Hofgesang moved to the Hendersonville area from New Jersey, he said. That fact alone was one of the main reasons he came to vote at Mountain View Baptist Church, the Northeast precinct for Henderson County.
"In a nutshell, I spent 45 years in New Jersey, so I left New Jersey because I don't like the way it's run. I came to vote to make sure North Carolina is not going to end up like New Jersey ... period. That's it," he said, adding he didn't want to disclose who or what party he voted for.
— Dean Hensley
5:25 p.m.: Having a voice at Ira Jones Elementary
Bonnie Wheeler, of North Asheville, was casting her ballot at Ira B. Jones Elementary school.
"I have to have a voice. It's a big way to make a difference and impact my future, and the future of my family," she said. Of issues that drove her to the polls, Wheeler said, "preserving democracy in our country" is what spoke most to her.
— Sarah Honosky
5:15 p.m.: In support of his wife at Roberson
Standing outside T.C. Roberson, the high school he once attended, Kamali Horton, 44, handed out flyers with his wife’s campaign platform. Jenifer Horton, whom he calls his better half, is a Democratic candidate for the first district of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. They live together in Fairview.
Kamali, with his back pressed up against a metal stanchion outside the gymnasium where voters cast their ballots and his arm in a sling from rotator cuff surgery, told the Citizen Times that he played a supportive role in the background of his wife’s campaign. The couple often bounced ideas about policy solutions after hearing issues from voters at campaign events.
While speaking to the Citizen Times, Kamali received a call from Jenifer. He downloaded his wife on the conversation he had with the Citizen Times and coordinated details about the evening election party held at Wings on Long Shoals.
Jenifer first decided to run for the county board because she had difficulty getting resources to the people around her, Kamali said. She was tired of overdoses, suicides and seeing people with mental illnesses who struggled to survive on their own, he said. Jenifer runs five assisted living facilities in Asheville. In her campaign materials, she touts her 20 years of experience in health care. Kamali helps run the businesses and works as a CDL truck driver.
Kamali, a softspoken man who chooses his words carefully, was confident in his wife, saying “I don’t think anything is stopping Jenifer.”
He told the Citizen Times that he met Jenifer through a mutual friend, calling it “love at first sight.” “I shot my shot,” he said.
— Mitchell Black
5 p.m.: Lull at Emma Elementary
At Emma Elementary, a polling site in West Asheville, two party volunteers dealt with a stiff wind and fluttering papers as they waited out an early afternoon lull in voters.
“Voters will tend to come in the morning before work in the afternoon, when people start getting off work,” said Buncombe County Democratic Party volunteer Steve Burns.
Burns, 65, a retired organic chemistry teacher, lives in the Emma area and said he considers himself a moderate and is generally concerned about candidates he sees as too far on the fringes.
“I think Josh Stein is well qualified to be governor,” he said.
Looking ahead to the Nov. 5 general election and the Republican many believe will win his primary and face Stein, Mark Robinson, Burns said the lieutenant governor was “pandering to the right.”
“You have to look at how a candidate approaches problems, and think, ‘are they going to be good for the state?’”
— Joel Burgess
4:50 p.m.: 'Damage control'
Robin Mackenzie, 21, of Marshall, said he is voting as a form of "damage control."
"Most of the people, in my friend group at least, are slightly more concerned than we are actually excited to vote for anybody," Mackenzie said.
"It's more so who's going to do the less damage to our rights and our responsibilities, and who's going to do their job the best, I guess."
When asked who he likes as a candidate, Mackenzie said he "doesn't like anybody."
"I don't like any of them," Mackenzie said. "I wouldn't vote if I didn't think that it was at least somewhat a responsibility to say something, put a tally on the board somewhere. But, if I didn't think it mattered at all, I wouldn't do it."
— Johnny Casey
4:40 p.m.: Buncombe County voting update
Kassi Day, Buncombe County spokesperson, said in a news release sent at 4:36 p.m. that more than 20,000 people had voted in the county by 4 p.m. Here's the release:
The 2024 Primary Election is poised to exceed the 2022 primary voter turnout as of the 4 p.m. count. With the latest numbers, 20,429 voters have turned out to the County’s 80 precincts for Primary Election Day.
Cumulatively, 26,149 voters have taken advantage of early voting and just more than 1,400 absentee ballots have been received. You can see a breakdown of how many people voted at each precinct here. The next update will be after polls close at 7:30 p.m.
First Born Baptist Church has experienced the highest turnout at this time with 453 voters. Those who haven’t voted yet can check the wait counts here.
4:30 p.m.: First-time voter in Asheville
At 18, it was Ruby Schantz's first time voting. She had come to vote at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, but finding she was supposed to vote at another nearby precinct, was on her way there at around 3:30 p.m.
On why she felt drawn out to vote, she said she's "been taught that even though it might feel like you're just one in a huge number of people voting, it still matters."
"I know a lot of people feel discouraged to vote, because (they think) my vote doesn't matter, but they all do," Schantz said.
— Sarah Honosky
4:20 p.m.: Helping out at West Henderson
At West Henderson High School, voters were sparsely coming in, according to student volunteer Diego McCreery, who was helping direct people to the right place to go to. The West junior also told voters to have their IDs ready.
"It's very nice getting to come outside and leading people to the right direction to come vote. I'm also hoping to get out of chemistry class later," he said.
The 17-year-old said he's anxious to get his chance to vote next year.
"I'm 17, and I'll be voting soon. So, I want to give people the best environment possible when they come vote. It should be peaceful, lively and fun at the same time," he said.
— Dean Hensley
4:10 p.m.: Appreciative of Trump's strong leadership style
The Citizen Times spoke to Tracy Reid, 57, and her husband, Van, 70, just outside T.C. Roberson High School. Tracy is a self-employed wedding photographer. Van is retired. They drove to the precinct by mistake, and election workers directed them to their correct polling location, the Glenn Arden School.
Just before they pulled out of their parking space, the Citizen Times approached the Reids in their 2011 White Toyota Venza to ask some questions to the couple and their 3-year-old King Cavalier, Ollie.
The Reids are Republicans; former President Donald Trump brought them to the polls. They said they liked Trump’s border policies. Tracy said she didn’t know or trust Trump’s main competitor, Nikki Haley, and appreciate Trump’s strong leadership style.
The Reids acknowledged that they don’t always “love” Trump’s delivery. Tracey said that sometimes the bombastic former president speaks without thinking.
The Reids drove off to vote as a group of students practice shotput in the field nearby.
— Mitchell Black
3:50 p.m.: 'Anything other than Trump'
John Griffith, 71, of Marshall, is a retired engineer.
Griffith, who is from California and has lived in Marshall for four years, and Western North Carolina for 10 years, said he does not want to see Donald Trump be elected.
"Anything other than Trump," said Griffith, who is registered as an unaffiliated voter.
Griffith said he'll be using a form of political sabotage to vote against Trump.
"I've got a Republican ballot and will be voting for Nikki Haley," Griffith said.
"But I'll never vote Republican in a general election."
— Johnny Casey
3:15 p.m.: Housing and a vote of protest
For Salli Gaddini, 74, and John Stevens, 82, a pair of voters at the Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, it's important to vote. But when asked what candidates excited them, Gaddini said, "excite or terrify us?"
What terrifies them? "You know perfectly well."
As staunch Democrats, Gaddini said Biden got their presidential vote, and Josh Stein their gubernatorial. But locally, they were pleased to cast ballots for Kevan Frazier and Kim Roney on City Council.
A top local issue is "measured growth," Gaddini said. “I am excited about the density. Density of housing,” she added, and exhausted with high-end condos being left empty most of the year by out-of-town buyers using them as vacation homes or Airbnbs.
Also filtering out of the community center was Lani Blakeslee, another Montford resident, who echoed the importance of voting.
"I think it’s important for people to show up. And I think it’s important for the constituency to make their presence and desires known, because otherwise, there are no checks and balances for the people who are put in leadership positions," Blakeslee said.
That said, her presidential ballot was a "protest vote" of no preference against Biden.
“Biden is the weakest candidate the Democrats ever put forward,” she said, and felt the Democratic National Committee had overlooked viable candidates in favor of Biden.
“I was a Democrat. I am now an Independent. The Democrats have to work for my vote," she added.
Locally, she was supportive of Jean Marie Christy, and voted all non-incumbent for council candidates in the hopes of some "fresh blood."
Blakeslee said she's been unhappy with recent development decisions, and was hopeful for more environmentally conscious, equitable development solutions in the future.
— Sarah Honosky
2:51 p.m.: Early afternoon count shows more than 15,000 Buncombe voters
From a Buncombe County news release:
The 2024 Primary Election Day is just more than halfway over, and the polls in Buncombe County have been open since 6:30 a.m. As of 2 p.m., 15,391 voters have turned out to the County’s 80 precincts today, up from 5,226 at 10 a.m. So far, 26,149 voters have taken advantage of early voting and just more than 1,400 absentee ballots have been received. You can see a breakdown of how many people voted at each precinct here.
As of 2 p.m., First Born Baptist Church has experienced the highest turnout with 338 voters, followed by Pole Creek Baptist with 326 voters. Those who haven’t voted yet can check the wait counts here.
Buncombe County will also release voter count numbers at 4 p.m.
Polls in Buncombe County are open from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. As long as you are in line by 7:30 p.m., you will have the chance to vote. You must vote at the polling place in your assigned precinct. If you need help finding your voting location, enter your name at the Voter Search Tool.
2:45 p.m.: Education concerns bring out Madison County voter
Meghan Irby, 37, of Marshall, said education is the issue she's most concerned about in this election.
"I'm excited about anything and anyone supports the children of Madison County," Irby said. "As long as our children are thriving. I'm looking for somebody who cares more about the children than anything else, because or kids are important.
"We want them to come back and be thriving economic contributors."
— Johnny Casey
2:30 p.m.: Voter turnout concerns in Madison County
Patrick Ward is chair of Madison County Republican Party.
Ward said voter participation was down compared to past years, and pointed to Madison County's participation in the 2020 and 2022 elections, in which there was 38% and 24% participation among registered voters.
According to Ward, as of 1:45 p.m. there were roughly 150 ballots cast at the North Marshall precinct, at Madison Early College High School.
As of 1:45 p.m., Madison County Board of Elections Chair Jacob Ray said the participation was trending closer to 12%. He said 2,004 ballots were cast as of 1:45 p.m. There are 17,037 registered voters in Madison County, per the North Carolina State Board of Elections website.
Ward said roughly 7% of voters used early voting.
Ward said the low voter turnout was discouraging.
"Usually in a primary, we'll make between 30 and 40%. I'm going to hope for 25%, which is double what we're at now. If we can get it to 25% turnout, I guess we're calling it a win.
"This is a huge election for the state of North Carolina. You don't have an incumbent governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer or auditor. So, 30% of your population is picking your candidates, if you're lucky."
— Johnny Casey
2:20 p.m.: Strong leadership needed
Bea Smith came out to the Fairview Community Center to vote around 2 p.m.
She said the most pressing issues on her mind were immigration and the economy and that former President Donald Trump got her vote.
"I think he did a great job while he was in office before," Smith said. "I think it's going to take someone strong like him to get us back to where we need to be."
— Karrigan Monk
2:05 p.m.: 'We'll lose the country if we don't win'
Amy Pearson said she has been working with the Madison County Republican Party for a few years, though this is her first primary working with the Madison County Republican Party.
Pearson was handing out sample ballots to voters at the Marshall voting site.
Pearson said she supports Donald Trump, and the two most important issues, in her view, are border security and the economy.
"We'll lose the country if we don't win," said Pearson, who said she supports Donald Trump. "People vote their pocket book. We had four years of prosperity and peace with Trump, and we don't now. The whole world is on fire. Look at it all."
— Johnny Casey
1:50 p.m.: Slow going at Beaverdam Community Center
As of 1:30 p.m., Beaverdam Community Center precinct Chief Judge Cameron Smith said 120 people had voted at the site, and there were just a few people there.
Peggy Pilkington of Canton said she is concerned about immigration and the cost of living. "When you're a senior citizen, and everything goes up and up and up, it gets hard," she said.
— Carole Terrell
1:40 p.m.: Black Mountain voters' trouble
Voters have come to Black Mountain Primary School hoping to cast a vote, but are being told they are at the wrong polling place.
One voter in this position, Emily Cameron, said she does not “understand it.”
“I’m at the wrong precinct, which makes no sense to me,” Cameron said. “This is a tiny town. Why are there so many places to vote?”
— Karrigan Monk
1:25 p.m.: Looking for another choice
Mitch Fruecht came out to vote undecided on the Democratic primary ballot, where he hopes "another candidate comes out of the ashes" of the current Democratic Primary.
Fruecht, who was voting at the Oakley-Murphy Community Center, noted his main reason was the Israel-Hamas war which has killed tens of thousands in Gaza. He hopes for someone a little younger than Biden.
"I've always wanted a younger candidate," Fruecht said.
— Will Hofmann
1:05 p.m.: Report from Hendersonville
Joan O'Hara came out to cast her ballot at Hendersonville High. She said she voted straight Republican, mainly because she was tired of paying too much for groceries.
"I hope the local people I voted for appreciate this," she said.
— Dean Hensley
12:50 p.m.: Affordability a top issue
Emily Thompson stopped at Oakley-Murphy Community Center with her two children during North Carolina's Super Tuesday. For Thompson, the issues of cost of living and affordability were at the top of her mind.
Thompson said Asheville City Council candidate Bo Hess' statements "seemed to resonate" with her.
Thompson also noted another aspect of the election: voter exhaustion. "I think voters are growing tired and inundated with extreme views," Thompson said of the election.
— Will Hofmann
12:35 p.m.: First-time voter in Black Mountain
Wilson Davis, 18, came out to the polls at Black Mountain Primary School for his first time voting.
“It’s a rite of passage,” Davis said.
He said no particular race drew him out, but he wanted to support relative Jean Marie Christy, who is running for Buncombe County Clerk of Court.
Some voters are coming to Black Mountain Primary School as the wrong polling location and are being told to go to Black Mountain Elementary School, another voting location in the area.
Barbara Wall, who is campaigning for the Democratic Party, said it has been a “slow day” so far.
— Karrigan Monk
12:25 p.m.: 'Disenfranchised' with City Council
Finding that homelessness, housing and cost of living were some of the most important issues in Asheville, Pat Burton said that he felt "somewhat disenfranchised with all of City Council."
As for the presidential election, Burton said he voted for Donald Trump: "I voted for Trump, but he's not my favorite."
Recently moving from Florida to Asheville, David Usko defines himself as an independent voter, where democracy was the most important issue in this election.
Pulling the lever for Nikki Haley in the Republican primary, Usko noted he "had a hard time with Trump" alongside "dysfunctionality in Congress."
"I was just compelled to vote for Nikki," Usko said, noting the nation needs someone who brings people together.
— Will Hofmann
12:15 p.m.: 'Get rid of Biden'
Gerard Robinson of Canton, who came out to vote with his wife, Betty Jean, said his concerns are about the economy, immigration and “voting to get rid of Biden.”
The Robinsons visited Canton Branch Library to vote but found out they needed to go to Beaverdam Community Center to vote. This was happening to quite a few people.
— Carole Terrell
12:10 p.m.: County commission a priority
Standing outside the Avery's Creek Community Center, Paula Brewer, 65, said she was motivated to vote in part because of the Buncombe County commissioners race.
“I came to vote to make sure who I want gets in,” Brewer said, adding she voted for Paul Benjamin.
“He’s more conservative, and I want to see less high density growth.”
— Ryley Ober
Noon: A scramble for parking at Oakley
As voters made their way to the ballot box at Oakley-Murphy Community Center, another major decision had to be made on where to park amid ongoing construction in the main parking lot. Overflow is located at Oakley Elementary school.
Leslie Hennessee-Patrick said there are "so many things that need to be changed and addressed," noting that on local homelessness and affordable housing issues, she supported the efforts of Kim Roney and Sage Turner for City Council.
Hennessee-Patrick said she intended to bring out her grandchildren after they are off school.
— Will Hofmann
11:50 a.m.: Voting for qualified candidates
Stephanie Carson, 46, voted at West Asheville Library.
She walked to the library with her dog.
“I vote for everything every election, but I specifically voted today because I wanted to make sure we have qualified candidates on the ballot," she said. "So, for the first time ever I voted for a Republican nominee. I voted for Nikki Haley because I cannot have Trump on the ballot. We, as a country, it’s not safe, and I may not agree with all her politics, but I do think that she’s well-intentioned. I would like to have two well-intentioned options on the ballot.”
“Once you choose the Republican ballot you can’t select any Democratic candidates, so I only voted for Nikki Haley and for Sage Turner for City Council. That’s unfortunate. I feel kind of left out of the other races, but it was worth it to do what I can to try to see if she can win the state.”
Regarding Sage Turner and City Council, Carson said: “I love her. She’s so proactive and she’s constantly invested. She’s proven that she’s been invested in the city way before she ended up on City Council and since she’s been on the council, she’s meant what she said and she’s acted.”
— Tiana Kennell
11:43 a.m.: A vote for Biden at Avery's Creek
Joe Myers, 83, came out to vote at Avery's Creek Community Center because “I had to vote for Joe Biden and Jeff Jackson.”
“I think Biden’s been a good president and I think he’ll be much better than Trump,” Myers said. “I’m not happy with some of the things he’s done but most I have been, and I’m not happy with anything Trump has done.”
Myers said he chose Jackson for attorney general because he’s been an “unbelievable good congressperson because he’s kept his constituents up to date on everything going on in the House of Representatives, which is a lot.”
Myers, who has in lived in the Arden area for about eight years, said Jackson sends updates out every two weeks, which Myers has “never seen before.”
— Ryley Ober
11:35 a.m.: Reports say Facebook has crashed on Super Tuesday
Around 9 a.m., hundreds of thousands of users reported Facebook being down during one of the biggest election days of the year, according to Downdetector.
Many users were reporting being logged out of Facebook accounts with no ability to log back in. There also were reports of issues with Instagram and WhatsApp.
— Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY
11:25 a.m.: Report from Bell Elementary — housing, tourism, immigration key issues
Charles C. Bell Elementary saw first-time voters and a focus on local elections as the North Carolina primary begins.
Rose Goldfarb came out to vote the morning of Super Tuesday at the school, emphasizing the importance of local elections and expressed passionate support for attorney general candidate Jeff Jackson. Goldfarb noted Jackson felt "honest" for his open media presence and communication.
As for local issues, Goldfarb highlighted one: housing.
"Definitely affordable housing," Goldfarb said of Asheville's City Council race. "It's pretty tough to live in Asheville for some. It'd be nice to fix that."
David Wright came to vote for two candidates in particular: Donald Trump and Mark Robinson. Wright highlighted issues of immigration and national defense as the primary issues he was looking at in this election.
"They're the only hope we've got in America," Wright said.
First-time voter Anna Wilcox stopped with her mom, Sarah Wilcox, on her way to basketball practice.
Though not particularly passionate about a candidate, Anna Wilcox said she was "excited to exercise her right as a U.S. citizen," celebrating the affair with her mom on the way out of the polling place.
Kaila Tolsma said she was particularly engaged by the local elections, noting she feels they have "so much more impact" than some national elections.
Tolsma was passionate about one factor impacting Asheville, that being tourism.
"We should steer away from tourism and focus more on those who live in the area," Tolsma said.
— Will Hofmann
11:10 a.m.: Voting for City Council in West Asheville
Melissa Weiss, 48, voted at West Asheville Library.
“There’s a few people running for City Council that I really wanted to make sure I voted for, and I also wanted to send a message to the Biden campaign, so I wanted to vote no preference,” she said.
For City Council: “Kim Roney, Bo Hess and Lindia (Pearson). They seem to be the people that care about the people who live in this town in a way that aligns with my values — affordable housing, using mental health services and services like that instead of police, and making transportation more accessible.”
— Tiana Kennell
11 a.m.: Turnout so far in Buncombe County
A news release sent at 10:49 a.m. from Buncombe County spokesperson Lilian Govus said more than 5,000 voters had turned out to the polls by 10 a.m. this morning. Here's the release:
"The 2024 Primary Election is underway across Buncombe County, and the polls have been open since 6:30 a.m. As of 10 a.m., 5,226 voters have turned out to the County’s 80 precincts. So far, 26,149 voters have taken advantage of early voting and just more than 1,400 absentee ballots have been received. You can see a breakdown of how many people voted at each precinct here. So far, Pisgah Elementary School has experienced the highest turnout with 126 voters, and more than 10 other voting locations are seeing more than 100 people. Those who haven’t voted yet can check the wait counts here."
10:55 a.m.: 'Women's issues' a big motivator
Mable Grein, 74, said she showed up to vote at Averys Creek Community Center to “show support for my president,” Joe Biden. Grein said she was motivated mainly by “women’s issues.”
“I think women should have autonomy over their own bodies,” Grein said. “I’m tired of men telling what we can and can’t do.”
Grein said she’s been in the Arden area for about two years, and moved here from California because it was cheaper to live here and the area has “liberal bent” that she felt she fits in with. “I’m committed to the idea that Biden stay in office for another four years,” Grein said.
Larry Grein, husband of Mable and an election official, said the turnout has been “surprisingly brisk for a primary election,” he thinks because most everything on the ballot is contested.
Grein, 75, said he and the other election officials voted earlier in the day to make sure the machines are working. “I wanted to vote to make sure people know there are people voting, especially in my age group,” Grein said. He said if the government runs on the consent of the governed, then people have to participate.
— Ryley Ober
10:35 a.m.: Gaza situation leads to "no preference" vote
Jacquline Nichols, 28, voted at Crossroads Church.
She was with a toddler boy. She said she came out because of “the ceasefire in Gaza. Voting no preference was really my big reason today.”
No particular race drove her to vote, she said. For City Council: “I voted for CJ (Domingo). I really liked that he had a clear plan on his goals and ambitions on his website, and I could clearly see what he wanted to do instead of being like, ‘I’m a good person, you should vote for me.’”
— Tiana Kennell
10:20 a.m.: All races are of interest
Jeremy Spielman, 45, voted at West Asheville Library.
He said he came out for everything, all of the races.
“I wanted to do my civic duty and make sure my voice was heard,” he said.
“Making sure local, I know about it. And the bigger picture, that I’m staying informed and encouraging my neighbors and my peers to have their voice heard.”
For City Council, he voted for Bo (Hess), Sage (Turner) and Kim (Roney), “for representation and balance,” he said.
— Tiana Kennell
10:07 a.m.: A Swift call
There had been conspiracy theories that Taylor Swift was part of an elaborate scheme to help the Democrats win in this year's election. Swift has weighed in on Super Tuesday, but she did not publicly choose sides.
9:45 a.m. Reciprocating McCormick Field funding votes
Al Peeler, 34, voted at West Asheville Library.
He said he came out for president.
“Also, I think it’s important for Jeff Jackson to be our Attorney General," he said. "And City Council, when the ballpark was needing its renovations there were several council members that gave that vote and so they earned my vote again. I came out here to reciprocate — Kim Roney and Sage Turner.”
— Tiana Kennell
9:30 a.m.: Voter guide for counties outside of Buncombe
Dean Hensley of the Hendersonville Times-News has compiled a list of candidates and information for voters heading to the polls in Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties.
9:25 a.m.: Race for governor key
Tad and Laura Lock, 20-year residents of Fairview, cast their votes for the primary election at the Fairview Volunteer Fire Department, amid a slow trickle of people at the voting site. Laura, 59, said alongside feeling it’s “our duty” to vote, she was motivated by three key issues — the border, the economy, and her pro-life stance.
“We like Mark Robinson to become governor because he seems to respect our values,” Tad Lock said, adding that race motivated him to come out to the polls.
Lock, 64, said his “main thing” is a desire to “get a hold of inflation.” He said he’s caring for his 90-year-old mother and has seen food prices “skyrocket.” He cast his Republican presidential primary vote for Donald Trump, he said.
“I don’t care who you vote for, I just get mad when people don’t vote,” Lock said. “My parents instilled that in me from the first time I could vote at 18.”
— Ryley Ober
9:15 a.m.: Presidential races bring out voters at Haw Creek
Asheville resident Ken Miller was voting for Joe Biden. The biggest motivator to swing the lever for Biden was maintaining democracy.
"We either continue to develop democracy or democracy will degrade," Miller said, noting that he had stopped at the wrong precinct but was on his way to find the correct one.
Amy Smith, coming out Haw Creek Elementary around 8:25, said she was voting for Biden. Smith said she thought about the "United States on a world stage" and the importance of maintaining democracy when she went to vote for the presidential candidate. Stopping on her way to work, Karla Gardner noted that housing was the most important issue to her as she went to vote for Asheville City Council.
— Will Hofmann
9:10 a.m.: City Council a draw to the polls
Herbert Yancey voted at West Asheville Library.
“I came out to exercise your democratic vote and responsibility to vote and feel like if you want to have an opinion on things you should probably cast your ballot and at least make some type of choice," he said.
“Everyone’s always looking at the big, high ticket presidential, governor races but I think also council is one that has an important effect on us locally, so I also voted in that one, too. For City Council, I definitely voted for Tod Leaven. I think there should be some new blood in the City Council, and Lindia and Bo Hess, as well. I was looking at new faces in there. The council’s fine but I think it’s also good to get some new faces, new blood every so often.
“I’m an unaffiliated voter so I voted on the Republican side of it and I voted for Chuck Edwards because I think although I have a lot of problems with his political stances I think he’s a better candidate than Christian Reagan.”
— Tiana Kennell
9 a.m.: Activity at Haw Creek
Voters brought dogs, coffee mugs and made quick trips through the Haw Creek Elementary gym as they went to vote during the March 5 North Carolina primary.
Arriving just before 7 a.m. District Court Judge candidate Todd Lentz was passing out business cards to voters as they made their way to the spacious, wooden floored gym. Only around 31 had voted at the location by around 8:30 a.m.
Despite the morning being "slow," Lentz stuck around.
"I went to school here, so I thought I'd start here," Lentz said.
— Will Hofmann
8:45 a.m.: Longtime voter
Ron Hopewell, 72, of Fairview, walked out of Cane Creek Middle School after filling in his votes. He said he comes to vote every year and did so at 7 in the morning because he’s an “early bird.” Hopewell is registered unaffiliated and didn’t want to share the candidates he voted for this morning.
— Ryley Ober
8:30 a.m.: Zooming out
Are you looking for some general coverage of what's happening around the country on Super Tuesday? USA TODAY is running live coverage of today's primaries. It cites the North Carolinian gubernatorial primary as one of the key races to watch in the country.
8:15 a.m.: Report from Cane Creek
Anne Ager, head of Precinct 38.2 committee for the Buncombe County Democratic Party, sat outside Cane Creek Middle School, manning her booth since 6:30 a.m. Ager voted early this year, but said about 10 or 12 people had come through this polling site by 7:35 a.m. She said she voted for Democrats but isn’t putting a stake on any one candidate for this primary vote. Ager said she voted because “it’s important and I’ve been doing politics all my life,” calling it a “family thing” as the mother of state Rep. Eric Ager and wife of former state Rep. John Ager, along with a dad who ran for Congress in the 1980s.
— Ryley Ober
8 a.m.: Later results?
In past elections, as soon at the polls closed at 7:30 p.m., the North Carolina State Board of Elections would release the results from early voting. But that won't be the case this year. Here's an explainer from a news release by Buncombe County's Kassi Day:
As a result of recent changes in state law, in-person early voting results will be reported later than usual on election night for the 2024 primary. This, in turn, may cause Election Day results to be reported later as well. Previously, county boards of elections could tabulate early voting results before the close of polls, then report those results almost immediately at 7:30 p.m. on election night. Under changes made in Session Law 2023-140 (Section 29), county boards must wait until 7:30 p.m. to “close the polls” on early voting tabulators and begin the process of counting and reporting results of ballots cast during the early voting period. This process will take an estimated 30 to 60 minutes – and possibly longer in some counties – before unofficial early voting results can be posted publicly on the State Board of Elections’ Election Results Dashboard.
7:30 a.m.: Wait counts
Worried about how many people will be in line at your voting site? Buncombe County's election services has a cool tool that provides wait counts at each of the county's 80 polling sites. Note that the numbers are estimates and are entered only as often as election workers are able to. Still, it's fun to see where the voting action is. At 7:30, the site reported that Emma Elementary was the busiest with four people in line.
7:10 a.m.: Voter turnout in Buncombe
Mitchell Black reported that according to county tracking, 26,149, or 12.7% of the county's 205,648 registered voters in Buncombe voted early. Buncombe County Elections Services Director Corinne Duncan said at a March 4 news conference that she expects between 25,000 to 30,000 voters to punch their ballots on Election Day. That would put voter turnout for this primary at about 27%, lower than the 42% turnout for the 2020 primary.
7 a.m.: Make sure you have your ID
A new state law requires all voters to show photo ID when they go to the polls. According to state guidelines, these are acceptable IDs (unexpired or expired no more than a year):
N.C. driver’s license.
State ID from N.C. DMV.
Driver’s license or non-driver ID from another state, District of Columbia, or U.S. territory. This only applies to voters registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election.
U.S. passport or U.S. passport card.
N.C. voter photo ID card issued by a county board of elections.
College or university student ID approved by the N.C. Board of Elections.
State or local government or charter school employee ID approved by the N.C. Board of Elections.
6:50 a.m.: Find your voting site
If you need help finding your voting location, enter your name in the N.C. State Board of Election's Voter Search Tool: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/.
6:40 a.m.: A good day for voting
While Asheville has had plenty of wet or even snowy weather in early March, that will not be the case today, according to the National Weather Service. The forecast for the Asheville area is for increasing clouds throughout the day with a high of 69. Showers are not expected until after 11 p.m., hours after the polls close at 7:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: NC primary: The latest updates on Super Tuesday voting in Asheville area