North Carolina Nailbiter: Presidential Candidates 11,246 votes apart

Did NC's Straight ticket voting law cost presidential candidates votes? Maybe not this time. The verdict isn't in yet. Its too close to call, provisional ballots may decide which Presidential candidate carries North Carolina. Doing the math, it looks like we had about 36,031 provisional ballots. See NC SBoE website for voter turnout verses votes cast for President.

The Presidential contest had more votes cast than did the other contests. Maybe the media attention and voter education about the confusing straight ticket voting law (straight ticket doesn't include president) worked. The political parties had greeters to give voters palm cards in many areas, and most of the 100 County BoE's also had fliers for the voters. No one was handing out palm cards warning voters about straight ticket in 2004.

The margin of victory was less than the number of undervotes.

Total ballots cast . . . . . . 4,281,715
Total votes for Pres . . . . 4,245,684
Total votes for US Sen . .4,209,480
Total votes for Gov . . . . 4,206,249
Total straight ticket . . . . .2,131,732

In looking at all other contests, the Presidential contest received more votes than the Governor's race or US Senate, so what else accounts for the difference? From the NC State Board of Elections Website: http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/7937/13221/en/summary.html

Obama ahead of McCain by 11,246 votes

2008 GENERAL ELECTION
Registered Voters: 6,262,566
Ballots Cast: 4,281,715
Voter Turnout: 68.37 %

Counties Partially Reported: 0 of 100
Counties Completely Reported: 100 of 100
Website last updated 11/5/2008 1:23:28 AM EST

PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (Vote For 1)
Vote Type Summary Contest Detail Map 100 of 100 Counties Reporting
Percent Votes
Obama/Biden (DEM) 49.67% 2,108,777
McCain/Palin (REP) 49.40% 2,097,531
Barr/Root (LIB) 0.60% 25,279
WRITE-IN 0.33% 14,097
4,245,684

US SENATE (Vote For 1) Vote Type Summary Contest Detail Map
100 of 100 Counties Reporting
Percent Votes
Kay Hagan (DEM) 52.62% 2,214,883
Elizabeth Dole (REP) 44.22% 1,861,289
Christopher Cole (LIB) 3.12% 131,521
WRITE-IN 0.04% 1,787
4,209,480

GOVERNOR (Vote For 1) Vote Type Summary Contest Detail Map 100 of 100
Counties Reporting
Percent Votes
Bev Perdue (DEM) 50.18% 2,110,866
Pat McCrory (REP) 46.94% 1,974,493
Michael C. Munger (LIB) 2.87% 120,890
4,206,249

About half of the electorate used the straight ticket voting option

STRAIGHT PARTY (Vote For 1) Vote Type Summary Contest Detail Map
100 of 100 Counties Reporting Percent Votes
DEMOCRATIC 58.79% 1,253,226
REPUBLICAN 40.32% 859,443
LIBERTARIAN 0.89% 19,063
2,131,732

Joyce McCloy http://www.ncvoter.net/