Weekly Roundup
Hey there,
Happy Wednesday! We're coming to you this week with a roundup of exciting ways to get involved for 2024.
Kickoff Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are still needed for various roles during the kickoff event on Saturday, January 20, including setup, greeters, cleanup, registration, coat check, drink ticket sales, and navigators. If you wish to volunteer, kindly reach out to Stephen Robinson at stephenrobinsonavl@gmail.com.
Become a Poll Observer
Last year NCGA Republicans used their supermajority to override Governor Cooper's veto on two laws that make sweeping changes to how elections are conducted in North Carolina. Due to changes in how elections observers are now allowed to conduct themselves at voting sites, it's critical to have Democratic observers present inside our polling locations this year (and there will likely be a lot of Republican observers present).
Each volunteer agrees to serve at least one 4-hour shift (chairs will be available), and the role is simply to observe the proceedings and report any concerns to our operations team. Buncombe County Board of Elections will schedule a training soon -- please reach out to Kathie Kline (kathie@buncombedems.org) if you are interested!
Check Out Who's Running
We've updated our website with information about primary candidates who will be on your ballot this year. Find voting information, links to candidate websites, and more at buncombedems.org/2024-primary.
Get Ready to VOTE
Why vote a Democratic ticket in the primary? This is our chance to put our best foot forward in the general election, with candidates who represent the values of the Democratic Party and our community. By nominating our strongest candidates, we can ensure we are fighting hard to win up and down the ballot in November to stop the Republican supermajority, take back our courts, and re-elect Joe Biden as President.
In heavily Democratic Buncombe, many races are decided in the primary -- last year the Buncombe DA race was decided in the primary, by a margin of only 100 votes. This year, both District Judge positions up for election here (District 40 Seats 06 and 07) each have two Democratic candidates but no Republican opponent -- the primary election is the election for these races. As we've seen with recent court cases like those around redistricting, voter ID, and reproductive freedom, who our judges are matter, and it's critical to make your voice heard in their elections.
Action Item
Today's the day! It's the last day to sign up as a sponsor for our 2024 Kickoff. We'll have tons of great speakers, including a keynote by NCDP Chair Anderson Clayton; dinner catered by Mamacitas Taqueria; live music and dancing; and even an auction.
Can't swing a sponsorship but still want to join us to kick off election season? Regular advance and discounted tickets will be available through January 17, and tickets will also be available at the door if we haven't sold out. We're almost at our attendance cap, so get your tickets ASAP!
