Professor of Political Science & Public Affairs at Western Carolina University. American politics, state politics, North Carolina politics, southern politics, elections. Recent book: Anatomy of a Purple State (UNC Press 2024).
http://www.chriscooperwcu.com
Chris Cooper
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George Saunders on Pancho and Lefty is every bit as good as I hoped.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Shout-out to the Buncombe County (NC) Board of Elections for putting out a survey about their early voting plan so Buncombe County voters can weigh in about their needs & the needs of their community.
engage.buncombecounty.org/w31816
#electionadministration #avl #wnc #ncpol
Republican officials say GOP and NC auditor pressured them to reject voting site. GOP election officials in Jackson County say they were pressured to reject an early voting site on Western Carolina University’s campus. (Via @kyleingram.bsky.social) www.newsobserver.com/news/politic... #ncpol #nced
One member resigned ahead of the meeting, saying his “moral position” had been called into question by entities outside the board.
www.newsobserver.com
Chris Cooper
Chris Cooper
Keung Hui
New Substack analysis of #ncpol public opinion regarding early voting sites on campus:
Despite ongoing disputes about voting locations, most NCians support early voting sites on college campuses & view them as a legitimate way to expand voter access.
ncpoliticscenter.substack.com/p/campus-vot...
Should school boards and town councils be elected on a partisan basis? With bill targeting Moore County and Albemarle, more elections would get party labels and a primary process: www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol #ncga
AI's Energy Appetite Gives North Carolinians Pause
As data center projects expand across the state, NC public opinion reveals support for innovation alongside growing concerns about energy and water use.
#ncpol
ncpoliticscenter.substack.com/p/ais-energy...
Attn: Election administration scholars.
Have a project that election administrations can learn from? Apply to present a poster at the Election Center conference in August.
Details ⤵️
Relevant to #ncpol & to many other states who are debating changes to voting & election administration: the assumption that higher voter turnout is better for Democrats is a myth.
My attempt to explain what's going on with the Jackson County early voting site controversy ⤵️
#ncpol
chriscooperwcu.substack.com/p/who-decide...
nclocal.org/2026/06/10/t...
#ncpol
Despite ongoing disputes over voting locations, most North Carolinians support early voting sites on college campuses and view them as a legitimate way to expand voter access
The state legislature is trying to make more municipal elections partisan. A bill approved in a state House committee Tuesday would change the election process for mayor and town boards in all 11 Moor...
Feedback Needed on the 2026 Buncombe County General Election Do you want to have a voice in how Early Voting works for the 2026 General Election? Take our five-question survey so your voice can be hea...
As data center projects expand across the state, NC public opinion reveals support for innovation alongside growing concerns about energy and water use.
The controversy over voting sites in Cullowhee highlights an often-overlooked reality of election administration: many important decisions are made by election boards, not legislatures or courts.
Messages from local party chair say Jackson County GOP stance not impacted by state party or state elections board but expresses dislike for “strong arm” efforts by both to influence local board membe...
