In this week's update:
- North Carolina voters break Republican Supermajority
- Voter Turnout for General Election
- NC Supreme Court race could be headed to a recount
- NASW-NC PACE Endorsements
- Maurice “Mo” Green Wins Race for Superintendent of Public Instruction
- NC Voters pass 'citizens-only' amendment
- Coping with Election Stress: NASW-NC Toolkit
- NCGA returns to Raleigh this week
- LAST CHANCE!!! Register for NASW-NC's 2024 Fall Conference -Nov. 18-19, 2024
North Carolina Breaks Republicans’ Supermajority
via WRAL
Democratic legislative candidates won enough seats in Tuesday’s election to break Republicans’ veto-proof majority in the North Carolina General Assembly, picking up some influence in the state’s legislative process. Previously, the republican supermajority gave them the ability to override the governor’s vetoes if they all voted along party lines.
On Tuesday, Republicans came up one seat short in the state House of Representatives to keep their supermajority. This evens the balance of power between the governing branches in North Carolina.
Read more here.
Results are unofficial until after canvassing. Results are certified by county boards on Friday, Nov. 15 for local contests and on Nov. 26 for all other races.
Voter Turnout for General Election
via Carolina Public Press
Despite record-breaking turnout during the early voting period, Election Day voting showed waning numbers. By midnight on Wednesday, most North Carolina counties had not surpassed their 2020 turnout numbers.
Even more unexpected, most of the counties that did surpass 2020 totals were counties in the Hurricane Helene disaster zone: Haywood, Madison, Transylvania, Polk and Watauga counties.
As of Tuesday morning, North Carolina had been on track to meet or exceed 2020’s record turnout, which reached 75% of registered voters.
Mail-in ballots are still being counted.
You can track the totals and view the breakdown of the various ways people voted on the NCSBE website. You can also compare this year’s totals to past totals.
Read more here.
NC Supreme Court race could be headed to a recount. Experts say not to expect an upset.
Provisional ballots have narrowed the deficit for Associate Justice Allison Riggs to roughly 8,000 votes of 5.5 million cast.
via NC Newsline on 11/8/24
With Associate Justice Allison Riggs trailing Judge Jefferson Griffin in the state’s unofficial tally by just over 8,000 votes, the North Carolina Supreme Court race could be headed to a recount.
But while the current margin — 0.14% according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections dashboard — is slim, election experts say voters should not expect a recount to change the outcome.
The counting of provisional ballots narrowed the race from a margin of just under 10,000 — 0.18% of the vote — where it stood the morning after the election. Just under 5.5 million North Carolinians cast ballots in the judicial race.
Riggs will likely be able to request a recount, despite narrow odds of it changing the result in her race. State law provides that candidates at the state level may request a recount if the margin is less than or equal to 0.5% or 10,000 votes, whichever is less. The state board of elections covers the cost of recounts as a standard practice.
Riggs said in a statement on X that she was watching the results carefully, but did not yet indicate whether she would seek a recount.
“As of today, my race is too close to call. Our team is closely monitoring the count of remaining absentee ballots and provisional ballots, and we will have a clearer idea of our next steps within the next 24-36 hours,” Riggs wrote. “As a longtime civil rights attorney, I believe firmly in the power of our democratic process and the importance of counting every vote.”
Read more here.
NASW-NC PACE Endorsements
Voting is our ethical obligation as social workers.
NASW Code of Ethics
6.04 Social and Political Action
(a) Social workers should engage in social and political action that seeks to ensure that all people have equal access to the resources, employment, services, and opportunities they require to meet their basic human needs and to develop fully.
Click here to see the 2024 Election Results of the NC candidates the NASW-NC PACE Committee endorsed. NASW-NC PACE is a nonpartisan committee and party affiliations do not play a factor into endorsements. NASW-NC thanks the PACE Committee for their hard work since January 2024 throughout the Election Season.
NC Voters pass 'citizens-only' amendment
via ABC 11
A majority of North Carolina voters have voted to pass an amendment that would change the state's constitution's current language on who can vote in elections, ABC News projects.
The proposed amendment read "Constitutional amendment to provide that only a citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age and otherwise possessing the qualifications for voting shall be entitled to vote at any election in this State."
With all precincts reporting, the amendment received 78% of the unofficial votes.
It's already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal or state elections but this amendment changes the language in North Carolina's constitution.
The state constitution currently reads: "Every person born in the United States and every person who has been naturalized, 18 years of age, and possessing the qualifications set out in this Article, shall be entitled to vote at any election by the people of the State, except as herein otherwise provided."
The change in wording from "every person born ... and every person who has been naturalized" to "only a citizen" would make no actual change to who can register and vote.
On Wednesday, Veronica Aguilar, Communications Director for El Pueblo released this statement:
"Article 6 of the North Carolina Constitution will be rewritten to establish a change that is unnecessary and jeopardizes the right of naturalized citizens to vote.
The results of the referendum in the November 5 general election create a dangerous precedent where immigrants, once again, are the target of exclusionary and discriminatory policies.
The reform proposed by bill HB1074, introduced in the current legislative session, is yet another attempt by the North Carolina Legislature to restrict minority voting.
El Pueblo will continue to fight to defend the right of all citizens, by birth or naturalization, to exercise their voice at the ballot box without fear."
The General Assembly passed HB 1074 with at least a three-fifths majority. It was led largely by Republicans, who hold supermajorities in the House and Senate.
North Carolina was among several states with GOP-led legislatures considering this voting amendment in this year's election.
Critics of the amendment called it a ploy to further erode confidence in the electoral system.
The left-leaning North Carolina Justice Center called the measure "an unnecessary and anti-immigrant tactic that will further marginalize North Carolina's immigrant communities."
No state constitutions explicitly allow noncitizens to vote and many states have laws prohibiting them from voting in statewide races.
Maurice “Mo” Green Wins Race for Superintendent of Public Instruction
via USA Today
Democrat Maurice (Mo) Green won the race for superintendent of public instruction in a contentious and widely watched battle against Republican Michele Morrow.
"I am humbled and honored to be elected as North Carolina’s Superintendent of Public Instruction," Green said in a statement, "We met the moment, together as champions of public education."
He took the lead over Morrow by about 2 percentage points and will oversee a budget of about $11 billion and over 2,500 schools.
Maurice “Mo” Green was endorsed by NASW-NC’s PACE Committee. He released a statement upon receiving the endorsement-"I am honored to have the support of @NASWNC. Around the clock, social workers serve our students, schools, and state. Especially as we face the physical and mental toll of Hurricane Helene, they are essential for recovery. Thank you for your support."
Read more here.
Results are unofficial until after canvassing. Results are certified by county boards on Friday, Nov. 15 for local contests and on Nov. 26 for all other races.
Coping with Election Stress: National Association of Social Workers North Carolina Toolkit
We are living through uncertain times due to the 2024 election, and this may generate feelings of stress or anxiety for us and for the clients we serve. NASW-NC has added to this toolkit, originally created by NASW-MA, to act as a resource guide for social workers in helping their clients, communities, and themselves, cope with the election. We hope these resources help you to build a support network, prioritize self-care, and practice empathy in these unpredictable environments.
Click here to view the toolkit!
NCGA returns to Raleigh this week
The General Assembly will reconvene on November 19th at noon. We anticipate the current NCGA with a supermajority may take legislative action in response to the 2024 Election. NASW-NC has been meeting with legislators throughout the Fall securing sponsors for the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact, as well as lobbying for Hurricane Helene relief for Western NC.
LAST CHANCE!!!Register for NASW-NC's Fall Conference -November 18 & 19, 2024
Registration is OPEN for the 2024 NASW-NC Virtual Fall Conference!
View Brochure & Register Here Today!
The Fall Conference is a meeting for the entire profession. Everyone from the social work student to the LCSW in private practice can benefit from the presentation offerings.
Some of this year’s topics include:
- Ethical Responsibilities in Assessment and Referral in Care for Teens
- Treating Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior Disorders
- Fired Up! The Role of Anger in Trauma Recovery
- Cultural implications in working with Immigrants and First-Generation Americans
- Increasing Cognitive Flexibility and Moving Towards Values with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- And Much More!
You Get ALL the CE!
Because we are in a virtual setting, you benefit by getting MORE CE! 13 hours of CE will be LIVE! All sessions will be recorded and available to view for 3 weeks after the conference for you to receive an additional 18 hours of Recorded CE - a total of 31 hours of CE!
Thank you to the members of NASW-NC for supporting the advocacy work we do. We would not be able to advocate for the social work profession or social justice issues in North Carolina without a robust and engaged NASW membership. If you are a social worker and not a member, we ask that you join NASW today. Our voice is louder with your membership.
Learn more about NASW-NC membership here.
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