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Political Reporting Samples

Check out my reporting on elections, local politics and community responses below!

The Appalachian •

State Board certifies election results

The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted unanimously to certify the results of the 2024 election Tuesday. The results were certified for all races except 10 currently undergoing recounts in the state. 
One of the 10 races in North Carolina undergoing a recount is the race for North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Seat 6. The race is between Democrat Allison Riggs and Republican Jefferson Griffin. 
Griffin currently leads Riggs in the recount while 18 counties have yet to comple...
The Appalachian •

Board of Elections certifies election results, possibly moves to recount

The Watauga County Board of Elections voted to certify the results of the 2024 elections Friday. 
The vote totals approved by the board are official but members of the board signed a document that read “unofficial” because of a computer error which kept votes from being finalized.
“Whatever issue the system has only relates to digital records,” said Watauga County Director of Elections Matthew Snyder. “It’s not going to affect the actual vote count.” 
The board certified results after voting to...
The Appalachian •

College Republicans celebrate sweeping victories

The App State College Republicans met Wednesday to discuss the results of the 2024 general election and celebrate several victories for federal, state and local candidates. 
Roughly 20 people attended the meeting in Anne Belk Hall which began with watching Donald Trump’s Nov. 6 acceptance speech. College Republican president Jacob Epperson gave opening remarks at the beginning of the meeting.
Epperson first spoke about the presidential election where Trump is projected to win after surpassing th...
The Appalachian •

BREAKING: Josh Stein projected to win N.C. governor’s race

We hope you appreciate this article! Before you move on, our student staff wanted to ask if you would consider supporting The Appalachian's award-winning journalism. We are celebrating our 90th anniversary of The Appalachian in October 2024!
We receive funding from the university, which helps us to compensate our students for the work they do for The Appalachian. However, the bulk of our operational expenses — from printing and website hosting to training and entering our work into competitions...
The Appalachian •

2024 Election

We hope you appreciate this article! Before you move on, our student staff wanted to ask if you would consider supporting The Appalachian's award-winning journalism. We are celebrating our 90th anniversary of The Appalachian in October 2024!
We receive funding from the university, which helps us to compensate our students for the work they do for The Appalachian. However, the bulk of our operational expenses — from printing and website hosting to training and entering our work into competitions...
The Appalachian •

Student union site opens for voting on Election Day

The Plemmons Student Union voting site opened at 6:30 a.m. on Election Day in Watauga County along with 19 other sites in the county. 
There were four people in line when polls opened at the site. Many voters said they came early to avoid waiting in lines later in the day. 
“I just wanted to get here early so I could get in line, get through and get out,” said J.L. Laws, one of the first four voters at the student union voting site.
Voters can only vote at their assigned precinct on Election Day...
The Appalachian •

Letter from the Editor: How The Appalachian reports election results

Polls close at 7:30 p.m. on Election Day in North Carolina. The Appalachian will begin to report election results as they come in starting at 7:30 p.m.
All reported numbers will come from the North Carolina State Board of Elections or the Watauga County Board of Elections. The Appalachian will particularly focus on races relevant to Watauga County voters. For federal races, The Appalachian will report based on what the Associated Press calls. 
Results reported on Election Day are unofficial proj...
The Appalachian •

How to vote on Election Day in Watauga County

Election Day is Nov. 5. Voters in Watauga County will head to polls throughout the day for the last day of voting. 
On Election Day, precincts across Watauga County are open from 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. If a voter is in line at a precinct in the county before polls close at 7:30 p.m. they are still allowed to vote. 
Where can I vote on Election Day?
There are 20 polling places across Watauga County. Voters can use the voter search tool on the North Carolina State Board of Elections website to dete...
The Appalachian •

Board of Commissioners ballot referendum explained

Among the many decisions voters have to make in this year’s election, one could completely change the structure of a local race.
A referendum item on the ballot asks voters to approve or reject a measure to change the structure of the Watauga County Board of Commissioners race. 
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners is an elected board made up of five members. The board makes decisions on various issues including county services, land and public safety. 
Senate bill 759, passed in the North...
The Appalachian •

2024 Watauga County candidate guide

Early voting in North Carolina is in full swing and Election Day is on Nov. 5. Voters in Watauga County have many decisions to make in this election. 
The Appalachian has compiled information about candidates running across various races in the 2024 general election. Each candidate will be accompanied by a link to the candidate’s website to discover more information about the candidate’s policies and platforms.
Federal Elections
Democrat Kamala Harris, Republican Donald Trump, Green Party candid...
The Appalachian •

‘That’s Politics’: App State election seasons through the decades

From President Richard Nixon to the Boone Town Council and from front-cover cartoons to interactive online graphics, The Appalachian has provided election coverage throughout its rich history.
In honor of its 90th anniversary and the upcoming 2024 presidential election, The Appalachian compiled highlights from various decades of the paper’s election coverage. The  way The Appalachian reported election results and trends offers glimpses into the past of App State’s political landscape. 
One of th...
The Appalachian •

Polls open for early voting in Watauga County

Polls opened at 9 a.m. today for early voting in Watauga County. Polls are open until Nov. 2 at 3 p.m. 
There are six early voting locations across Watauga County. The Blue Ridge Ballroom in the Plemmons Student Union is one of six early voting sites.
Eleven people were in line outside the student union voting site before it opened. Tyler Brown, a junior sustainable development major, was one of the first in line at the site. 
“It’s easier than voting on voting day, it’s less of a pain,” Brown s...
The Appalachian •

How to vote early in Watauga County

Early voting in North Carolina begins on Thursday. All 100 counties in North Carolina have sites open for early voting until Nov. 2. 
Where do I vote early?
In Watauga County, early voting will look different than previous years due to Hurricane Helene. There are six early voting sites and voters can vote at any site in the county which includes: 
When do I vote early?
The hours of operation at early voting sites are different this year due to a decision made by the Watauga County Board of Elect...
The Appalachian •

Board of Elections shares operations updates after Hurricane Helene

The Watauga County Board of Elections gave an update Thursday morning about election operations in the county after the impact of Hurricane Helene. 
“Though the hurricane has caused significant disruptions, our election staff and the bipartisan Board are determined to ensure every eligible Watauga County voter can vote in this cycle,” Matt Snyder, Watauga County director of elections, wrote in a press release.
A few updates in the press release include:
Snyder said he is particularly concerned a...
The Appalachian •

Mark Robinson addresses Boone crowd on NC policies

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is campaigning for governor of North Carolina, visited Boone Monday. Campaign staff hosted an event at the Blue Ridge Diner, where constituents were invited to listen and take photos with the candidate. 
Roughly 30 people attended the event. Robinson spoke about issues including education, housing and the opioid epidemic. He also criticized media outlets present at the event.
Robinson spoke on a recent investigation published by CNN where they reported...
The Appalachian •

Meet the Candidates 2024: Watauga County Board of Education

Election Day is Nov. 5. Candidates representing Watauga County are running in national, state and local races. The Appalachian curated responses to questions on policy positions of candidates in the various offices.
The questions and responses below are curated from the Boone and Blowing Rock Chambers of Commerce “Meet the Candidates” forum held in the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country on Monday. 
Candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, North Carolina House of Representatives, Wa...
The Appalachian •

Meet the Candidates 2024: Watauga County commissioners

Election Day is Nov. 5. Candidates representing Watauga County are running in national, state and local races. The Appalachian curated responses to questions on policy positions of candidates in the various offices.
The questions and responses below are curated from the Boone and Blowing Rock chambers of commerce “Meet the Candidates” forum held in the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country on Monday.
Candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, North Carolina House of Representatives, Wat...
The Appalachian •

Meet the Candidates 2024: U.S. House of Representatives

Election Day is Nov. 5. Candidates representing Watauga County are running in national, state and local races. The Appalachian curated responses to questions on policy positions of candidates in the various offices.
The questions and responses below are curated from the Boone and Blowing Rock chambers of commerce “Meet the Candidates” forum held in the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country on Monday.
Candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, North Carolina House of Representatives, Wat...
The Appalachian •

Meet the Candidates 2024: NC House and Senate

Election Day is Nov. 5. Candidates representing Watauga County are running in national, state and local races. The Appalachian curated responses to questions on policy positions of candidates in the various offices.
The questions and responses below are curated from the Boone and Blowing Rock chambers of commerce “Meet the Candidates” forum held in the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country on Sept. 16. 
Candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, North Carolina House of Representatives,...
The Appalachian •

NC State Board of Elections holds seminar on new ID requirements

The North Carolina State Board of Elections held a voter ID seminar in Belk Library Wednesday. 
Beginning in the 2023 municipal elections, North Carolina enacted new Voter ID laws. In order to prepare eligible voters for this year’s elections on Nov. 5, the North Carolina State Boards of Elections is holding seminars across the state to clarify any discrepancies.
Nelson Masinde, a training specialist with the NCSBE, and Watauga County Elections Director Matthew Snyder visited App State to talk a...
The Appalachian •

Lost in translation: Spanish-speaking residents lacking access, equity

Every day after school, 6-year-old Rubí Escobar would come home to her parents, younger brother Carlos and newborn sister Lucero. As she told her parents about her day, she would tell them what she learned, translating everything into Spanish so they could understand.
“All the pressure was on me as the oldest child who could speak English,” Escobar, now 24, said. “So I would translate everything I was told in school.”
Currently, two staff members offer services as Spanish interpreters and transl...
The Appalachian •

Mark your calendars: Election dates to know

From classes to club interest meetings, the semester is in full swing at App State and many people’s calendars are filling up. As the semester continues, The Appalachian compiled upcoming dates related to this year’s election season for voters to add to their calendars.
Sept. 6 – Absentee ballots available
On Sept. 6, the Watauga County Board of Elections will begin sending out absentee ballots for those who registered to vote with an absentee ballot. Voters can request an absentee ballot until...
The Appalachian •

Bipartisan group talks election security, processes at App State

A bipartisan group of current and former election officials met on App State’s campus for the North Carolina trusted elections tour Wednesday. The group answered questions about election processes and what they do to ensure election security.
About 30 students and community members watched as Bob Orr, former associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, and Jennifer Roberts, former mayor of Charlotte, hosted the panel. 
The panelists started by explaining the makeup of the board of elec...
The Appalachian •

Register to vote in Boone: what to know

On Aug. 13 the first group of students will move into their dorms on App State’s campus. As they wander around and get acquainted with their new surroundings, one man said he plans to meet as many as he can. 
Bill Ellis, 64, lives in Watauga County and has actively registered voters across the country since 2000. Most recently, he has helped App State students register to vote.
“It’s not enough now for people like me to just sit back and vote,” Ellis said. “That’s why I’m doing it.” 
For many st...
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