Politics

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NEWS 3/12/24 11:27pm

Elon Town Council deliberates solutions for student concerns regarding noise citations

By Lauren Winslow

Elon Town Council discussed alternatives to criminal noise ordinance citations on March 12 following Elon University students raising concerns about the harsh penalties. Currently, issuing citations following a noise complaint is left to the discretion of the Town of Elon Police Department officer responding to the noise complaint. If a citation is issued, Elon considers this a criminal violation, not a civil one. In response to students voicing their concerns over receiving a criminal noise citation, Elon Police Chief Kelly Blackwelder compiled research on alternatives to issuing criminal citations. 

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NEWS 3/12/24 6:51pm

No students initially applied for student body president, application extended

By Avery Sloan

Despite Elon’s Student Government Association working to recruit members to run in elections, no student applied to run for student body president. The application closed at 5 p.m. March 11. The organization met for a special meeting March 12 to amend the bylaws and extended applications for all SGA positions until 10 a.m. March 13. SGA initially extended the deadline to 10 a.m. March 12, but according to SGA election bylaws, the organization was not technically allowed to extend it without an election amendment approved by the senate, and no applications were accepted by the second deadline. 

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NEWS 3/5/24 11:14pm

Alamance County primary elections results

By Ryan Kupperman

As of 10:12 p.m. on March 5, 39 out of 39 precincts in Alamance County have reported their votes for North Carolina’s primary elections. The North Carolina State Board of Elections will officially call the results on March 15. The following are each of North Carolina’s candidates after primary elections closed March 5. Most notably, gubernatorial candidates North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein and Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson will be facing off against each other in general elections in November with nearly opposite campaign platforms.

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NEWS 3/5/24 8:59pm

NC Democrats, Stein campaign prepare for election results in Raleigh

By Joseph Navin

With just under 2% of ballots cast in, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, the Associated Press called the Democratic Gubernatorial race in favor of North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein. The Republican governor race was also called in favor of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. The two will face off in the general election in November. With primary election polls having closed at 7:30 p.m., NC Democrats hosted a watch party at the Maywood Hall & Garden in Raleigh to welcome the Democratic gubernatorial nominee to the general elections ballot.

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NEWS 3/5/24 8:36pm

Mark Robinson campaign prepares for election results in Greensboro

By Avery Sloan and Sophie Rosenthal

With just under 2% of ballots cast in according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, the Associated Press called the Republican Gubernatorial race in favor of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. The Democratic governor race was also called in favor of North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, and the two will face off in the general election in November. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and his supporters awaited primary election results at a watch party in the gubernatorial nominee’s hometown of Greensboro. The polls closed at 7:30 p.m.

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NEWS 3/5/24 3:23pm

Local voters emphasize using political voice this Super Tuesday

By Mason Willett

With Super Tuesday underway, many voters headed to the polls early this morning and will continue to file through until voting closes at 7:30 p.m. The conclusion of primary elections cements candidates for the general elections ballot on Nov. 5. Elon University senior Lauryn Carlton, who voted at Elon Elementary in Burlington at around 11 a.m., said she feels an obligation as a student to make sure that young people have their voices heard. Burlington local Jim Sykes said that voting is extremely important for the younger community members — as they are the future of this area.

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NEWS 3/4/24 8:11am

Opposites face off in upcoming North Carolina governor race

By Miles Hayford

Primary elections will conclude on March 5. Vying for the state governor nomination on the Republican ticket is current Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, State Treasurer Dale Folwell and Salisbury Attorney Bill Graham. The Democratic side features Attorney General Josh Stein, North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Mike Morgan, Tryon Mayor Pro Tempore Chrelle Booker, Lumberton Attorney Marcus Williams and Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Deputy Gary Foxx. Despite this crowded field, Robinson and Stein are the clear front-runners and are already preparing for the intense general election that is ahead, according to Duke University professor of public policy Mac McCorkle.

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NEWS 3/3/24 2:28pm

Elon Votes works to increase voter turnout at Elon University for upcoming election

By Reagan Sizemore

Elon Votes is encouraging students to vote this year by offering various resources and programming, including a discussion with students and community members on if they think their vote matters. The primaries in North Carolina primaries are approaching on March 5. The Pew Research Center reported in a 2023 survey 63% of Americans are dissatisfied with the presidential candidates for this year's election. For more information on registering to vote, visit the Elon Votes webpage or go to their in-person office in the Kernodle Center for Civic Life in Moseley 232.

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NEWS 3/2/24 6:06pm

Trump makes campaign stop in Greensboro

By Joseph Navin

Former President Donald Trump held a campaign rally after 2 p.m. on March 2 inside the Greensboro Coliseum — attracting thousands of supporters. North Carolina Republicans, including Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, State House Speaker Tim Moore, Sen. Ted Budd and Rep. Virginia Foxx, also used the opportunity to rally supporters to vote next week. Republican primary challenger Nikki Haley, a former United Nations Ambassador and former South Carolina Governor, also made a speech on March 2 in Raleigh. Among the attendees of the event was Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson, who showed his support for President Trump.

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NEWS 3/1/24 10:38am

Breaking down Alamance County elections ballot

By Cassie Weymouth

With the 2024 Presidential Primary Election coming in March several positions besides the Presidential nomination are up for election. These include 15 positions that are up for election, depending on how the voter registered these positions vary from the Republican, Democrat and Libertarian ballots. There are 15 positions on the ballot across all three ballots. Early voting is open now until March 2 and Elon South Gym is an early voting location. Election Day is March 5 and voting is open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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NEWS 2/26/24 9:06pm

Elon Town Council votes to open green space to public

By Lilly Molina

Elon's Town Council hosted their second work session of the year, where they unanimously decided to make the green space on North Holt Avenue open to the public in order to bring more people into Elon. Monti Allison, mayor pro tem, said he wanted to open the greenspace — previously a beer garden for Toasty Kettlyst — as a place for special events, such as more beer sales. This in turn would call for the expansion of the social district. Downtown Development Director Jill Weston also announced that Med Deli would be opening Thursday, Feb. 29.

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NEWS 2/15/24 8:29am

Elon University’s Student Government Association asks students to vote on new constitution

By Reagan Sizemore

Elon’s Student Government Association released a newly revised constitution for the student body to vote for or against on Feb. 16. Since March of 2023 the SGA has been working on a new constitution and on Feb. 1 the Senate approved it. On Friday, Feb. 2, Jon Dooley, vice president of student life, sent an email out to all undergraduate students encouraging students to read the new constitution and vote on PhoenixConnect. Dooley — in his email — urges everyone to take part in the democratic process on Elon’s campus.

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NEWS 2/14/24 10:23am

Elon Town Council approves hotel tax, deliberates green space

By Lauren Winslow

Elon Town Council approved a local occupancy tax, set at 3%, for hotels in Elon. During its meeting on Feb. 13, Elon joined the Alamance County Municipal Tourism Development Authority alongside Burlington; Mebane and Graham have yet to vote on the matter. The tax is set to be put into effect on July 1. With the Inn at Elon being one of the only hotels in town, this tax would draw from university revenue made through the Inn. The council also debated extending the lease for Toasty Kettlyst's location on North Holt Avenue’s green space.

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NEWS 2/11/24 1:17pm

Town of Elon faces vacancy crisis

By Miles Hayford

The town of Elon is currently facing a vacancy crisis among their staff, facing vacancies at the positions of town planner in the developmental services department, recreation and parks director and a position in human resources. Town clerk is also vacant, but will have someone filling the spot on March 4. But the department that has felt these vacancies the most is the police department. Elon’s police department currently has two vacant positions. The department has had the highest level of turnover over the course of this past year, and is the hardest one to find candidates for, according to Town Manager Rich Roedner. 

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NEWS 2/9/24 6:13pm

Elon Law student camps for seat in Trump’s Supreme Court hearing

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon Law student Landon Eckard left for D.C. as soon as he got out of class on Tuesday, Feb. 6. After arriving at the Supreme Court building around 7 p.m., Eckard waited in line for a seat in former President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court hearing on Feb. 8 — where The Court deliberated if Trump should be barred from the 2024 presidential ballot. With a lawn chair and some blankets, Eckard was third in line and waited for two days.

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NEWS 1/30/24 8:37am

Photo Story: An unprecedented New Hampshire primary

By Joseph Navin

The 2024 “first in the nation” presidential primary in New Hampshire marked a deviation from precedent, where both Republicans and Democrats would host their respective primary elections in the Granite State. But this year, the primary for the Democrats officially shifted to South Carolina, while the Republican primary remained in New Hampshire. The 2024 Presidential Primary now shifts to Nevada and South Carolina, with Republicans having their next election in Nevada on Feb. 8 and the Democrats holding their first official primary on Feb. 3. North Carolina will hold both Republican and Democrat primaries on March 5.

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NEWS 1/22/24 9:35pm

Elon Town Council approves 5% raise for town employees

By Avery Sloan and Miles Hayford

Elon Town Council voted to add a 5% pay raise for all town employees. With multiple vacancies across the staff, including town planner, parks and recreation director and multiple positions within the police department, Elon Mayor Emily Sharpe said she hopes this will help attract and retain employees. During the town council meeting Jan. 22, in a 3-2 vote, the council voted to increase pay for all town employees. The vote came after discussion on how to increase pay of staff employees, with either a flat rate or a percentage increase based on salary.

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NEWS 1/16/24 12:10pm

Elon University students follow 2024 presidential primaries

By Sophie Rosenthal

During this Winter Term, 11 Elon University political science and journalism students are traveling to South Carolina and New Hampshire to study the 2024 presidential primaries. Students spent the first half of the trip in Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina, where they focused primarily on the Democratic strategy in its upcoming primary Feb. 3 and attended President Joe Biden’s speech at the Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church on Jan. 8. Now, they are in Manchester, New Hampshire, where they are focusing primarily on the Republican primary Jan. 23.

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NEWS 1/8/24 9:48am

Charleston County Democratic Party kicks off Biden campaign with volunteers

By Abigail Hobbs

Pennsylvania State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta said a reporter recently asked him if a campaign based on democracy will be enough to get voters to reelect President Joe Biden. Kenyatta spoke at the Charleston County Democratic Party headquarters where the CCDP hosted a phone banking event Jan. 6 with local volunteers — calling registered democrats to remind them of the upcoming South Carolina democratic presidential primary Feb. 3 — the first democratic primary in the nation. The South Carolina Republican primary is Feb. 24 — the third Republican primary following New Hampshire and Nevada. 

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NEWS 11/9/23 6:30pm

Alamance County Board of Elections results show incumbent wins, first Black Burlington city council member

By Madison Powers

According to the Alamance Board of Elections on Nov. 9, results for the Nov. 7 elections will be unofficial until Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. Polls closed at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 7 for municipalities in Alamance County. Incumbent Jim Butler has a lead in the election for Burlington mayor, beating Beth Kennett. Dejuana Bigelow and Bob Ward are the top two candidates for City of Burlington council members. If elected, Bigelow would be the first Black woman to hold the position. For the Town of Elon council election — of which three seats are available — incumbents Quinn Ray and Monti Allison are the top two candidates with Michael Woods in third.

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