Charlotte’s dismal 2023 election turnout isn’t even city’s second-worst. See how it falls
That just 23,676 people last week chose several of Charlotte’s City Council members may seem like a new low in a city with hundreds of thousands of voters.
But it could be worse: the city’s voters have produced lower turnout rates twice in the previous 15 years. They include primary elections in 2009 and 2011, when 4.3% and 2.6% of voters, respectively, cast a ballot.
Last week, 4.91% of the 482,577 eligible voters cast a ballot. That percentage is low partially because voters in south Charlotte’s districts 6 and 7 turned out at lower rates than areas with competitive district elections. Likewise, District 1 didn’t have a competitive primary and also saw lower turnout across its precincts.
Charlotte will have just three competitive City Council elections in November and a mayoral race.
Voters largely do not turn out for local elections — particularly party primaries — at the same rates as when congressional, statewide or presidential elections are on the ballot.
In both of the two recent lower years, Anthony Foxx won the Democratic primary and eventually became Charlotte’s first post-Pat McCrory mayor. In 2011, Foxx faced no Democratic primary competition for mayor, and there was only one more at-large Democratic council candidate than seats available.
Below is a map of Charlotte’s turnout by precinct for this year’s primary. Darker blue colors indicate higher turnout. Hover over the precincts to see more information.
