‘So many mailers.’ Voters sound off in District 2 and 6 on Election Day in Charlotte
Foot traffic was light Tuesday at Charlotte polling places as voters cast ballots in the 2022 general election for mayor and City Council.
Polls are open until 7:30 p.m. Any registered voter standing in line at closing time is still able to vote after that time.
The Charlotte Observer visited precincts around the city to talk to voters, including people voting in District 6 and 2. The timing of the election is expected to result in low voter turnout.
As the Observer reported earlier this month, it’s an unusual time for municipal elections. Election day for municipal races is normally in November, and in odd-numbered years. But delays in U.S. Census data reporting pushed last year’s election to the summer.
Many political observers see the race in District 6 as the most competitive local race this year, with Democratic challenger Stephanie Hand taking on Republican Tariq Bokhari. Republican voters at the polls Tuesday backing incumbent Bokhari said more conservative voices are needed on Charlotte’s City Council.
In District 2, Malcolm Graham, a Democratic incumbent, faces a challenge from Republican Mary Lineberger Barnett.
Precinct 49, Park Road Montessori School
At Precinct 49, Park Road Montessori School in District 6, the polling location was fairly empty in the morning. Myers Park resident Tim Hansley said he supports Bokhari.
Transportation, crime and homelessness are some of the issues the city needs to improve on, according to Hansley. “There’s a long list of items that we need to address,” he said.
Hansley believes development in the city has been good. “I’m in real estate and I think that development has been something they’ve taken care of,” he said.
Precinct 8, Myers Park Traditional Elementary School
At Precinct 8 in District 6, Myers Park Traditional Elementary School, voters entered at a steady pace.
Myers Park resident Jenny Ward voted because of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, the plan that will guide the development and investments made in the city for the next two decades, and the Unified Development Ordinance, a set of regulations that will guide the city’s future development.
Ward supports affordable and equitable housing. “I think our city, like a lot of cities in the U.S., is at a point in time where we’ve got to make different decisions that work for everybody,” she said.
Janine and Mike Berry are other Myers Park residents who came out to vote because of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. She believes the city needs to improve on taxes, police funding and government restriction.
Janine believes the timing of the election will have a negative impact on voter turnout because a lot of people are out of town.
“We’re most excited about Tariq Bokhari because we’ve gotten so many mailers from him,” Mike said.
Precinct 12, Wallace Pruitt Recreation Center
At Precinct 12 in District 2, Wallace Pruitt Recreation Center, trickled in sporadically after 4:30 p.m.
Sandra West held her son in one arm and daughter’s hand in the other. The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and any local implications was a major issue that drew her to the polls.
“All the stripping of women’s rights, family rights … every level of government touches that, you know?” West said.
West told the Observer she wants to make sure “my family and my kids, the people I care about, have a voice.”
Taylor Florio underscored the importance of local political engagement.
“I love voting for local leadership just because I don’t think when I was younger I paid as much attention,” Florio said.
Florio said economic mobility, affordable housing and transportation guided how she voted. She told the Observer she planned on voting for Democratic candidates.
Ted Tarver is on the board of the Biddleville-Smallwood Neighborhood Association. So, voting is a no-brainer for him. The mayoral election was of particular importance.
“I just want to make sure things are going on the current course,” he said.
Tarver said he wants the city council to better regulate development and increase affordable housing, but he is “dubious” the council will actually do so.
He said his current council member, Malcolm Graham, “means well,” but he has not met the demands of his constituents. Tarver claimed Graham never shows up to the Neighborhood Association meetings despite numerous invitations.
Other voters at Precinct 12 mentioned housing, traffic, and public safety as their top issues.
Precinct 23, Bishop Spaugh Community Academy
The voting area at Precinct 23, in District 2, was a maze to find, but voters eventually made their way to the elementary school auditorium.
Josh Few said he felt hopeful about voting in a younger generation of candidates that have his interests in mind. Traffic and rent are his top issues.
Hardly any of Few’s friends knew about the election, he said.
“There’s not a mass movement to get people on vote, which I think needs to happen,” Few said.
Davyoneda Mackey offered similar observations. This year’s City Council and mayoral election was more “quiet and subdued,” Mackey said.
Born and raised in West Charlotte, Mackey said gentrification is her greatest concern. Her mom owns 3 acres of land, and developers call her regularly with requests to buy her property and build.
Mackey also said traffic and stopping violence are important to her.
Charlotte elections 2022
From earlier coverage:
About 28,000 people, less than 5% of Charlotte’s registered voters, voted early.
Mayor Vi Lyles is running for reelection against Republican Stephanie de Sarachaga-Bilbao. There are also eight candidates running for City Council at-large seats, which represent and are elected by the whole city, rather than a single district.
Voters can choose four candidates on the at-large ballot.
Incumbent Democrats Dimple Ajmera and Braxton Winston are running for reelection. They and two former City Council members James (Smuggie) Mitchell and LaWana Slack-Mayfield, both Democrats, are up against four Republicans: Kyle J. Luebke, David Merrill, Charlie Mulligan and Carrie Olinski.
Three of Charlotte’s seven district City Council members face opposition: Democrat Malcolm Graham in District 2, who faces Republican Mary Lineberger Barnett; Democrat Victoria Watlington in District 3, who faces Republican James H. Bowers; and Republican Tariq Bokhari in District 6, who faces Democrat Stephanie Hand.
This story was originally published July 26, 2022 at 11:18 AM.
