Ashe County progressives strategize for future elections

WEST JEFFERSON — Patti Miller, a field canvasser for a local nonprofit, described her recent interaction with a voter while leaving a polling station who didn’t speak English as his primary language.

While he isn’t fluent, she said his English was still “very good.”

Still, she said the voter found the ballot intimidating to read.

Miller and other voter rights advocates want to improve future access while eliminating implicit disenfranchisement. They plan to post a translated ballot at each Ashe County polling site so the confusion “won’t happen again.”

Voter engagement goes beyond education, she explained. It’s about outreach and support, regardless of the outcome at the ballot box.

“He voted and left content because he voted,” she said.

Miller was among 18 local left-leaning voters who attended a post-election reflection meeting at Down Home North Carolina’s Ashe County Chapter on Nov. 4.

Although Democrats secured major victories statewide, Ashe County voters backed Republican candidates in several closely contested races. Voters also approved three constitutional amendments that could reshape state and local government.

While the amendments passed, the post-election group said the mobilization is groundwork for future campaigns.

“I know a lot of people are discouraged by the amendments,” Democratic representative-elect Charlie Wallin told the gathering of election analysts. “When the first poll came out, the second it was released, 80 percent said they would support (the amendments) no questions asked. Because of the hard work of people in this room, we lowered that each time. It was because everyone was educating people and by talking to people. If we had more time, I think we could’ve defeated the amendment. You should be proud of getting it down from where it started.”

‘Don’t vote against yourself’For progressive Ashe County voters, the day after the election was about celebrating state and federal wins while continuing to goad future local voter engagement for systemic issues.

Elva Swibold said the group should focus on greater accountability for local landlords as rents remain high following substantial Helene residual property damage.

“I really want someone to live y’all, can we have some affordable housing please?” Vicki Randolph added.

Although Big Tech developers haven’t proposed local data center development, protecting the mountains from the environmental impacts of the facilities also found its way to the meeting’s chart summary.

During the nonprofit post-election informal conference, the participants also highlighted the importance of canvassing, door knocking, and crossing party lines to share information on key issues, including the recently passed constitutional amendment limit that could cap property tax increases. Opponents said the amendment could threaten revenue sources and services for rural communities.

Progressives face an uphill slog in deep-red Ashe County. Attendees at the post-election gathering, many of whom are approaching or have passed retirement age, said they need to target younger demographics better. Connecting with younger, tech-savvy residents could be harder than making TikToks. Local county commissioners and at least one school board member said many younger Ashe County residents are leaving the county because they can’t afford homes.

Future democratic candidates might also benefit from further faith community engagement, another attendee said. Local progressives said the messaging is there; they need to improve mobilizing the county electorate.

For other attendees, the message is simplistic.

“Don’t vote against yourself,” Miller said.