We Asked 4 North Carolinians Why They’re Voting on Super Tuesday. This Is What They Told Us.

“Healthcare reform is a major issue for us,” one mom said. “College affordability, climate change, and criminal justice reform are also major issues we often discuss at our dinner table.”

Erin Tracy-Blackwood and her husband Scott always vote together. This year, however, was a little different for the Belmont couple. Their 18-year-old son Atraiyu Yeldell joined them for the first time.

“It was really exhilarating,” Tracy-Blackwood told Cardinal & Pine. “I thought about how I’ve raised an adult with opinions and ideas on what he wants the American experience to be for himself and his peers. And he cares enough about it to get up early in a rainy morning and make sure his voice is heard. It was a mixture of pride, excitement and hope.”

The family joined thousands of other North Carolina voters in casting their ballots on Super Tuesday. A recently released poll by Elon University found that some of the specific issues North Carolinians would base their candidate choices on included health care, the economy, education, the environment, and more.

As such, we asked a handful of voters on Tuesday what political and social issues they were thinking about as they cast their ballots. Here’s what they said.

Erin Tracy-Blackwood of Belmont

“In the past year, our family has been hit by insane medical bills, and we have private insurance. We also became business owners, and we tried to provide affordable insurance for our employees and it’s almost impossible. Healthcare reform is a major issue for us. College affordability, climate change, and criminal justice reform are also major issues we often discuss at our dinner table.”

Jacob Zacks of Raleigh

“Honestly, I just want to see a Democrat back in the White House. It’s kinda been disheartening the last four years. I turned 18 when the 2016 elections were happening. It was my first election and that weird thing happened on Election Day where Trump got elected. There was like a percentage chance that Hillary Clinton was going to win. I just saw over the last hour, it just crossed over [and she was losing], so I went to bed. It was so disheartening. I was so upset.”

Britt of Mount Olive

“I have a real interest in foreign affairs and I believe that many of the decisions of the Trump administration were made hastily without long-term consequences being considered. I do believe that has led to a more unstable world, which is why I’m out here today.”

Evelyn Taylor of Raleigh

“No particular issue. Just getting out here and performing my civic duty. Getting out, letting my voice be heard. And being a mentor for the kids. They have to see me with my ‘I voted’ sticker on. I work for the Boys and Girls Club so I have to show them that they have to go out there and do the things that they’re supposed to be doing.”