An informed vote matters more

Early voting is underway, and knowing where to cast a ballot is only part of being ready. Voters also deserve to know who is asking for their support, what those candidates propose to do, and what the questions on the ballot would change.

The Paper has gathered resources to help voters in Burke and Caldwell counties prepare: a breakdown of who is running for which office, candidate profiles, early voting locations, and information about the statewide referendums, including statements supporting and opposing each.

That is intentional. We want people to use this information, share it, and arrive at the polls better prepared to make their own decisions. A paywall should not stand between our election resources and the people who need them.

All of it is available for free in our new online election module. Go to thepaper.media and click on Election 2026.

There is good reason to make that preparation easier.

In North Carolina’s last midterm election, in 2022, turnout was 51.14%, according to the State Board of Elections. Burke and Caldwell counties were slightly lower. Nearly half of registered voters did not cast a ballot.

Those numbers cannot explain why someone stayed home. We should not assume that every uncast ballot reflects indifference. Nor can we promise that providing more information will bring everyone to the polls.

But we believe uncertainty about candidates and issues can be an obstacle.

Recognizing a name is not the same as understanding a candidate’s priorities. Reading a referendum question is not necessarily the same as understanding its consequences. Someone can care deeply about the community and still have questions about the choices before them.

What authority does an office carry? How would a proposed amendment change existing rules? Those are reasonable questions, and answering them clearly should be part of covering an election. Simply telling that person to “go vote” is not enough. We should help make the next step less daunting.

Our candidate coverage offers a place to begin evaluating the people seeking office. The referendum information gives readers an opportunity to consider competing arguments before deciding whether to support a proposed change. Information about voting logistics helps turn an intention to participate into a practical plan.

We encourage readers to look beyond familiar names. Consider whether candidates answer questions directly, whether their proposals are realistic, and whether their priorities reflect what you believe the community needs.

The Paper does not endorse candidates, a policy established in 2022 when the founders were planning The Paper’s launch. Our election resources serve a different purpose: helping voters reach their own conclusions.

Making those resources freely available does not mean the work costs nothing. Reporting requires time, staff, and financial support. Our subscribers help sustain that work, and we are grateful for them.

But the right to participate in democracy does not depend on buying a newspaper. We do not want access to our voter education resources to depend on it, either.

These resources are for longtime subscribers, occasional readers, and people encountering The Paper for the first time. They are for neighbors who agree with our editorials and neighbors who do not.

PLAN YOUR VOTE

During early voting, voters may use any early voting site in their county. Eligible residents who missed the registration deadline can register and vote during the same visit, with the required documentation. Check the locations and hours before heading out.

Bring an acceptable photo ID. Anyone unable to present one should ask election workers about the ID exception process rather than assume voting is impossible.

Those voting on Nov. 3 must go to their assigned precinct. Election Day polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Before then, spend some time with the choices. Read the profiles. Consider the referendum arguments. Share the resources with someone who has questions or does not know where to begin.

We cannot remove every obstacle to participation. We can make sure our own paywall is not one of them.