Dare sees spike in unaffiliated voters on rolls

With the Democratic and Republican conventions spotlighting the presidential campaigns, voter registrations in Dare County are moving along, but the biggest growth is in numbers that don't side with either party.

"We're just seeing a lot more interest and involvement," said Melva Garrison, director of the Dare County Board of Elections. "Every day, we're seeing the pace pick up a little bit, with more phone calls and walk-ins."

Garrison said she has noticed that many voters, especially younger voters, are registering unaffiliated.

"We have for quite a while, since maybe the last presidential campaign," she said. "But gradually, we're seeing more and more of it."

That's despite the new Dare County Democratic headquarters that opened in Kitty Hawk in July. Garrison said it is the first such office she is aware of being located in the county, at least in recent memory.

Barack Obama's campaign also operates out of the office.

"Field coordinators are here, and we're working together not only for Obama but also for the down ballot," said Dale Draper, chairman of the Dare County Democratic Party. The party plans to distribute information on its platform - the first one in 10 years - and a slate card with biographical details about each of the Democratic candidates on the ballot.

Draper said rent costs $500 a month, paid by donations and contributions, which he expects to dry up once the campaigns are over. "We can't afford much more than after the election."

The Dare County Republican Party, however, does not have a headquarters in the county.

"We're not wealthy like they are," said party Chairman George Embrey. "We don't get $1,000 contributions, and we never have... They've got the money. We've got the candidates."

Non partisan voter drives are being held across the county, from storefronts and schools to neighborhood canvassing. Draper has also noticed that many of the new names on the county election rolls are not aligned to either party.

"The unaffiliated have really become the second-largest party," Draper said. "I think at this point, people are saying, 'I don't want to make a commitment.' "

Draper said that in 2000, about 21 percent of county voters registered unaffiliated; now, it's about 30 percent.

Tobey Milne, an Obama campaign volunteer from Southern Shores, said she has heard mixed reviews from uncommitted voters.

"Some people don't want to talk about who they're voting for - they feel it's very private," she said. "And some people say they're undecided; they need to learn more."

But, Milne said, whatever their leanings, potential voters she sees here are increasingly getting engaged in the campaign season.

"They're more excited," she said. "They're more attentive, also."

Embrey said the unusual situation of having uncontested local races frees up his party to devote its time to candidates on the rest of the ticket.

"We expect a whole lot of enthusiasm here for John McCain," he said. "After Labor Day, you'll start seeing things."

Signs will soon be put up, and volunteers will start canvassing door to door, he said.

"I think the people in Dare County will go in a landslide for John McCain," Embrey said.

"I just wish I was able to get people to run for county commission."

Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com