Voter Turnout 2014People trying to prove that election laws passed by the General Assembly last year amount to minority voter suppression are going to have a hard time with this one: African American voter turnout increased in this year’s general election compared to the latest midterm election in 2010.

According to data just released by the State Board of Elections, 540,307 African Americans voted in 2010 compared to 629,179 this year, a 16.45 percent increase. This year, African Americans made up 21.8 percent of the total turnout, compared to 20.1 percent four years ago.

Participation by younger voters (age 18-25) also increased. This year, 143,809 younger citizens went to the polls compared to 104,575 in 2010, a 37.52 percent increase. Critics of the new law had also said that college-age voters were also voter-suppression targets.

In fact, voter participation increased in every demographic category, whether by political party, race, or age.

One of the biggest changes in election law hasn’t taken effect yet. Beginning with the 2016 elections, voters will be required to show an approved photo ID when they go to the polls to cast their ballot.

Other provisions of the 2013 law did take effect this year, however. Those include shortening of early voting from 17 days to 10 days, eliminating same-day registration during early voting, and disallowing voters on Election Day to vote outside their assigned precinct.

“We are encouraged that more North Carolinians participated in this election than in any prior midterm, said Kim Westbrook Strach, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “We will continue our efforts to educate the public and increase the efficiency of statewide voting procedures.”