Why Should You Finish The Ballot?
In 2024, Donald Trump received 15,254 votes in Watauga County, while Jefferson Griffin received 14,363. That's a difference of 891 votes. Yet Jefferson Griffin lost his statewide race by just 734 votes.
Let that sink in.
The number of voters in Watauga County who didn't vote in that judicial race was greater than the margin that decided the entire statewide election. One county. One race. Just 734 votes. When voters stop at the top of the ballot and leave the rest blank, elections are decided without their voices being fully heard.
Judicial races matter because judges should interpret the law, not create it. But the importance of finishing your ballot doesn't stop there. County commissioners, sheriffs, school board members, and other local officials make decisions that directly affect our schools, public safety, taxes, and the future of our community.
We cannot afford ballot fatigue. We cannot afford to leave races blank. And we cannot assume that someone else will cast the vote that makes the difference. Because 734 votes changed a statewide election. The next one could be decided by even fewer.
Finish Your Ballot!