Daily Deacon

B-Matter for Court TV (or 2016 Primaries) // Merritt Enright

VOTING

Almost 60 years after the Civil Rights Movement, the minority vote is being suppressed by North Carolina’s new identification law, requiring voters to show official ID at the polls. The law, which became effective in January, also inhibits low income individuals, out-of-state college students and others from voting.

In addition, the law shortens the early voting period and eliminated same-day voting registration, making it difficult for working class members to reach the polls.

Although there are more registered Democrats than Republicans in North Carolina, the law is predicted to hurt voter turnout for Democratic candidates – especially Sanders. Talk about feeling the burn.

GOP15

Super Tuesday revealed Trump as the leading candidate for the GOP party. Trump won over Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia. Ted Cruz came in a not-so-close second by winning Alaska, Oklahoma, and Texas while Miami Senator Marco Rubio trailed behind with a single win in Minnesota.

Trump is notorious for his hardline foreign policies and stance on immigration. He wants to build a wall along the Mexican boarder to keep out illegal immigrants and ban Muslims from entering the country.

Rubio has been far less straight-forward on immigration, stating that the US simply needs to “modernize legal immigration.” Cruz is more known for his nonchalance towards environmental issues, stating that “there has been no meaningful warming in years,” which could cost him a huge number of votes environmentally-concerned conservatives.

DEM15

Bernie Sanders might have won over the working class and youth, but his Super Tuesday were no match for Hillary Clinton. Clinton won over Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Sanders was left with Colorado, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Vermont.

While Sanders appeal towards young and working class voters has boosted his campaign, the enthusiasm didn’t help him in much in the polls. The strenuous work hours of low income individuals and academic schedules of student voters greatly affected Sanders’ voter turnout. With a higher turnout from black Southerners, Clinton emerged as the Democratic leader of Super Tuesday.