Full Breakdown
North Carolina Students March to Polls After Campus Voting Sites Removed
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 15, the first day of early voting in North Carolina, Black students from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University (NC A&T), Bennett College and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) walked from their campuses to the nearest polling place, a two-hour round-trip march, to cast ballots after the state board of elections eliminated on-campus early-voting sites. A second march on October 22 saw hundreds of students again travel to the polls, this time joined by actor Marsai Martin and Love Island USA winner Trinity Tatum, both co-chairs of the non-partisan group When We All Vote.
Background & Context
Late in 2025, the Republican-controlled North Carolina State Board of Elections removed early-voting locations from four colleges—UNCG, NC A&T, Western Carolina University (WCU) and Elon University. The decision prompted a lawsuit filed in January by College Democrats of North Carolina, arguing that the removals would disproportionately burden young and Black voters. The suit highlighted that more than 60 % of WCU students lack personal transportation and would have to walk nearly two miles along a four-lane highway with no sidewalks to reach the nearest site.
Timeline
- January 2025 – College Democrats of North Carolina file lawsuit challenging the removal of campus polling sites.
- October 15 – First student march to early-voting location; >100 students from NC A&T and UNCG participate.
- October 22 – Second march, featuring national voting-rights advocates, draws hundreds of participants.
Data & Statistics
- The October 15 march required a roughly 45-minute walk to the Union Square early-voting site in Greensboro.
- Students reported a two-hour round-trip for the march.
- WCU’s student body is over 60 % without cars, according to the lawsuit.
- The removed polling site at WCU served more Black voters in the 2024 election than any other site in its county.
Official Statements & Responses
Republican board members defended the relocations by citing “better parking access” at the new off-campus sites.
Criticism & Opposition
Student organizers argue the moves were intended to suppress turnout. The sentiment reflects broader concerns that the board’s actions create barriers for students lacking reliable transportation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I think that a lot of students wanted to come and march because they knew that it would make a statement,” — Dihanna Williams, a student at NC A&T
- “I’ve realized that if we want things to change, we’ve got to show up together. It’s hard to think of another campus showing up as hard as North Carolina A&T,” — Marsai Martin
- “It has been a continuous back and forth trying to make sure we have on-campus polling sites, which is really essential at a campus,” — Shia Rozier
- “Clearly, moving it away from central campus to me seems like they wanted fewer students to vote,” — NC State, the ohio secretary