North Carolina Voting and Education
Source: AARP
On November 5, 2024, Donald J. Trump won the Presidential election against Kamala Harris, becoming the 47th President of the United States. His victory was decisive, as he secured all seven swing states, solidifying his path to the presidency. To delve deeper into this outcome, this analysis focuses on North Carolina’s voting patterns and explores how educational attainment by county may have influenced these results.
A Look Into North Carolina 2024 Voting and Educational Attainment Per County
Understanding the relationship between education and voting behavior is critical for analyzing political and social trends. In North Carolina, a state with diverse demographics and varying levels of educational attainment across its counties, this relationship provides valuable insights into the factors driving electoral outcomes. By examining data on voting patterns and education levels for the 2024 election, we can explore whether educational attainment significantly correlates with political preferences at the county level.
Hypothesis
Counties in North Carolina with higher levels of educational attainment are more likely to support candidates from progressive political parties, reflecting national trends that suggest education levels influence ideological alignment. Conversely, counties with lower educational attainment may show stronger support for conservative candidates. This study hypothesizes that educational disparities contribute to distinct voting patterns, with potential implications for campaign strategies and policy development.
Votes and Education Level
Data found on My Future North Carolina and was merged with Voting data found at NC State Board of Elections. To better merge the two, the data was cleaned up to only gather information needed. Note: Only Donald Trump and Kamala Harris numbers appear in the data because of the pull the two candidates they had compared to the others. Cleaned Data: NC Voting, NC Education
The first map shows the winning candidate in each county. When hovering over each county, you can explore the education levels in each county. This is calculated by percent of residents and their highest level of education.
The second map shows is colored based on the education level that has the highest percentage in each county. When hovering, you are able to see the vote count of the Presidential Candidates, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
When looking at the two graphs side by side, they show notable similarities. Counties with higher levels of education, particularly those where bachelor’s degrees are prevalent, often overlap with regions supporting the democratic candidate. This pattern suggests a correlation between educational attainment and voting preferences, where increased education levels may align with specific political ideologies or priorities. Conversely, counties with lower levels of education, such as those where high school diplomas are the highest attainment, frequently correspond to areas with strong republican support, highlighting differing regional concerns and values.
North Carolina Higher Education
Looking at where colleges and universities are throughout North Carolina helps further explore this connection. This list of higher education was found at Data.gov then cleaned to include the latitude and longitude - North Carolina Higher Education.
The map below is colored based on the percent of the population that holds any type of a higher education degree. If over 50% of the counties population has a degree, than the map will show a scale of blues, and if it is under 50% it will show a scale of reds. The points laid over the map pin points different Colleges and Universities in the state of North Carolina.
This graph showcases how universities and colleges contribute to the concentration of degree holders in certain counties, with areas near these institutions showing higher percentages of residents with advanced degrees. It tells us more about regional educational hubs, accessibility gaps, and the possible economic and social correlations. Looking at this compared to the winning candidate map, it tells an interesting story of how the presence of higher education institutions influences educational attainment and, in turn, voting behavior across North Carolina.
Conclusion
Together, the three graphs provide a comprehensive view of the interplay between education and voting behavior in North Carolina. The first graph highlights the political landscape, showing how counties voted in the 2024 election, while the second graph reveals the educational attainment levels that may influence these outcomes. The third graph adds depth by showcasing the role of higher education institutions in shaping regional educational patterns, which in turn impact socio-economic opportunities and political preferences. Although these patterns suggest a strong correlation between education and voting trends, this is not always the case, as cultural factors, economic conditions, and historical political loyalties can also play significant roles in shaping electoral outcomes. These visualizations underscore the strong correlation between education and voting trends, highlighting disparities that call for targeted policies to improve access to education and promote civic engagement. Addressing these gaps could have profound implications for both the social and political future of North Carolina.