Sporting camo hats embroidered with “Harris Walz” in neon orange paired with a shirt in a distinctive Democratic—or some might say Duke—blue, juxtaposed by Trump supporters wearing “Make America Great Again” hats in the signature Republican red, standing beside signs that declare, “Bleed blue, vote red.” The purple and orange cast a glow on the Karsh Alumni Center at Duke University in Durham, N.C., as day 13 of early voting is coming to a close. The poll greeters take down their chairs, count their remaining sample ballots and get into their cars with thankful but anxious hearts that they are able to advocate for the candidates, policies and preferences that they believe in. Some have been serving since 8 a.m., but it is now 7:30 p.m., and the 2024 election is officially less than a week away.

The last few voters trickle out from their voting booths proudly wearing their “I voted” stickers. Most sport their candidates’ merch or the iconic red, white and blue that make up the American flag hanging high. While many believe America is more partisan than ever, voting remains an action where people from all parties can unite to fulfill their civic duty, even if they support different candidates’ policies to get to the voting booths.

Early voting efforts began on Oct. 17, and as of yesterday, Durham County has seen 112,712 out of the 251,290 registered voters come to the polls. Over the next six days, both sides of the aisle will unite with a shared goal: to bring as many people to the polls as possible. Durham, a key player in state election outcomes, has also become pivotal in the national election with North Carolina’s status as a swing state.

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Durham, North Carolina, has a rich and dynamic political history shaped by its unique blend of social movements, economic changes and civic leadership. Established in the late 19th century as a tobacco and textile manufacturing hub, Durham quickly became a center for Black entrepreneurship, civil rights activism and progressive political movements.

In recent decades, Durham has experienced rapid growth, fueled by the expansion of the Research Triangle Park and an influx of new residents. This growth brought prosperity but also sparked gentrification, driving up housing costs and raising concerns about displacement and inequality.

Durham’s politics have remained largely progressive, with elected officials pushing for affordable housing, police reform and environmental sustainability. Issues like racial equity, healthcare access and economic inclusivity are top priorities for local politicians and community activists.

Steve Rawson, a lifelong Democrat and attorney, admitted that he got more insitutionally involved in party structure after Trump was elected in 2016. Serving as Third Vice Chair for the Durham Democrats from 2018-2022 and then stepped into the position of Chair in 2022.

“We view Durham as the key to turning N.C. blue if we turn out our voters at the rates we want and need to, then we believe that margin will be enough to get Democrats elected statewide up and down the ballot,” said Rawson.

Early voting has been the key to the Democratic Party’s successes in Durham over the last decade. As many as 117,842 registered voters turned out to vote early in 2020, with 68,205 being registered Democrats, 35,683 unaffiliated, 13,355 Republican, and the rest a combination of remaining parties.

“Our job is to post a higher number of Democratic votes than we did in 2020 – Biden received a little over 144,000 in 2020 after all of the votes were tallied, and we recognize that to make sure Kamala Harris gets elected we have to beat this number,” Rawson said.

The Durham Democrats and Republicans believe that early voting numbers will continue to skyrocket as campaign efforts ramp up through November 2 at 3 p.m.

After serving as vice chair for four years, Christina Crosby stepped into the role of Chair of the Durham Republicans. She aims to increase the Republican presence in Durham, believing that visibility will encourage greater community involvement.

“The Trump Force 47 program, which includes door-knocking initiatives, the Campaign Sidekick app, and Turning Point Access, is working to promote Republican messages across Durham, including two billboards with messages like “keep more of your paycheck” and “safety and security—vote Republican,” said Crosby.

For the Democratic Party, efforts like door-knocking and community-building helped form coalitions and spread awareness, with postcards prepped to go out in late October as voting reminders.

“To drive voter turnout, canvassers have worked daily in Durham with the Harris Walz campaign, reaching 13,000 doors last weekend alone. Phone banks run every evening, with volunteers, including myself, making hundreds of calls, reminding voters to complete their whole ballot,” said Rawson.

Both the Duke and Durham Republicans acknowledged that the Democratic Party is more mobilized in Durham County due to the sheer number of volunteers and advocates for Democratic candidates. However, they have mitigated this by placing poll workers and volunteers at every polling place to represent the Republican Party.

“There has already been 40% of registered Republicans in Durham turn out to vote, which has been increasingly more than in previous years as Republicans tend to vote on election day,” said Crosby.

At polling sites like the Karsh Alumni Center, early voters are greeted by volunteers distributing candidate cards and sample ballots, underscoring the impact of every race—from local to statewide offices—on North Carolinians’ lives.

Whether it’s the distinctive green of Mo Green’s campaign for N.C Superintendent of Public Instruction or the navy and red of Dan Bishop’s sign for N.C. Attorney General, each sign stands out.

Inside, with vast windows, archways, and polished wood details, voters make their way to individual gray and black booths to complete their ballots.

The main target of the alumni center voting site are individuals associated with Duke University.

Rawson discussed Durham Democrats’ efforts on Duke’s campus, including setting up registration tables and building relationships with student organizations to bolster support. These efforts generated excitement, especially with candidate visits like Tim Walz’s recent appearance, where he marched to the polls with Blue Devil students.

“It’s all about engaging with campuses to register voters and then mobilizing students to get to the polls,” said Rawson.

In contrast, Zander Pitrus, a junior at Duke University and head of Duke College Republicans, noted that Republican representation on campus is sparse.

According to The Chronicle’s Class of 2027 survey, about 58% of now-sophomores said they were “somewhat” or “very” liberal, while 27.5% identified as moderates and 14.3% identified as “somewhat” conservative or conservative.

Pitrus seeks to engage with people holding opposing views, including the campus’s liberal majority, whom he believes could benefit from having their perspectives challenged.

“We officially established on Oct.14, 2024, to reduce the fear of speaking out about who we support and to inspire enthusiasm for voting in Durham County and beyond,” Pitrus said.

With robust volunteer efforts and visible candidate presence, polling sites like the Karsh Alumni Center demonstrate the energy and engagement that this election season has inspired across Duke University.

Whether through Democratic registration drives or Republican outreach efforts, students are encouraged to voice their choices on issues and leaders that will shape North Carolina’s future.

“Every person should know their individual vote matters – exercise your right,” said Rawson.