Sonia Rao
Articles
Before You Vote Episode 9: Election Results
In the ninth and final episode, City & State Editor Sonia Rao breaks down the results of the 2020 election with Catawba College professor and N.C. politics expert Michael Bitzer.
'Love in the air': Chapel Hill, Carrboro celebrate Joe Biden's presidential win
The former vice president declared victory over President Donald Trump on Saturday after securing 290 electoral votes — more than the 270 needed to win the presidency — and celebrations in Chapel Hill and Carrboro continued until well after sunset. Minutes after Joe Biden was announced as the country’s 46th president Saturday, Franklin Street filled with the sounds of cars honking and students cheering. Resident Damien Moore said he's never seen Chapel Hill celebrate like this, except for when students rush Franklin Street after a UNC basketball victory over Duke.
Election Day is over. What comes next for North Carolina?
North Carolina's unofficial results most likely won't change until Nov. 12. This means North Carolinians likely won't know who won close races, such as the presidential race or the U.S. Senate race, until then. There are approximately 117,000 outstanding absentee ballots in North Carolina. Jason Roberts, a UNC political science professor and member of the Orange County Board of Elections, said most counties won't count these outstanding absentee ballots until Nov. 12 or 13, right before county boards of elections certify results.
Former Vice President Joe Biden projected to win U.S. presidency in close race
President Donald Trump had the lead in North Carolina over former Vice President Joe Biden as of midnight, leading by 1.39 percent, according to unofficial results. 117,000 absentee ballots in North Carolina have yet to be returned, according to the N.C. State Board of Elections. This is larger than the number of votes Trump has over Biden as of midnight on Tuesday, which was 76,380. In North Carolina, absentee ballots received by Nov. 12 will be counted in the election.
Before You Vote Episode 8: Election Day
In the eighth episode of Before You Vote, City & State Editor Sonia Rao talks to UNC professor Jason Roberts about what to expect on election night.
Column: You told us what you wanted from our election coverage. Here's what happened.
In March, we spread a survey asking UNC students what issues they cared the most about, and what formats they wanted election-related stories to be in. We used the results to shape our coverage leading up to Election Day.
Before You Vote Episode 7: Election security
In the seventh episode, City & State Editor Sonia Rao talks to N.C. Board of Elections Director Karen Brinson-Bell and UNC political science professor Marc Hetherington about election security during the pandemic.
'I'm Smart, Too': Local documentary highlights racial achievement gap in CHCCS
The documentary, called "I'm Smart, Too," premiered Sept. 23 and includes the voices of parents and students of color in the district.
Before You Vote Episode 6: How student leaders are engaging voters
In the sixth episode, City & State Editor Sonia Rao talks to Greear Webb and America Juarez-Maldonado, two student leaders at UNC about what they're doing to engage student and minority voters before the election.
Before You Vote Episode 5: N.C. Ballot Breakdown
In the fifth episode, City & State Editor Sonia Rao talks to UNC Hussman professor Joe Cabosky about what races are on the ballot in November.
Media
Election Results
In the ninth and final episode, City & State Editor Sonia Rao breaks down the results of the 2020 election with Catawba College professor and N.C. politics expert Michael Bitzer.
Election Day
In the eighth Election Day episode, City & State Editor talks to UNC professor and Orange County Board of Elections member Jason Roberts about what to expect on election night.
How student leaders are engaging voters
In the sixth episode, City & State Editor Sonia Rao talks to Greear Webb and America Juarez-Maldonado, two student leaders at UNC about what they're doing to engage student and minority voters before the election.
N.C. Ballot Breakdown
In the fifth episode, City & State Editor Sonia Rao talks to UNC Hussman professor Joe Cabosky about the races down the North Carolina ballot.
Before You Vote Episode 1: Your Vote Matters
Voting is complicated. Before You Vote is a new podcast from The Daily Tar Heel's City and State desk breaking down all you need to know about voting before the 2020 election. In its first episode, City and State Editor Sonia Rao talks with Joe Killian, an investigative reporter for NC Policy Watch, and Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause North Carolina about the impact of the student vote in North Carolina. This episode is produced by Meredith Radford.
veterans memorial
U.S. Rep. David Price, D-N.C. speaks during the Orange County Veterans Day event at the Orange County Veterans Memorial on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019.
