Primary elections are often punctuated with little interest and low turnout. But in Orange County, NC, where voters are overwhelming one party, the winner of the May primary almost always wins the general election in November. Needless to say, primaries matter in Orange County and Chamber members are activating. In lieu of a traditional, in-person forum, the (un)forum is a new e-platform (powered by Chapel Hill tech start-up, ShineBiG) that allows Chamber members and candidates to connect through video at a time that is convenient for them. All candidates who filed for relevant local elections were invited to participate in the (un)forum and respond to one simple question (write-in candidates are not included). The (un)forum technology automatically shuffles the order in which the candidate videos appear to foster a more level playing field. The Chamber is sharing the videos widely through the website, listserv, and social media, as well as with local media. Given the new technology, Chamber staff members offered technical support to all candidates. Learn more about local elections and get involved.

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