An Update from the Center for North Carolina Politics & Public Service
Seven in 10 North Carolinians support requiring a copy of photo identification for absentee-by-mail voting, including majorities of Democrats, independents and Republicans. Most respondents said it would be easy to provide a copy of acceptable identification for their mail-in ballot, although more than one in five say doing so would be difficult.
“Much like the previous finding of 83% support for photo identification when someone is voting in person, support for photo ID when voting by mail also extends across the political spectrum,” said Michael Bitzer, professor and director of the Center for North Carolina Politics & Public Service. “While nine in 10 Republicans and two-thirds of independents support the constitutional amendment, 57% of Democrats also lend their support to the change.”
When asked separately if they would find it easy to include a copy of their identification with a mail-in ballot, 78% of respondents said it would be. However, the largest group who said it would be difficult were independents (27%).
BROAD SUPPORT FOR LOCAL PROPERTY TAX AMENDMENT
The survey asked North Carolinians about the two other constitutional amendments on the ballot for Nov. 3. For both amendments, respondents were randomly divided into two groups to test whether additional information affected support. One group was asked about each proposal without additional context, while the other was presented with arguments both for and against the amendment before giving their opinion. The two groups' responses provide a comparison of support with and without consideration of competing arguments.
Support for limiting local property tax increases is especially broad. Nearly eight in 10 respondents (79%) support the concept when presented simply, and nearly seven in 10 (69%) remain supportive after hearing competing concerns about homeowner affordability and possible pressure on local services.
When asked straightforwardly whether they would support an amendment requiring limits on how much local North Carolina governments could raise property taxes, support was strong across the partisan spectrum: 94% of Republicans, 78% of independents and 71% of Democrats backed the measure.
But when respondents were presented with arguments on both sides — emphasizing homeowner affordability and raising concerns that financially struggling counties could be forced to cut services if they could not raise sufficient tax revenue — support declined overall and across partisan groups. Eighty-seven percent of Republicans still supported the measure, along with 67% of independents and 57% of Democrats.
“Broad support may not necessarily mean settled opinion,” Bitzer said. “Eight in 10 North Carolinians initially support limiting property tax increases, but that support falls to seven in 10 when people are asked to consider both the benefits and potential tradeoffs involved. It is a reminder that how people evaluate a policy can depend on whether they are thinking about its benefits alone or weighing those benefits against its possible consequences.”
EVEN WITH ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES, TWO-THIRDS SUPPORT LOWERING THE STATE INCOME TAX CAP
About two-thirds of North Carolinians support a proposed constitutional amendment lowering the maximum state personal income tax rate to 3.5%. Support was 67% when respondents were presented with the amendment alone and 66% when they were also given arguments for and against the proposal, suggesting that the additional context had little effect on overall opinion.
“Support for the proposed income tax cap tells a somewhat different story,” Bitzer said. “Two-thirds of North Carolinians support lowering the constitutional limit on the state’s personal income tax rate to 3.5%, and that support remains virtually unchanged even when respondents are asked to consider arguments on both sides of the proposal. Unlike the property tax question, where hearing about potential tradeoffs reduced support, additional information did little to alter North Carolinians’ views of the income tax cap.”
The overall stability in support, however, masks some partisan differences. Democratic support fell from nearly six in 10 when presented with the amendment alone to 50% after respondents considered competing arguments, while support among independents and Republicans remained largely consistent between the two versions of the question.
OTHER FINDINGS:
North Carolinians Divided on Public Funding for Nonpartisan Voter Turnout Efforts
The survey also finds no statewide consensus on public funding for nonpartisan voter turnout initiatives. Support and opposition are closely divided for both local and state tax funding: 40% oppose using either state or local tax funds to engage in nonpartisan voter turnout, while 39% support state funds and 36% support using local funds.
Democracy Receives More Positive Ratings Closer to Home
North Carolinians also offered more positive assessments of democracy closer to home. While 23% rated democracy in the United States as strong, respondents were somewhat more likely to give higher ratings to democracy in North Carolina and their local communities. Four in 10 described democracy in the nation as moderate, while another third rated it poorly.
NC Republicans Continue to Be More Pro-Party Than Pro-Trump
Another finding from the August survey shows a continuing shift among North Carolina Republicans toward identifying more strongly with the Republican Party than with Donald Trump. Fifty-nine percent said they were more a supporter of the party than Trump overall, up from 57% in June. The percentage of those saying they were more a supporter of Trump than the party overall slipped from 43% to 41%.
The August 2026 Catawba College-YouGov Survey interviewed 1,000 weighted North Carolina adults online. Administered online by YouGov, the survey was commissioned and paid for by Catawba College’s Center for North Carolina Politics & Public Service. The survey’s adjusted overall margin of error is plus or minus 3.59 percentage points; subgroups will have higher margins of error. Results should be viewed as informative estimates rather than definitive measures of public opinion.
You may find additional details about the poll’s finding, methodology, and responses below.
About the Center for NC Politics and Public Service
The Center for North Carolina Politics & Public Service at Catawba College is dedicated to enriching civic dialogue, deepening understanding, and fostering engagement within North Carolina. Through non-partisan initiatives, the Center promotes the ideals of public service, civic character and engagement, and informed citizenship across the state. By educating North Carolinians about the state's political dynamics and emphasizing the value of public service, the Center cultivates practical political understanding and encourages active civic participation. In doing so, it helps instill a lasting respect for public life and being a responsible citizen — both among Catawba College students and throughout the wider North Carolina community.
About Catawba College
Founded in 1851, Catawba College is a four-year, private, liberal arts college located in Salisbury, N.C. Ranked as one of the best regional colleges in the South, Catawba is known for its intellectual rigor, dedicated faculty, beautiful campus, and strong commitment to sustainability and the environment. The College offers more than 70 undergraduate and four graduate programs allowing students to explore diverse interests and create their own academic pathway. Additional information is available at catawba.edu.
