New poll shows NC voters across party lines see childcare as workforce, affordability issue

North Carolina’s midterm elections are on Nov. 3, and some voters in both parties are thinking about childcare before they hit the polling place.

A share of the state’s voters say finding and affording childcare is an issue, with many also saying the cost of care is affecting their finances and availability to work.

The statewide poll from the WNC Early Childhood Coalition and First Five Years Fund — a childcare advocacy organization based in D.C. — found that 78% of North Carolina voters say the ability to find and afford childcare is a crisis or major problem.

The concern crosses party lines, with 62% of Republicans, 78% of independents and 90% of Democrats in agreement among those surveyed.

Joseph O’Hern, director of coalition and campaigns for First Five Years Fund, said the organization conducted the poll in August and spoke with 820 voters, many of them from Western North Carolina.

“Affordability is top of mind for voters, and childcare costs are a huge part of that affordability crisis voters are facing,” he said.

Among North Carolina parents who pay for childcare, half said the cost is preventing them from saving or making financial gains. Another 34% said they’re cutting back on other essentials to pay for care.

The costs are also affecting families’ plans for the future. About one in four voters said they’re putting off starting a family because of childcare costs.

Voters also saw childcare as an important part of the state’s economy. About 77% of them agreed that increasing access to care would strengthen North Carolina’s workforce and economy. That percentage increased to 83% among voters polled in the western part of the state.

Greg Borom, director of the WNC Childcare Coalition, said he isn’t surprised to see Western North Carolina voters poll at higher percentages regarding childcare.

NC announces $20 million to expand childcare in storm recovery areas (opens in a new tab)

“Our coalition had been charting childcare as an urgent and crisis issue in western counties before the pandemic came along,” he said. “But this crescendo of build-up and awareness that has been growing since that time is really reflected in this poll.”