---
title: 'Support for Death Penalty in North Carolina Drops Below 50%'
description: 'A recent North Carolina public opinion poll conducted for The News & Observer found that only 49% of voters polled approve of executions for those…'
canonical: 'https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/support-for-death-penalty-in-north-carolina-drops-below-50'
section: news
date: '2003-09-29T23:23:18-04:00'
updated: '2025-03-14T14:23:22-04:00'
source: 'Death Penalty Information Center'
---

A recent North Carolina public opinion poll conducted for The News & Observer found that only 49% of voters polled approve of executions for those convicted of first-degree murder while 42% favor life in prison without parole as the punishment. Nine percent were unsure. The same poll registered 40% of respondents in support of a moratorium on executions and 53% in opposition to halting executions for two years while the state studies and fixes possible flaws in its death penalty system. State Representative Paul Luebke, who supports a moratorium, noted, "It's clear that support for the death penalty is not that strong in North Carolina." The North Carolina Senate in April approved a two-year moratorium bill, which the House will consider in May 2004. (The News & Observer, September 19, 2003) See [Public Opinion](/public-opinion-about-death-penalty?did=209&scid=23).