North Carolina experiments with "instant runoff voting"
October 11, 2010
Raleigh, North Carolina: The state of North Carolina is experimenting with a new voting method this year called "instant runoff voting". Since there was not enough time for a primary election between the resignation of Judge James Wynn from the North Carolina Court of Appeals in August and the November general election date, so officials decided to effectively combine the primary and general elections into one. This will also eliminate the need for voters to have to go to the polls twice.
Thirteen candidates have filed to replace Cressie Thigpen, who was temporarily appointed to replace Judge Wynn on this court. Under the "instant runoff" model, voters will choose, if they desire, a first, second and third choice for election. When the first choice votes are counted on election night, if no one candidate receives over 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will advance. The ballots which chose either of these two candidates as second choice will be counted next, and then those which chose either of the candidates as a third choice. The first, second and third choices will be added together, and whichever candidate with the most votes will win election.
This is the first time in state history that this system of voting has been used, and some are skeptical. Political analyst David McLennan stated, "You know the question to me, as somebody who observes politics, is is it so complicated that it will affect the outcome?"[1]
Footnotes
Federal courts:
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina
State courts:
Supreme Court of North Carolina • North Carolina Court of Appeals • North Carolina Superior Courts • North Carolina District Courts
State resources:
Courts in North Carolina • North Carolina judicial elections • Judicial selection in North Carolina
