Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
4 <br /> respective districts, and elected during the general election by only the voters in their <br /> respective districts. Pamlico County's two at large seats are filled based on countywide <br /> nomination and countywide election. <br /> And like Pamlico, the four district Commissioner seats for the Pasquotank County Board <br /> of Commissioners are also for residency, nomination, and election. Candidates for <br /> district seats must reside in their respective districts, are voted on/nominated during the <br /> primary by only the voters in their respective districts, and elected during the general <br /> election by only the voters in their respective districts. Pasquotank County's three at <br /> large seats are filled based on countywide nomination and countywide election. <br /> What is the timeframe to place a proposed election method/plan on the ballot for voter <br /> referendum? <br /> • If the Board determined to pursue a voter referendum on an election method/plan in May <br /> 2018, Board action on a resolution and election plan/map would be necessary before <br /> February 28, 2018. The Board may want to consider whether action earlier than this <br /> timeframe would be advisable for the benefit of voters. <br /> • If the Board determined to pursue a voter referendum on an election method/plan in <br /> November 2018, Board action on a resolution and election plan/map would be necessary <br /> by August 17, 2018. It should be noted, however, that the Board's contemplated 2018 <br /> summer break would in reality necessitate Board action before or during June 2018. <br /> Alternatively, the Board could amend the summer break portion of its contemplated 2018 <br /> meeting schedule to extend the timeframe for Board action up to the August 17, 2018 <br /> deadline. The Board may want to consider whether action earlier than these timeframes <br /> may be advisable for the benefit of voters. <br /> Depending on the Board's potential interest related to the election method, will <br /> population changes since the 2010 Census need to be considered? <br /> • Although there have been changes related to Orange County's population since 2010, <br /> those changes would not be considered as part of any potential election method or <br /> district delineation. The 2010 Census remains the basis for all population calculations. <br /> What is cumulative voting? Is cumulative voting permissible in North Carolina for boards <br /> of commissioners' elections? Would Orange County need special legislation from the <br /> North Carolina General Assembly to consider/implement a cumulative voting method for <br /> seats on the Board of Commissioners? <br /> • Cumulative voting is method of election that is utilized in the United States primarily by <br /> corporations and to a lesser extent local governmental entities across the country. This <br /> method allows minority shareholders to have a greater chance of electing corporate <br /> officers and has been adopted in some local jurisdictions specifically to rectify voting <br /> rights violations. Cumulative voting is specifically recognized in North Carolina law for <br /> corporate voting. <br /> Cumulative voting works by allocating a specific number of votes to all voters, five for <br /> example. In an election with three candidates an individual voter may choose to place all <br /> five votes on a single candidate or allocate the five votes among the three candidates. <br /> By pooling votes to a single candidate minority groups have a greater chance of electing <br /> a candidate of their choice. <br />