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16 <br /> 1 Therefore, a special voter referendum on the election method cannot occur in 2017 with <br /> 2 the possible exception of a legislative act authorizing the referendum in 2017. Without <br /> 3 legislative intervention the next potential dates for a special referendum are May 2018 or <br /> 4 November 2018 when a countywide election with all precincts open is already <br /> 5 scheduled. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 Do other North Carolina counties use an election method similar to Orange County's <br /> 8 current method? <br /> 9 • Attachment E is a chart from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners <br /> 10 (NCACC)which details the current election method for all 100 North Carolina counties. <br /> 11 The chart initially indicates that Currituck, Pamlico, and Pasquotank counties share the <br /> 12 same election method as Orange County. However, further investigation by County staff <br /> 13 confirms that while all four counties have seven (7) Commissioner seats and all four <br /> 14 counties have Commissioner seats representing districts, there are variations in the <br /> 15 election methods for the district seats that differentiate the counties. <br /> 16 <br /> 17 Orange County's current election method entails five district seats on the Board that are <br /> 18 filled based on district residency and district nomination during the primary election, <br /> 19 followed by countywide election in the general election. Conversely, Currituck County's <br /> 20 five Commissioner seats representing five districts are for residency purposes only. <br /> 21 Candidates for district seats in Currituck must reside in their respective districts, but <br /> 22 they are nominated/voted on in the primary and elected during the general election by <br /> 23 all voters in all precincts in Currituck County. Currituck County's two at large seats are <br /> 24 filled based on countywide nomination and countywide election. <br /> 25 <br /> 26 An additional variation applies in Pamlico County. The five district Commissioner seats <br /> 27 representing five districts for the Pamlico County Board of Commissioners are for <br /> 28 residency, nomination, and election. Candidates for district seats must reside in their <br /> 29 respective districts, are voted on/nominated during the primary by only the voters in <br /> 30 their respective districts, and elected during the general election by only the voters in <br /> 31 their respective districts. Pamlico County's two at large seats are filled based on <br /> 32 countywide nomination and countywide election. <br /> 33 <br /> 34 And like Pamlico, the four district Commissioner seats for the Pasquotank County <br /> 35 Board of Commissioners are also for residency, nomination, and election. Candidates <br /> 36 for district seats must reside in their respective districts, are voted on/nominated during <br /> 37 the primary by only the voters in their respective districts, and elected during the <br /> 38 general election by only the voters in their respective districts. Pasquotank County's <br /> 39 three at large seats are filled based on countywide nomination and countywide election. <br /> 40 <br /> 41 What is the timeframe to place a proposed election method/plan on the ballot for voter <br /> 42 referendum? <br /> 43 • If the Board determined to pursue a voter referendum on an election method/plan in <br /> 44 May <br /> 45 2018, Board action on a resolution and election plan/map would be necessary before <br /> 46 February 28, 2018. The Board may want to consider whether action earlier than this <br /> 47 timeframe would be advisable for the benefit of voters. <br /> 48 • If the Board determined to pursue a voter referendum on an election method/plan in <br /> 49 November 2018, Board action on a resolution and election plan/map would be <br /> 50 necessary by August 17, 2018. It should be noted, however, that the Board's <br />