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17 <br /> 1 contemplated 2018 summer break would in reality necessitate Board action before or <br /> 2 during June 2018. Alternatively, the Board could amend the summer break portion of its <br /> 3 contemplated 2018 meeting schedule to extend the timeframe for Board action up to the <br /> 4 August 17, 2018 deadline. The Board may want to consider whether action earlier than <br /> 5 these timeframes may be advisable for the benefit of voters. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 Depending on the Board's potential interest related to the election method, will <br /> 8 population changes since the 2010 Census need to be considered? <br /> 9 • Although there have been changes related to Orange County's population since 2010, <br /> 10 those changes would not be considered as part of any potential election method or <br /> 11 district delineation. The 2010 Census remains the basis for all population calculations. <br /> 12 <br /> 13 What is cumulative voting? Is cumulative voting permissible in North Carolina for boards <br /> 14 of commissioners' elections? Would Orange County need special legislation from the <br /> 15 North Carolina General Assembly to consider/implement a cumulative voting method for <br /> 16 seats on the Board of Commissioners? <br /> 17 • Cumulative voting is method of election that is utilized in the United States primarily by <br /> 18 corporations and to a lesser extent local governmental entities across the country. This <br /> 19 method allows minority shareholders to have a greater chance of electing corporate <br /> 20 officers and has been adopted in some local jurisdictions specifically to rectify voting <br /> 21 rights violations. Cumulative voting is specifically recognized in North Carolina law for <br /> 22 corporate voting. <br /> 23 <br /> 24 Cumulative voting works by allocating a specific number of votes to all voters, five for <br /> 25 example. In an election with three candidates an individual voter may choose to place <br /> 26 all five votes on a single candidate or allocate the five votes among the three <br /> 27 candidates. <br /> 28 By pooling votes to a single candidate minority groups have a greater chance of <br /> 29 electing a candidate of their choice. <br /> 30 <br /> 31 There appears to be no violation of the "one person, one vote" principle in a cumulative <br /> 32 voting setup due both to the fact that often it is implemented as a means of rectifying <br /> 33 voting rights violations and because each voter has the same number of votes. If the <br /> 34 Board were to select cumulative voting for Orange County Commissioner elections the <br /> 35 Board must seek special legislative authority from the General Assembly. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 Chair Dorosin said the census data is from 2010, and asked if staff has looked at <br /> 38 anything more recent. <br /> 39 Greg Wilder said more recent data can be looked at, but decisions cannot be based on <br /> 40 it. He said staff will research this. <br /> 41 Commissioner McKee asked John Roberts if any changes endorsed by the BOCC <br /> 42 would have to go to the legislature. <br /> 43 John Roberts said no, the Board can choose to change the electoral structure and take <br /> 44 it to a referendum. He said any changes to the voting method must go to the legislature. <br /> 45 Commissioner McKee asked if changing to district nominate/district elect would be a <br /> 46 change in the structure or the method. <br /> 47 John Roberts said that would be a change in the structure, and is one of four statutorily <br /> 48 authorized methods. He said if the BOCC wanted to divide the County into seven districts, <br /> 49 where the voters in those districts both nominate and elect officials, then the County can <br /> 50 accomplish that through referendum. <br />