Agenda - 10-16-2018 8-a - Minutes

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16 1 members expressed concern about pursuing an option that would require General Assembly 2 action, while other members suggested that the Board further discuss the topic. 3 4 County Attorney Roberts also noted that while he was aware that some jurisdictions in other 5 states employed non-partisan elections to elect county commissioners, and that school boards 6 in North Carolina utilized non-partisan elections, he was unaware that any NC county had 7 implemented a non-partisan election method for county commissioners. Mr. Roberts further 8 noted that pursuit of a non-partisan system Carolina General Assembly. County Attorney 9 Roberts has provided additional information on cumulative voting, non-partisan voting, and 10 other related topics in Attachment H. 11 12 6) Does Robeson County utilize a board of commissioners election method similar to 13 the current mixed at-large/district method used by Orange County?- 8:57:37 PM 14 15 Attachment I depicts the current structure of Orange County's election method for the Board of 16 Commissioners. Robeson County does not utilize a similar election method. 17 18 Robeson County Board of Elections Director G.L. Pridgen has confirmed that the eight 19 members of the Robeson County Board of Commissioners are all elected from eight different 20 electoral districts utilizing a district residency/district nomination/district election method. Each 21 of the eight commissioners must reside in their respective districts, must be nominated by only 22 the voters in their respective districts, and must be elected by only the voters in their respective 23 districts. There are no at large commissioners seats, and no commissioners are nominated or 24 elected at any time on a countywide basis. 25 26 Greg Wilder said he thinks voter referendums in counties can only occur in even- 27 numbered years. 28 John Roberts said they can only occur during a primary in which all precincts are open, 29 which would be an even-year primary; in a general election, when all three seats are open; or if 30 the state holds some random election in an odd numbered year. 31 Greg Wilder said given that information, the next opportunity would be May or 32 November 2020. 33 Chair Dorosin asked John Roberts if he could summarize what the Board can do without 34 any additional legislative authority. 35 John Roberts said the Board can change the electoral structure by referendum to the 36 voters of all district, all at-large, or a combination of that. He said in a district residence only, 37 with the entire county electing, there are several of those and as long as it is just electoral 38 structure, the Board can do that via referendum. 39 Chair Dorosin clarified that if the Board wanted to go to a 4-3, or a district 40 primary/district general, the general assembly does not to be involved. He asked if there is a 41 referendum, at the primary election in 2020, when it would become effective. 42 John Roberts said it would be not be effective in November of that year, but at the next 43 election cycle. He said the Board would need to designate which seats are which, and it would 44 become effective as people come up for election. 45 Commissioner Burroughs said she considers the census numbers, and how they play 46 into this. She said if everything is kept the same, except changing to district nominated/district 47 in 2020, then the census data could be reviewed and the change implemented in 2022. 48 Greg Wilder said in 2020 the census data from 2010 would have to be used to develop 49 a map to be voted on in 2020. He said if this was adopted, the map would then have to be 50 revised with the new 2022 census data.