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16 <br /> <br /> the current mixed at-large/district method used by Orange County?- 8:57:37 PM <br /> <br />Attachment I depicts the current structure of Orange County’s election method for the Board of <br />Commissioners. Robeson County does not utilize a similar election method. <br /> <br />Robeson County Board of Elections Director G.L. Pridgen has confirmed that the eight <br />members of the Robeson County Board of Commissioners are all elected from eight different <br />electoral districts utilizing a district residency/district nomination/district election method. Each of <br />the eight commissioners must reside in their respective districts, must be nominated by only the <br />voters in their respective districts, and must be elected by only the voters in their respective <br />districts. There are no at large commissioners seats, and no commissioners are nominated or <br />elected at any time on a countywide basis. <br /> <br />Greg Wilder said he thinks voter referendums in counties can only occur in even- <br />numbered years. <br />John Roberts said they can only occur during a primary in which all precincts are open, <br />which would be an even-year primary; in a general election, when all three seats are open; or if <br />the state holds some random election in an odd numbered year. <br />Greg Wilder said given that information, the next opportunity would be May or November <br />2020. <br />Chair Dorosin asked John Roberts if he could summarize what the Board can do without <br />any additional legislative authority. <br />John Roberts said the Board can change the electoral structure by referendum to the <br />voters of all district, all at-large, or a combination of that. He said in a district residence only, <br />with the entire county electing, there are several of those and as long as it is just electoral <br />structure, the Board can do that via referendum. <br />Chair Dorosin clarified that if the Board wanted to go to a 4-3, or a district primary/district <br />general, the general assembly does not to be involved. He asked if there is a referendum, at <br />the primary election in 2020, when it would become effective. <br />John Roberts said it would be not be effective in November of that year, but at the next <br />election cycle. He said the Board would need to designate which seats are which, and it would <br />become effective as people come up for election. <br />Commissioner Burroughs said she considers the census numbers, and how they play <br />into this. She said if everything is kept the same, except changing to district nominated/district <br />in 2020, then the census data could be reviewed and the change implemented in 2022. <br />Greg Wilder said in 2020 the census data from 2010 would have to be used to develop a <br />map to be voted on in 2020. He said if this was adopted, the map would then have to be <br />revised with the new 2022 census data. <br />John Roberts said the map would only need to be revised if there was a significant <br />discrepancy. <br />Commissioner Burroughs said this happened in 2010, and everything was fine in the <br />end. <br />Greg Wilder said the County went through an evaluation process, and there were <br />changes, but they remained within the standard deviation of 5%. <br />Commissioner Burroughs said she is inclined to keep everything the same, except to <br />add the district elected. <br />Commissioner Price asked if this would leave the at-large positions. <br />Commissioner Burroughs said yes, in her thinking. <br />Commissioner McKee said he is supportive of this, and is wary of doing anything that <br />would involve the legislature. He said no one should think that the effective representation rural <br />versus urban is going to change. He said the breakdown of the Board is not rural versus urban,