Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
3 <br /> Orange County Remains in Lawful Compliance With Applicable Requirements for Board of <br /> County Commissioners' Nominating Districts," thereby making no changes to the <br /> map/plan/method by which Board members were elected. <br /> 2016-2018 <br /> In late 2016 and early 2017, members of the Board expressed an interest in discussing and <br /> possibly amending the current election method for seats on the Board of Commissioners. The <br /> Board discussed the topic at its March 28, 2017 Board work session. However, no additional <br /> action occurred at that time. <br /> In mid-2018, members of the Board expressed additional interest in discussing and possibly <br /> amending the current election method for seats on the Board of Commissioners. The Board <br /> discussed the topic at its September 6, 2018 Board work session. However, no additional <br /> action occurred at that time. <br /> CURRENT CONSIDERATION <br /> As noted above, a recent Board petition expressed an interest in discussing and possibly <br /> amending the current election method for seats on the Board of Commissioners. Several <br /> related issues have been voiced regarding potentially amending the method. Staff has <br /> addressed some of those issues below. <br /> If the Board chose to move forward with proposing an amendment to the current election <br /> method, when could a voter referendum occur? <br /> • The North Carolina General Statutes require that counties schedule special voter <br /> referenda only in even years when all the voting precincts in the County will be open. <br /> That limits this issue to the general election in 2020 and the primaries and general <br /> elections in 2022 and 2024. Further, if the Board determines to change the current <br /> election method and place that change on the November 2020 ballot everything <br /> necessary to complete the change should be ready by July 24, 2020 in order to allow <br /> elections staff adequate time to prepare ballots. <br /> What is the timeframe to place a proposed election method/plan on the ballot for voter <br /> referendum? <br /> • As noted above if the general election in November 2020 is the desired election on which <br /> to have a ballot question on the Board's election method the Elections Director has <br /> requested that all decisions be complete and the ballot language submitted by July 24, <br /> 2020. This is due to an anticipated substantial increase in absentee voting and will allow <br /> the Board of Elections' staff ample time to prepare the ballot. <br /> • If the Board desires a similar level of public input as was obtained prior to the 2005/2006 <br /> change to the current method it is unlikely that can be achieved given the current <br /> situation due to the stay-at-home orders and technological challenges. <br /> Depending on the Board's potential interest related to the election method, will <br /> population changes related to the 2020 Census need to be considered? <br /> • The 2010 Census is currently the basis for all population calculations. There may have <br /> been changes related to Orange County's population since 2010; however, any changes <br /> as reflected in the 2020 Census are not yet available and likely will not be available until <br />