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19 <br /> 1 June 7, 2011 meeting, the Board adopted a "Resolution Acknowledging the Results from <br /> 2 the 2010 Census Indicating Orange County Remains in Lawful Compliance with <br /> 3 Applicable Requirements for Board of County Commissioners' Nominating Districts," <br /> 4 thereby making no changes to the map/plan/method by which Board members were <br /> 5 elected. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 2016-2018 <br /> 8 In late 2016 and early 2017, members of the Board expressed an interest in discussing <br /> 9 and possibly amending the current election method for seats on the Board of <br /> 10 Commissioners. The Board discussed the topic at its March 28, 2017 Board work <br /> 11 session. However, no additional action occurred at that time. <br /> 12 <br /> 13 In mid-2018, members of the Board expressed additional interest in discussing and <br /> 14 possibly amending the current election method for seats on the Board of Commissioners. <br /> 15 The Board discussed the topic at its September 6, 2018 Board work session. However, <br /> 16 no additional action occurred at that time. <br /> 17 <br /> 18 CURRENT CONSIDERATION <br /> 19 As noted above, a recent Board petition expressed an interest in discussing and possibly <br /> 20 amending the current election method for seats on the Board of Commissioners. Several <br /> 21 related issues have been voiced regarding potentially amending the method. Staff has <br /> 22 addressed some of those issues below. <br /> 23 <br /> 24 If the Board chose to move forward with proposing an amendment to the current <br /> 25 election method, when could a voter referendum occur? <br /> 26 The North Carolina General Statutes require that counties schedule special voter <br /> 27 referenda only in even years when all the voting precincts in the County will be <br /> 28 open. <br /> 29 That limits this issue to the general election in 2020 and the primaries and <br /> 30 general elections in 2022 and 2024. Further, if the Board determines to change <br /> 31 the current election method and place that change on the November 2020 ballot <br /> 32 everything necessary to complete the change should be ready by July 24, 2020 in <br /> 33 order to allow elections staff adequate time to prepare ballots. <br /> 34 <br /> 35 What is the timeframe to place a proposed election method/plan on the ballot for <br /> 36 voter referendum? <br /> 37 As noted above if the general election in November 2020 is the desired election <br /> 38 on which to have a ballot question on the Board's election method the Elections <br /> 39 Director has requested that all decisions be complete and the ballot language <br /> 40 submitted by July 24, 2020. This is due to an anticipated substantial increase in <br /> 41 absentee voting and will allow the Board of Elections' staff ample time to prepare <br /> 42 the ballot. <br /> 43 If the Board desires a similar level of public input as was obtained prior to the <br /> 44 2005/2006 change to the current method it is unlikely that can be achieved given <br /> 45 the current situation due to the stay-at-home orders and technological challenges. <br /> 46 <br /> 47 Depending on the Board's potential interest related to the election method, will <br /> 48 population changes related to the 2020 Census need to be considered? <br /> 49 The 2010 Census is currently the basis for all population calculations. There may <br /> 50 have been changes related to Orange County's population since 2010; however, <br /> 51 any changes as reflected in the 2020 Census are not yet available and likely will <br /> 52 not be available until 2021. If the Board acts now to alter districts, the 2020 <br /> 53 Census data could require the Board to revisit election districts in the near future. <br />