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11 <br /> that the Board receive a presentation and discuss the report at its September 9, <br /> 2021 work session rather than the Board's September 2, 2021 Business meeting. <br /> August 5, 2021 Meeting <br /> The BEAG made minor edits to the Report and then approved the Report as edited. <br /> RECOMMENDATIONS&INDINGS <br /> 1) The current system of mixing multiple representatives and at-large districts, <br /> where people vote in the primaries in the districts, and the whole county <br /> votes for district representation in the general election, is unsatisfactory and <br /> not acceptable based on the Group's research, SurveyMonkey responses, and <br /> experiences of members as voters and precinct chairs. <br /> 2) The BEAG recommends seven single member residency districts where <br /> candidates living in the district are voted on in both the primary and general <br /> election by only the voters in the respective districts (True Election District). <br /> One member voted against this option, believing that the county could <br /> benefit from some at-large districts. <br /> 3) The BEAG strongly recommends that the Board of Commissioners establish <br /> a multi-partisan/non-partisan independent advisory group and process in <br /> order to create the seven single member districts. The BEAG recommends <br /> that the criteria outlined in the Charge (Constitutionality, statutory <br /> requirements, voting rights law, proportionality, equity, uniformity, <br /> simplicity/clarity and maximizing voter engagement) be paramount in <br /> drawing districts. In addition, the drawing of districts should keep <br /> communities of interest intact (geographic, socio-economic and racial- <br /> ethnic) and avoid splitting precincts. <br /> 4) The BEAG recommends that the BOCC hold a series of public meetings and <br /> listening sessions to allow public input, and that the BOCC act in time to <br /> allow for a public referendum in 2022. <br /> ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS <br /> Although there was some mention of non-partisan elections, ranked choice voting <br /> and public financing, the BEAG did not pursue these options, as all would have <br /> required action by the North Carolina General Assembly and was outside the <br /> Charge from the Board of Commissioners. <br /> 10 <br />