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8 <br /> Based on survey responses, the following results were presented by Todd McGee: <br /> • 89.3% of respondents said they always vote <br /> • 16.46% said their voices were often heard, 37.29% said sometimes, <br /> 28.5% said rarely and 17.68% said their voices were never heard <br /> • 23.95% said they were satisfied with the current election method, 41.05% <br /> said they were not satisfied and 35% were unsure <br /> • 30.79% preferred single member districts; 18.95% preferred a <br /> combination of single member districts and at-large seats; 15.26% <br /> preferred a combination of multi-member districts and at-large seats; <br /> 14.47% preferred multi-member districts with no at-large seats; and <br /> 10.79% preferred all at-large seats. <br /> • 80.37% said they thought only people living in a district should vote for <br /> that district's commissioner <br /> • 35.53% said they arrived at the polls surprised at who they were voting <br /> for; 64.4% were not surprised <br /> • Ethnicity of respondents: 69.76% white, 3.98% African American, <br /> 2.92% Hispanic, 2.12% multi-racial, 2.12% Asian and 1.59% another <br /> race. 17.51% preferred not to answer. <br /> After the presentation of the survey results, BEAG members discussed the <br /> perceived strengths and weaknesses of the current system. The current method is <br /> complicated and not understood. Parts of the county, particularly rural areas, feel <br /> unrepresented. Southern Orange County has most of the population of Orange <br /> County, but the at-large voting increases the dominance of Southern Orange. The <br /> current method leads to a funding imbalance in the county's communities. There <br /> was considerable discussion about the pros and cons of at-large districts with a <br /> sentiment among some that commissioners elected at-large would keep the whole <br /> county's interest at heart rather than only local interests. <br /> The BEAG then discussed the following options legally available for electing <br /> county commissioners: <br /> • The Current Method <br /> Strengths of the current election method were identified as the opportunity <br /> for people to vote for representatives in at-large districts and acceptance of <br /> the reality that Chapel Hill and Carrboro dominate due to their population. A <br />