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Topsail Voice
Improved Runoffs Needed in North
Carolina
By David Richie
September 23, 2002
Recent results in the Democratic primaries for Sheriff
and NC House of Representatives produced winners with 32% and 36% of
the vote, respectively, with very narrow margins over the second
place candidates. In both cases, runoffs between the top two
finishers would have been required under previous rules - waived
this year because of the lateness of the primaries in the election
season.
It is worth noting that a more satisfying result,
without delaying the outcome, could have been achieved with instant
runoff voting (IRV). With IRV, voters can designate second, third or
more choices, which would be counted if their first choice is out of
the running. The winning candidate ends up with a majority of votes
cast, demonstrating the kind of broad support needed to do well in
the general election.
The modern voting machines now in use in Pender County
can be programmed to accomodate IRV. Voter education to use IRV is
not complicated. Rather than return to the cumbersome and costly
runoff system previously in use, it would be a good idea to make
provision for IRV in future elections.
Although not yet common in the United States, IRV has
recently been adopted by several U.S. cities and is the recommended
voting procedure in Roberts' Rules of Order, when there are more
than two candidates in an election. |
