FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nolan Fraver | NCFP Press Secretary
[email protected]

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Forward Party (NCFP) is proud to announce its full support for House Bill (HB) 541, landmark legislation that empowers political parties to opt into a top-two same-day runoff primary system that would prevent candidates from winning with a meager 30% of the vote and dramatically reduce the cost of taxpayer funded run-off elections in North Carolina.[1]

The 30% threshold to win an election in North Carolina is one of the lowest in the country, resulting in elected representatives that are not truly representative of the electorate. Moreover, taxpayer-funded runoff elections are burdening our population with millions of dollars in unnecessary costs. This must stop. HB 541 offers a common-sense solution to these two major problems, ensuring nominees have a broader base of support while saving taxpayers money—all without forcing changes on any party that doesn’t opt in for that individual election.

Introduced during the General Assembly’s most recent legislative session, HB 541 has passed its first reading in the North Carolina House and has been referred to the House Rules, Calendar, and Operations Committee for review. It is modeled directly on North Carolina’s 2010 instant runoff voting precedent. That system was first—and only—used statewide during the November 2010 election to fill a North Carolina Court of Appeals seat (Wynn vacancy), which featured 13 candidates and resulted in a  Republican candidate winning the seat.

The current version of the Bill is designed to apply broadly to partisan primaries, excluding presidential contests, with parties reserving the right to opt into the system on a race-by-race basis. It also includes dedicated funding and implementation support from the State Board of Elections. As currently written, the Bill would allow voters rank up to three candidates in order of preference. The two top vote-getters proceed to an instant, same-day “runoff,” with all others eliminated. The two remaining candidates then accrue their second- and third-preference votes cast for them, which are added to their existing total. The runoff candidate who has compiled the most total votes at the end of this process is declared the winner.

Under HB 541, the winner of any such election would have broader support among the electorate as compared to the current system—resulting in majority-backed winners.. This legislation directly aligns with the core values of the NCFP, including:

• Eliminating one of the nation’s lowest thresholds to elect a government official
• Eliminating taxpayer-funded costly and low turnout run-off elections (also known as second primaries)
• Instituting a system that rewards broad appeal and reduces polarization by discouraging negative campaigning and extremism
• Dedicating funding and establishing mandates for voter education to ensure successful implementation

“This is common-sense reform that reflects what the vast majority of voters already want—more choice, more voice, and better representation in their state government,” said Lennie Friedman, an NCFP Executive Committee Member. “We need to increase the abysmal 30% threshold for candidates to win, and stop wasting taxpayer money on unnecessary runoffs. HB 541 saves taxpayers money, and ensures candidates must win with a majority of voter support.”

The NCFP encourages our leaders in the General Assembly to advance this bill through committee review and into a floor vote as soon as possible. We urge all parties, lawmakers, and voters across the state to join us in supporting HB 541 and the future of fair elections in North Carolina.

Endnotes

[1] HB 541 has one unintentional language glitch in which if in a large field of candidates if one candidate does achieve 30% of the vote, the runoff is not needed. That is not the intent of the bill per one of the authors. The intent is to get to a top two most vote getters and then have the instant runoff.