North Carolina to expand Instant Runoff Voting to more locales

by Jordan Schrader • JSchrade@CITIZEN-TIMES.com • published August 4, 2008 3:00 pm



Raleigh – A law signed this weekend by Gov. Mike Easley will let North Carolina's experiment with instant-runoff voting continue.

The system, also called ranked-choice voting, directs voters to rank candidates in order of preference. Voters choose backup candidates in case their favorites don't win, avoiding the need for a runoff election.



Hendersonville and Cary were the first to try the system. The state may now recruit up to 10 more local governments each year to hold similar elections, as part of an elections law sponsored by Sen. Martin Nesbitt, D-Buncombe, and signed Saturday by Easley.

The pilot programs would end in 2011. The system could later be used statewide.

Jordan Schrader reports from Raleigh on North Carolina government. Call Jordan at 919-821-4749, e-mail JSchrade@CITIZEN-TIMES.com or visit http://www.CITIZEN-TIMES.com/CapitalLetters