On March 1, the North Carolina State Board of Elections posted the dates for the upcoming special election to fill the vacancy in the 3rd U.S. House seat. The seat is vacant because Congressman Walter B. Jones died on February 10, 2019.
The primary will be April 30. If the primaries for all parties that hold a primary (Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian) produce a candidate who gets the most votes and gets at least 30%, then there is no runoff primary. But if no one gets 30% in any party’s primary, then there must be a runoff primary for that party or parties, to be held on July 9. If there is a runoff primary, the special election will be September 10. If there is no need for a runoff primary, then the special election will be July 9.
Independent candidates need 6,998 valid signatures, due April 15. The petition deadline, for submission of the signatures to the county election boards, is 15 days before the petitions are due at the State Board of Elections. The checked petitions are due at the State Board of Elections on primary day, April 30. Thus independent candidates only have one and one-half months to collect a large number of signatures. This requirement is almost surely unconstitutional, given the short petitioning period. In a regular election an independent has two years to collect signatures. The number of signatures is 1.5% of the number of registered voters in the district.
When is the “redo” election for US House? Probably can’t wait long enough to have both the same day.
The North Carolina Board hasn’t set any date for the 9th district election.
Candidate/incumbent rank order replacement lists during election period/term of office.
NO more $$$ very expensive primary elections — with LOW voter turnouts.
Ranked choice voting could be a cheaper, and more definitive than run off primaries.