Five members of the North Carolina House have introduced H47, to establish the initiative for proposed changes to the state Constitution. The sponsors, all Republicans, are John Blust, Curtis Blackwood, William Current, Tim Moore, and Edgar Starnes. Such initiatives would need the signatures of 20% of the last gubernatorial vote, which (if enacted) would be the highest such percentage of any state that has statewide initiatives.

If the bill passes, the voters would vote in November 2010 on whether they want the initiative.

On February 5, Capitol Weekly/Probolsky Research Poll released a poll on whether Californians would vote for a “top-two” primary system. The idea received support from 49% of the voters, with 35% opposed and the rest undecided. See here for the details.

The specific “top-two” proposal that may appear on a future California ballot is limited to state office, not Congress. The idea is pending in the legislature as ACA 6, a proposed state constitutional amendment sponsored by Assemblymember Charles Calderon. Because it changes the California Constitution, even if the legislature passes it, it would then go to a vote of the people. Or, it could be a constitutional initiative.

On February 5, the Minneapolis City Council voted 12-1 to implement Instant Runoff Voting in this year’s city elections, set for November. See this press release from FairvoteMinnesota.