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Cary utilizes new voting system
News 14 Carolina
By: Gretchen Bartelt
Instant Runoff
News 14 Carolina's Gretchen Bartelt spoke with some voters about their experiences with the new system.
CARY, N.C. -- This Wake County town will make history Tuesday as the first in North Carolina to try out a new way of voting. It's called instant runoff and its part of a test program approved by the state Legislature.
Voters can choose their top candidate and then rank their second and third choices. Ralph Betts was the first person to cast this new type of ballot when the polls opened.
“It was very simple, very easy,” he said. “Anyone could do it.”
Many voters said they like instant runoff because it saves money as there is no need to hold another election if a candidate doesn't get a majority.
[Voters in Cary were the first in the state to use the instant runoff system.]
Voters in Cary were the first in the state to use the instant runoff system.
“This way you only have to come out once,” said voter Glenn Looper. “If we had a runoff, nobody would come out, not for an off-year election, so I think you get a more valid result this way.”
Just to make sure everyone understands the new ballot, a volunteer was stationed at every polling place in Cary to answer questions.
“I was a little taken aback because I had not heard about the process until I walked in today and I wasn't prepared to come up with my second choice,” said voter Valerie Garcia.
She was in the minority, however, as most people did their research before heading to the polls and didn’t need any help casting their votes.
“You had to do more research because you had to have a backup in case your person didn't win so it took a little bit longer but it was well worth it in the end,” voter Brad Freeman said.
His opinion and others are being collected in an exit survey. The results will be presented to the State Board of Elections later this year.
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