Consolidated March Primary More Likely | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: The author of this post is Barry Smith, who is an associate editor for the Carolina Journal, John Hood Publisher.

Holding presidential and local races on same date could save $7 million to $10 million

    RALEIGH — Legislative election law writers continue working toward having a combined primary on March 15, 2016, allowing voters to cast ballots for president and nominate their party favorites for other statewide and local offices.

    Sen. Bob Rucho, R-Mecklenburg, noted that having a unified primary in March could save local election boards $7 million to $10 million — the cost of holding a May primary for state and local races.

    "I anticipate us moving to a March consolidated primary," Rucho said.

    Since 1992, North Carolina's primaries have been held in May. However, in 2013, lawmakers approved having an earlier presidential preference primary in an attempt to draw more interest from presidential contenders and give North Carolina voters more of a say in who wins the major party presidential nominations. The May primary has deprived North Carolina voters of having much of a voice in presidential races.

    Both House and Senate leaders continue to work out details of moving the primary, including setting filing deadlines for candidates.

    "There's nothing in stone at this point," Rucho said. "It looks like it may be early December for the filing."

    Rucho said other details include making sure elections boards have enough time to get their jobs done and making sure federal laws regarding absentee ballots are followed.

    He said he hopes lawmakers will have details worked out by next week.

    Rep. David Lewis, R-Harnett, said the House Republican Caucus voted to go ahead with one combined primary in an attempt to save money for local elections boards and county commissioners.

    "I think it will certainly be more challenging for down-ballot races to get more attention when you've got presidential candidates buying media time," Lewis said. "I don't think it's an impossible task."

    He also said he thought the change would increase turnout.