Re: Rob: Primary runoffs are misunderstood

johnshaw — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:06:20 -0500

Runoff elections are important when there is a split in the party. Often that split may be between conservatives vs. liberals, or moderates vs. extreme conservatives or liberals. Or it could simply be east side vs. west side or north side vs. south side of a district (or city or state).

What if most of the voters preferred to elect someone from the east side of a district, and geography was the only important issue? If two east side and one west candidates ran, the east side candidates could split the vote, giving the west sider the plurality. Without a runoff, the west side candidate would take office. With the runoff, the favorite of the east side candidates would face the west side candidate. If the majority preferred the east side, their candidate would win.

For similar reasons, both major political parties require that, in the nominating convention, one person must receive a majority of the votes. Multiple ballots are used until one receives a majority (although this hasn’t been necessary for the last half century). Many other organizations require a majority vote for election of officers.

Rob: Primary runoffs are misunderstood

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:38:33 -0500

Primary runoff elections are a Southern institution.

In a 1997 column, veteran N&O political observer Rob Christensen wrote that primary runoffs have been a "political fact of life" in North Carolina since 1915, leading to defeats for Luther Hodges Jr., Frank Porter Graham and Jim Gardner, among others.

At the time, the legislature was considering abolishing them.

Christensen interviewed Charles Bullock, a University of Georgia professor who studied 1,222 primary runoffs between 1970 and 1986. Bullock, the nation's leading expert on primary runoffs, argued they are the least-understood aspect of American elections.

Bullock argued that primary runoffs: 1) Were not created to disenfranchise black voters. 2) Do not necessarily hurt black candidates. 3) Keep Democratic- and Republican-controlled districts competitive. 4) Do not necessarily hurt the eventual nominee. 5) Do not always go to the underdog. 6) Are not chosen by a handful of voters.

After the jump, the full text of the column.

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Re: Rob: Primary runoffs are misunderstood

Rob: Primary runoffs are misunderstood